From Route 395 in Lone Pine, turn west at the traffic light on to Whitney Portal Road. Horseshoe Meadows to Mt. Sheltered campsite with good water supply, but cold and windy all afternoon and evening. At the John Muir-Mount Whitney Trail junction there are several large tent platforms that can serve as campsites, but bring plenty of water because these campsites are dry. Day 1: Kearsage Pass and Vidette Meadow We were dropped off at Onion Valley by Mt Whitney Shuttle the night before, with our car left at Horseshoe Meadow, and started hiking at 8 am on Aug 4. The route begins by ascending Cottonwood Pass (a gradual climb of about 1260 feet), where it picks up the Pacific Crest Trail traversing the southwest slopes of Cirque Peak. There will be two nights in hotels. Day 3 Guyot Creek to Guitar Lake This 10,000 foot trailhead is paved all the way, has a zillion parking places, and is empty. I left my car at Onion Valley Campground below Kearsarge Pass and was driven by my good friends, Jonathan and Brendan, to Horseshoe Meadow. Traverse left across a sloping ledge. Beautiful sunrise views. After breakfast and orientation, riders travel to Cottonwood Pass and continue on the PCT to camp alongside of Rock Creek. Retrieved gear and crossed Trail Crest over to eastern flank. The first trail steps of my PCT Journey began after a car shuttle. The summit provides expansive views, solitude, and a deep feeling of accomplishment. To the Paiute Indians of the Owens Valley, Mount Whitney was known as Too-man-go-yah, roughly translated as 'very old man.' My son and I are going to do Horseshoe Meadows to Mt Whitney and back. The area is south of Lone Pine, CA and an hour drive from Mt. The photos were "borrowed" from the Internet.   or Tom Harrison Mount Whitney High Country Trail Map (1:63,360), Trail Profile Table: Cottonwood Pass Trail. Note - Class 2 Hiking: Includes hiking over uneven terrain, through brush, and up and around rock bluffs, steep gullies, scree (loose and sandy rock), and talus, where the hands may be needed for balance. Then turn south onto Horseshoe Meadow Road. Whitney from Crabtree Meadow and descend to Whitney Portal (5,100 ft / 1,554 m descent). Mount Whitney comes briefly into view for the first time about 0.5 mile before you cross Whitney Creek at Lower Crabtree Meadow. If the weather is nice, spend some time on top; take in the scenery and savor your accomplishment. From the junction of the Mount Whitney Trail, ascend the two switchbacks and proceed to a large rock cairn marking the cutoff to Mount Muir. Nice overnight camping at the trailhead, and it's free. Below 12000’ by early afternoon and decided to exit same day. Rising to 14,042 feet, Mount Langley is less than five hundred feet shorter than Mount Whitney but receives far fewer visitors. It is approximately 30 miles from Horseshoe Meadows Campground to the summit of Mt. Horseshoe Meadow Road is generally closed for the winter (May-October). Sequoia National Park charges a fee to enter. Day 1 Horseshoe Meadow to Long Lake To ascend any of the four 14,000-foot subpeaks of Mount Whitney, leave the trail and scramble up the west slopes to the summit of these needles. It is essentially free of snow by mid-June, so it is a good trail to take before the wilderness permit quotas become effective each summer (starting the last Friday by June). Watch for the brown bear!!!! Join the John Muir Trail by turning right toward Timberline Lake and Guitar Lake. From the lake, the John Muir Trail climbs about 500 feet to Guitar Lake. Wind calmed and sun was warm. Whitney, so Whitney Portal is a zoo. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. Just about 40 miles starting in Horseshoe Meadow and ending at Whitney Portal. Very comfortable camp just below Guyot Pass. After this initial climb, the rate of ascent slackens. From the signal light in Lone Pine on US 395, drive 3.5 miles west on the Whitney Portal Road. The others follow in quick succession. After an hour on the summit it is time to consider the hike out. The dozens of luxuriant meadows are teeming with lush new growth, flowers, and wildlife, including an occasional bear. The trail passes through some beautiful high Sierra Nevada meadow terrain with widely spaced lodgepole, limber, and foxtail pine. Space is limited to 10 clients with 2 guides. 8 reviews of Mount Langley "Mount Langley has an elevation of 14,042' and is a good training hike for Whitney. 6 days and 5 nights. July 11, 2015. Hikers ready to start the John Muir Trail! You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. Always love this trail. MILE 766.3 | Follow the trail up Mt. The most difficult hiking is over as the trail gradually reaches the highest point in the Lower 48. I didn’t sleep well due to a mix of excitement and anxiety, but still woke up feeling energized. excellent route. Mile 14.0 to 16.8 (Lower Rock Creek Crossing to Guyot Pass) Cross Rock Creek on a log and begin the ascent to Guyot Pass, a climb of 1360 feet over about 2.8 miles. Whitney; however, if you were to enter/exit at Whitney Portal, you would have to hike about 9 miles along the Mt. The Indians believed that the spirit responsible for the destiny of their people lived inside the mountain, and from his high perch he observed the Indians and noted their behavior. Unbelievable scenery. Mile 27.7 to 29.7 (Mount Whitney Trail to Mount Whitney) There are only 2 more miles to the summit and a little more than 1000 feet of elevation gain. After you cross the outlet creek, there is a short climb of about 300 feet. A network of trails leads into the Golden Trout Wilderness or north into the John Muir Wilderness. A great option is to park and Whitney Portal and prearrange with Paul at eastsidesierrashuttle.com to shuttle you … From this notch, angle left and scramble up a small chimney. Whether you want to climb Mt Whitney from the west side, or traverse the entire John Muir Trail, we offer fully outfitted pack trips for both hikers and riders. Whitney Trail and Mountaineers Route for Garmin Map Source Garmin.gdb 59 KB GPS Waypoints and Tracks for the Mt. From the pass the trail advances past Crabtree Meadow and the Crabtree Patrol Cabin, where it joins the John Muir Trail on its way to the summit of Whitney. There are also numerous campsites a little higher at the 11,900-foot level near a series of small tarns linked by a small stream flowing toward Hitchcock Lakes. The trail itself is impressive as it climbs through the talus, large rock faces, and imposing granite towers. added keeler needle on the way down. From the summit there are impressive views of the east face of Mount Muir directly below, ninety-seven switchbacks in the Mount Whitney Trail, Trail Camp, Consultation Lake, Arc Pass, Whitney Portal, and the Owens Valley far below. We need to get a wilderness permit at the ranger station in Lone Pine for whatever trail head we plan to use. Extra time allows for more enjoyable pace. At Guyot Pass, one can climb the ridge, over easy terrain, to the summit of Mount Guyot with its 360-degree views of the Sierra Nevada and Mount Whitney. Near the 10,400-foot level, the trail crosses Guyot Creek. Trip total 43 miles, 8900’ gain. Whitney, which offers a great view of the surrounding area, and it sees far less hikers and permit can be picked up last minute. 6 ½ hour riding time MILE 744.5 | Follow the Mulkey Pass Trail 1.7 mi / 2.7 km to Horseshoe Meadow and then hitch 18 mi / 28.9 km to Lone Pine. Pretty sunset with the moon approaching full. The trail crest exit quota was plenty full for walk-ins) We left our car at the Portal and hired Whitney Shuttle to pick us up and bring us to Horseshoe Meadows. Everyone wants to "bag" Mt. Horseshoe Meadows to Mount Whitney and Whitney Portal Trailhead via New Army Pass is a 37.6 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Lone Pine, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Drop your pack and head for the summit. Whitney via the John Muir Trail returning to our camp in Crabtree Meadows making our way back to the trailhead at Horseshoe Meadows. Ascend a shallow gully of loose scree, and head toward the notch in the ridge to the right of the main summit. This is a 3 days backpacking trip starting from Horseshoe Meadows in Inyo National Forest. Camping at Horseshoe Meadow. A good number of backpackers choose to hike northbound from Whitney or even Horseshoe Meadow/Cottonwood Lakes because permits are easier to obtain. The hike out of the Rock Creek canyon is steep for the first 600 feet. We stopped in between for lunch at Lone Pine’s Mt. It begins at the Horseshoe Meadow parking lot at an elevation of 10,000 feet. This video is about Father/Son Cottonwood Pass to Mt. There are twelve walk-in campground sites, toilets, and piped water near the trailhead. The trail is not that hard but be prepared to be challenge at some point in you're hike!!!! Mile 8.1 to 14.0 (Siberian Pass Trail to Lower Rock Creek Crossing) At the Siberian Pass Trail junction, stay on the Pacific Crest Trail by angling left toward Lower Rock Creek Crossing. Climb a crack to your right, gaining the small summit block. If you have a fear of heights, it’s probably not a drive for you. The hike profile and the map were created by Steve Singkofer. Over the last couple of miles the trail drops about 1000 feet to Rock Creek. After three miles, turn left on Horseshoe Meadow Road. You get a nice high start, and the trail is excellent. Coming soon - Zero Carbon Shuttle! Mile 20.4 to 24.2 (Lower Crabtree Meadow to Guitar Lake) At the trail junction in Lower Crabtree Meadow, take the right fork leading to the Crabtree Patrol Cabin and Guitar Lake. There is a bear-proof wilderness food storage box on the south side of the creek crossing about 5 feet southwest of the trail. It's a great way to climb Mount Whitney if you don't have any permit and you're up for a 3-4 days hike in the mountain. Day 4 Guitar Lake to summit and Whitney Portal The area around Timberline Lake is closed to camping. For the last and highest needle, Keeler Needle, leave the trail before it turns west, heading away from the crest and the trail's final switchbacks. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. The paved road is usually open from May to late October. Alpenglow on western peaks reflecting in many lakes and tarns. The top 50 feet of climbing is Class 3. Fees are $35 per vehicle or $30 per motorcycle. Mile 3.5 to 8.1 (Cottonwood Pass to Siberian Pass Trail) At the four-way trail junction just beyond Cottonwood Pass, turn right onto the Pacific Crest Trail toward Rock Creek. I have official notification that we have a permit for the July dates for our Mount Whitney excursion! The road climbs to about 10,000 feet elevation in approximately 15 miles, and ends at Horseshoe Meadows. Turn south on Horseshoe Meadow Road. From this trail junction it is about 1 mile to Timberline Lake. All are easy Class 2 scrambling (See note below) and provide a bird's-eye view of the sheer, nearly vertical east face. At the upper end of the meadow, the trail begins its upward climb to Cottonwood Pass, gaining about 1000 feet in less than 2 miles. From the Sierra Nevada Crest, the Pacific Crest Trail descends 1500 feet to Rock Creek before starting a climb of 1360 feet to Guyot Pass. Whitney Trail and Mountaineers Route in .GPX Format GPX.gpx 335 KB GPS Waypoints and Tracks for the Mt. Turn south onto Horseshoe Meadow Road and continue 20.5 miles to Horseshoe Meadow and the Cottonwood Pass trailhead (not to be confused with the Cottonwood Lakes and New Army Pass trailhead). Most of the information on this page is directly excerpted from Mount Whitney - The Complete Trailhead-to-Summit Hiking Guide by Paul Richins, Jr., pages 134-142. One of the trails that leads to the summit follows the Cottonwood Lakes Trail to Cottonwood Lake #4, and then continues on via Old Army Pass up out of the lake basin and to the summit. Still a small patch of snow just below the summit, but not an issue in good shoes. Comfortably made summit by 10 am. Our trips originate trips primarily from Horseshoe Meadows. Whitney 2016 ... Glacier National Park Hiking … Continue about 20 miles up this precipitous two-lane to the signed parking area for the section of Cottonwood Lakes Trail leading to New Army Pass. HORSESHOE MEADOW TRAILHEAD The trailhead is located 24 miles from Lone Pine. To reach the trailhead from Lone Pine, drive three miles west on Whitney Portal Road to Horseshoe Meadow Road and turn left. Question. Whitney Restaurant. The enchantment of the John Muir Trail draws hikers from across the United State and around the world. John Muir Trail: Horseshoe Meadow to Happy Isles [CLOSED] is a 227.8 mile heavily trafficked point-to-point trail located near Lone Pine, California that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. The Mt Whitney Trail is a well maintained 11 mile foot path to the summit of Mt Whitney. While the lottery to get a permit for Mount Whitney can be challenging and competitive, Mount Langley’s hikers can easily get a free permit on the day of their hike. Arrived at Rock Creek ranger station early and decided to continue 2 miles to next good water. Hike up Cottonwood Pass, down to Rock Creek, up to Guyot Creek, camp there. The plan I came up with was a slight variation on our 2012 trip, but on a much tighter schedule: drive to Whitney Portal, leave the car, “teleport” over to Horseshoe Meadows. Our mules will transport your personal gear, camping equipment and supplies.You carry only aday pack for water and essentials. There is also a stock camp exactly at the Rock Creek crossing (it is about 1 before Gyuot Creek). Mile 24.2 to 27.7 (Guitar Lake to Mount Whitney Trail) From Guitar Lake, the John Muir Trail climbs steadily for 3.5 miles and nearly 2000 feet up the steep west slopes of Whitney. Photo trip report of my 6-night hike from Onion Valley to Horseshoe Meadow via Mount Whitney. Many excellent campsites are nearby among the widely spaced foxtail pine. There are numerous excellent places to camp near the lake. wont go into detail but won't sleep there again. went all the way to Crabtree the first day and the 2nd pass was tough. Here the trail runs level for a while and then climbs out of the basin to the Cottonwood Lakes area. Can be done in 3 days, or 2 if you’re really ambitious. Day 1: Horseshoe Meadows to Lower Rock Creek. The first 2 miles of this trail segment are nearly flat, with a few ups and downs. hated trail camp with all the idiots. Did it in late October this year!! This trailhead (along with the New Army Pass trailhead) starts at nearly 10,000 feet, the highest starting point of any of the trips in this guidebook, with an elevation gain of only 7341 feet over about 30 miles of trail. Pretty crowded here, but everyone was friendly and accommodating. The route is splendid in the early hiking season of June and July as it passes through magnificent stands of ancient foxtail pine, vibrant meadows, and the wonderful alpine environment of the high Sierra. We arrived to Lone Pine Sunday afternoon and got our permits. This places the … It's well worth the drive to get to 10,000 feet in altitude very quickly but it is has … Alternatively, instead of turning left toward Lower Rock Creek Crossing at the Siberian Pass Trail junction, you can leave the Pacific Crest Trail by turning right toward Rock Creek Trail and Lower Soldier Lake. Deer and colorful wildflowers are plentiful along Rock Creek and in Crabtree Meadow. Day 47: Horseshoe Meadow to Crabtree Meadows / Ranger Station (base of Mt. GPS Waypoints and Tracks for the Mt. Consider camping near Guitar lake or continue about 0.3 mile and camp near a tarn at 11,600 feet. The trail offers a number of activity options and … Both camps are close to running creeks. Horseshoe Meadows to Mount Whitney and Whitney Portal Trailhead via New Army Pass is a 37.6 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Lone Pine, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. There a very nice camp site right at Gyuot Creek. If you are entering on foot or bike the fee is $20 per person. We got a pair of walk-in permits (it was easy since we were entering on a loop and less traveled route. Follow Horseshoe Meadow Road to its end. Hike your heart out. Mile 0 to 3.5 (Horseshoe Meadow to Cottonwood Pass) For the first two miles the Cottonwood Pass Trail skirts Horseshoe Meadow, gaining only 200 feet in the process. Best... hike... ever. Whitney Trail and Mountaineers Route for Google Earth Google.kmz 26.4 KB Planning Your Hike. It starts off fairly level then descends a bit to the golden trout camp area. From the signal light in Lone Pine on US 395, drive 3.5 miles west on the Whitney Portal Road. The trail begins at 8,360 Ft, and ends at the 14,508 Ft summit of Mt Whitney. At Lower Crabtree Meadow there is a bear-proof food storage box located about 75 yards south of the Whitney Creek crossing on the west side of the Pacific Crest Trail. Langley is only about 500 feet shorter than Mt. MILE 750.2 | Follow Cottonwood Pass 4 mi / 6.4 km to Horseshoe Meadow and then hitch 18 mi / 28.9 km to Lone Pine. About a mile from the trailhead, the trail crosses the creek and less than 100 yards from this crossing, there's a faint, almost invisible trail going off to the left. At the trail junction near Rock Creek, turn left and hike along the creek, passing the ranger station on the way to Lower Rock Creek Crossing. Getting a permit starting from Whitney Portal is very difficult, so many NOBO hikers opt to begin their hike at Horseshoe Meadow (can camp the night before for $6 per person). From the summit of Mount Whitney you will be greeted with impressive views of Mount Langley and Mount Muir to the south; the Kaweah Range and Sawtooth Peak to the west; Mount Russell, Tulainyo Lake (to the right of Mount Russell), the highest large alpine lake in the Sierra Nevada, Mount Williamson, Milestone Mountain, Table Mountain, and Thunder Mountain to the north; and Trail Camp, Mount Whitney Trail switchbacks, Consultation Lake, and Owens Valley to the east. Retrieved entry car and went for burgers and beer. MT. The paved road is usually open from May to late October. Onion Valley to South Lake or North Lake $260 first 2 passengers, $50 each additional. Located at the end of Horseshoe Meadow Road, 24 miles southwest of the town of Lone Pine, California. To reach the top of the first needle, Aiguille Extra, leave the trail about 1 mile from the trail junction and scramble to the top. Since we knew we wouldn’t have much time on the return, we ordered a round of Burgers and a 6-pack of beer at th… Return to your pack and hike out the Mount Whitney Trail. Come along on my hike from Horseshoe Meadows to Mount Whitney. This is a great way to summit Whitney if you can’t get a permit for the standard trail. Located at about 10,000 feet altitude it is a central hub for many day- and back-backing trips. More traffic in this section. This is also the trail segment that connects the Cottonwood Pass Trail with the New Army Pass Route. On the other hand, this may be the most strenuous portion of the trip because the altitude may have depleted your strength, energy, and desire to continue. Each additional by Steve Singkofer but finally ends at Horseshoe Meadows Gyuot Creek dates. 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