Reaching the iconic summit is mostly done via the famed Mt Whitney Trail Route, but for the real alpine adventure, most people choose the Mountaineer’s Route. Not only does it grant some of the best views of the East Face and other Sierra Nevada peaks, but it also allows for a crowdless ascent. This classic mountaineering route will take you three days to complete and will involve exciting activities such as rock scrambling, cross-country hiking, and even a bit of roped climbing.
Your tour begins at 7 am in the town of Lone Pine in the heart of Sierra Nevada. Here you will meet your guide at a predetermined location followed by a gear check. Afterwards you will take a 30-min drive to the Whitney Portal Trailhead. Hiking into the backcountry, you will later establish a camp at an altitude of around 11,000 feet/3,350 meters. During the hike, your guide will hold informal lectures in order to prepare you for the next day’s climb.
Your second day in the mountains starts early. You will start climbing the Mountaineer’s Route at around 4 am, approaching Mt Whitney from its northeast side. The route is almost 15 km (9.3 miles) long and will involve rock scrambling, cross-country hiking, and some roped-climbing sections. It will take you up to 8 or more hours to reach the summit where you’ll be able to take in the sprawling views of the incredible alpine scenery. Afterwards, you will descend back to your basecamp, arriving in the late afternoon.
Please note, this is a best-case scenario. This itinerary is subject to change at the guide’s discretion and is dependent on mountain conditions, group experience/expectations, and other factors that cannot be anticipated.
Get the last taste of the mountains in the morning, pack up and start your hike back. You will have returned to the trailhead at 2 pm. Say goodbye to your guide and Sierra Nevada or continue touring on your own.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
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, a challenging alpine experience via the less-traveled Mountaineer’s Route is to be expected. It’s suitable for beginner mountaineers or intermediate backpackers, though it does involve steep off-trail hiking, scrambling, and sometimes the use of crampons and an ice ace. In the steep upper sections, you and your guide will use a rope and a harness for your protection.
For the Winter Alpine Climb, you need to be a seasoned mountaineer with previous ice axe, crampon, and rope handling skills. Prior winter climbing/backpacking experience is highly recommended! It’s also great if you’re familiar with avalanche rescue skills.
Technical climbing equipment
Camping equipment
Clothing
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Camping equipment
Clothing
Technical climbing equipment
Camping equipment
Clothing
Yes! Porters are available per request, but you need to let us know in advance.
Group sizes and prices:
Alpine climbing on Mt Whitney can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.