Climb the Iconic Mt Whitney

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • An experienced, local rock climbing guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 3 or 4 alpine climbing days depending on your chosen itinerary
    • All camping and climbing permits
    • Helmet, harness and group climbing equipment
    • Group camping equipment (tent, stove, water filter)
    • Freeze-dried dinners for the Summer and Winter Ascents
    • Breakfast items for all itineraries
    • Hot drinks

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation to and from Lone Pine
    • Transportation to the trailhead (available on request) 
    • Accommodations before and after the trip
    • Guide gratuities — optional
• How fit do I need to be?

  For all three adventures listed above, you need to be in excellent physical shape. 

  For the Technical Alpine Climb, you need to have previous mountaineering experience and experience of multi-pitch rock climbing and climbing at high altitudes. 

  For the Summer Climb, you need to have strong previous hiking and backpacking experience, but no mountaineering experience is necessary. 

  For the Winter Alpine Climb, you need to be a seasoned mountaineer with previous ice axe, crampon, and rope handling skills.

• What if I don't have any experience in alpine climbing and mountaineering?

  For the Technical Alpine Climb, you need to have some alpine climbing experience—more precisely, you need to have previous multi-pitch climbing experience and experience of rock climbing at high altitudes. 

  For the Summer Climb via Mountaineer’s Route, you need to be an avid hiker/backpacker, but no mountaineering experience is required. 

  For the Winter Alpine Climb via Mountaineer’s Route, you need to be a seasoned mountaineer ready for the challenges of alpine climbing. You also need to have basic ice axe, crampon, and rope-handling skills.

• What do I need to bring for the Technical Alpine Climb?

  Here’s a list of equipment that you will need for the Technical Climb:

  Technical climbing equipment:

  • • Sit harness (can be provided by your guide)
    • 3 large locking pear-shaped carabiners
    • Rappel/belay device
    • 2 double length nylon runners (36” minimum)

     Camping equipment:

  • • Sleeping bag (rated 15 – 30 degrees, can be rented from your guide)
    • Backpack (55-65 L or more)
    • Sleeping pad (closed cell foam or air-filled)
    • Personal tent  (recommended for individual climbers)
    • Small towel
    • 3-one quart/liter wide mouth water containers (a hydration system such as Camelbak can substitute for up to two water containers)
    • Plastic bowl (lightweight) and a spoon
    • Swiss army knife (or small pocket knife)
    • Headlamp (something to stick on your head so it leaves your hands free)
    • Toiletries (hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, insect repellent, toilet paper, wet wipes)
    • Small first-aid kit (include personal medication, Ibuprofen or Naproxen,  bandaids, blister kit)
    • Sunblock (rated to SPF 25+), SPF chapstick

  Clothing:

  • • Long pants (light-weight synthetic, no cotton!)
    • T-shirt
    • Light/medium weight synthetic long john top and a long john bottom
    • Lightweight wool or fleece sweater or jacket and a windbreaker (can use a rain jacket)
    • Lightweight wool or fleece gloves
    • Sun hat or visor
    • 2-3 pairs of wool socks and 2-3 pairs of wool/synthetic sock liners
    • Gaiters are required when there is snow en route (when there is no snow we highly recommend low cut scree gaiters, gaiters can be rented)
    • Good hiking boots (designed for hiking rough trails)
    • Rock shoes (can be rented from your guide)
    • Buff, bandana or neck gaiter
    • Sunglasses

  Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season.

• What do I need to bring for the Summer Climb?

  Here’s a list of the equipment you will need for the Mt Whitney Summer Ascent:

  Camping equipment:

  • • Sleeping bag (rated 15 – 30 degrees, can be rented from your guide)
    • Backpack (55-65 L or more)
    • Sleeping pad (closed cell foam or air-filled)
    • Personal tent—recommended for individual climbers
    • Small towel
    • Swiss army knife (or small pocket knife) and a lighter
    • Headlamp (something to stick on your head so it leaves your hands free)
    • 3 1L wide-mouth water containers (a hydration system such as Camelbak can substitute for up to two water containers)
    • Plastic bowl (lightweight) and a spoon
    • Toiletries—hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, insect repellent, toilet paper, wet wipes
    • Small first-aid kit (include personal medication, Ibuprofen or Naproxen, bandaids, blister kit)
    • Sunblock (rated to SPF 25+) and SPF chapstick

  Clothing:

  • • Long pants (light-weight synthetic, no cotton!)
    • T-shirts
    • Light/medium weight synthetic long john top and a long john bottom
    • Lightweight wool or fleece sweater or jacket and a windbreaker (can use a rain jacket)
    • Lightweight wool or fleece gloves
    • Sun hat or visor
    • 2-3 pairs of wool socks and 2-3 pairs of wool/synthetic sock liners
    • Gaiters are required when there is snow en route (when there is no snow we highly recommend low cut scree gaiters, gaiters can be rented)
    • Good hiking boots (designed for hiking rough trails)
    • Buff, bandana or neck gaiter
    • Sunglasses
    • Trekking poles—optional

  Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season.

• What do I need to bring for the Winter Alpine Climb?

  Here’s a list of the equipment equipment you will need for the Winter Ascent: 

  Technical climbing equipment:

  • • Sit Harness (this will be provided by your guide, bring your own if you want to!)
    • Personal ice axe and a helmet (this will be provided by your guide, bring your own if you want to!)
    • Ski poles/Trekking poles—recommended (ex. Black Diamond flicklock adjustable poles)
    • Mountaineering boots – modern leather hybrid (ex: LaSportiva Nepal Evo GTX) or plastic double boots (ex: Scarpa Inverno)
    • Snowshoes (can be rented)
    • Crampons—12 point hinged or semi-rigid crampons or (Ex: Black Diamond Sabertooth or contact crampons, can be rented from your guide)

  Camping equipment:

  • • Sleeping Bag (rated to 0-10 °F, or -10 to -15 °C)
    • Full-length sleeping pad
    • Internal frame pack (60-80 liter packs)
    • Toiletries—hand sanitizer, sunblock (rated to SPF 25+), chapstick, toothbrush, toothpaste, insect repellent, toilet paper, wet wipes
    • Swiss army knife (or small pocket knife), headlamp (something to stick on your head so it leaves your hands free), lighter
    • Nylon stuff sacks for gear organization (enough for all equipment)
    • 3 1-liter, wide-mouth water containers 
    • Swiss army knife or small pocket knife
    • Good quality mountaineering sunglasses with side shields
    • Ski or snowboarding goggles
    • Insulated cup, spoon, small plastic bowl (lightweight)
    • Sunhat
    • Headlamp (Ex: Black Diamond Spot)
    • Small first aid kit with personal medicines
    • Foam ear plugs
    • Sports drink

  Clothing:

  • • Synthetic base layer or wool long john top and bottoms (lightweight to mid-weight)
    • Fleece jacket
    • Down jacket (ex. Millet Alpine Down)
    • Extra synthetic top (expedition weight recommended) or fleece sweater, wool shirt, or an equivalent
    • Medium weight synthetic running tights or light fleece pants or synthetic pants
    • Bibs or full-zip Gore Tex pants
    • 3-4 pairs wool or thermal heavyweight socks and liner socks – no cotton
    • Wool or synthetic liner gloves (Ex: Black Diamond liner gloves)
    • Wool or pile hat (a lightweight balaclava is a very good idea for sleeping comfort)
    • Buff, bandana or neck gaiter

  Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and prices:

  • • The usual client-to-guide for the Summer Ascent is 4:1. Max. client-to-guide ratio for the Technical Climb is 2:1 and 3:1 for the Winter Alpine Climbing. 
    • The cost per person for the Technical Climb decreases as the group grows.. 
    • For the Summer Ascent via Mountaineer’s Route and the Winter Ascent, the cost does not decrease as the group grows. 

  Alpine climbing on Mt Whitney can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  For regular dates, a 50% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.

  • • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to thirty (30) days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a refund of 40% of the total price.
    • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.

  Secure your spot for next year with a 10% deposit!

  This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you will be the first one to know about any new upcoming dates. Pick your preferred dates without the risk of your bucket list adventure selling out!

  • Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure any time in case the dates don’t suit you.
  • Once the dates are set, you can confirm your booking by the end of this year by paying another 20% of the total amount.
  • The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
  • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy applies.
• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to Lone Pine,where your adventure starts, most people fly into Los Angeles International Airport, just over 3 hours away. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service.

  Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, usually at the guide shop in Lone Pine, CA. Once you meet, you can discuss transportation to the trailhead. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.

• Covid measures in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, CA

  57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

  We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, please refer to the official website of the Government of California.

  Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!