Mount Whitney Main Trail
Sierra Nevada, CA
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Active winter storm conditions through Sunday — temps in the teens/20s, sustained winds 20-25 mph, and heavy snow tonight (89% precip probability). This is a serious weather event for a high-altitude backpacking trip. Delay your start or be prepared to shelter in place with full winter camp capabilities.
26°/12°F · Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Blowing Snow
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37" depth
Normal flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
13h 29m daylight · Sunrise 6:07 AM · Sunset 7:36 PM
Full Briefing
The weather is the whole story here. A multi-day winter storm is moving through Whitney starting today and running through Sunday. Tonight is the worst of it: lows of 13°F, winds 21-24 mph out of the west, snow showers with 89% precip probability. That combination puts wind chill well below 0°F on the exposed upper trail and Whitney Portal approach. The blowing snow tonight and into Sunday will reduce visibility and obscure the trail above treeline — the upper switchbacks and the main trail above Guitar Lake are completely exposed to that wind. This isn't a marginal call; this is a genuine winter storm on a route that climbs to 14,505 ft.
Snowpack on the trail is real. The nearest meaningful SNOTEL reference showing mountain conditions is Long Lake at 8,400 ft with 95 inches depth and SWE still at 39.7 inches — that's a deep, late-season snowpack that hasn't started melting in earnest yet. The falling trend there reflects settlement and some melt, but at 26°F daytime highs, the snowpack above 11,000 ft on Whitney is locked solid. Expect continuous snow coverage from roughly 10,000 ft up, with icy consolidated crust where wind has scoured and packed it. Microspikes or crampons and an ice axe are not optional above Trail Camp.
Stream crossings are not a concern this trip — all five gauges are near or below median flow (87-118%), stable or only slightly rising, and none approach the 150% threshold. North Fork Lone Pine Creek at the lower trail is manageable. No fires within 50 miles, so air quality is clean.
The window improves Monday — precip drops to 23% and winds ease to 9-18 mph, with Monday night mostly clear at 14°F. If you're flexible, pushing your start to Sunday afternoon or Monday morning means you arrive after the worst of the storm, travel Monday in improving conditions, and summit Tuesday in what should be a clear, calm window. If you're committed to today's start, get to Trail Camp before tonight's worst winds and dig in — the 37-inch snowpack is enough to build a solid wind block. Plan your summit bid for Monday morning before afternoon convection builds.
Waypoints
Whitney Portal
Start at Whitney Portal. Store, campground, and parking. Trailhead sign here.
8,360 ft
Outpost Camp
First designated camping area. Good acclimatization stop.
11,499 ft
Trail Camp
Main overnight camp before the summit push. Toilet facilities.
12,999 ft
Trail Crest (99 Switchbacks)
Top of the 99 Switchbacks. Often icy in early season. Views of the Owens Valley.
14,009 ft
Mount Whitney Summit
Summit! Highest point in the contiguous US at 14,505 feet. Summit hut for shelter.
14,505 ft
Route Details
Distance
21.0 mi
Elevation Gain
6,099 ft
Elevation Loss
6,099 ft
Max Elevation
14,505 ft
Estimated Days
1
Trailhead
Whitney Portal
Best Season
July through September. Snow on trail in June and early July. Permits required—lottery opens in February.
Permit Required
Permit required May 1–Nov 1 through recreation.gov. Overnight permits need bear canister.
About This Route
The Mount Whitney Trail from Whitney Portal is the standard route to the summit of the highest peak in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet. The 11-mile trail (one way) gains 6,100 feet through pine forests, past alpine lakes, and across granite boulder fields to the summit plateau. The trail is one of the most heavily used wilderness corridors in the country. Whitney Portal sells out permits almost instantly when the lottery opens. Day hikers can make the round trip in 8-12 hours for fit hikers starting at 3am; overnight backpackers typically camp at Outpost Camp or Trail Camp. Altitude sickness is the primary hazard, especially for hikers coming from sea level. Acclimate by spending a night at Whitney Portal (8,365 ft) before attempting the summit. Snow crosses the trail above Trail Camp through mid-July most years, and the 99 Switchbacks can be icy in early season requiring microspikes or crampons. Thunderstorms build almost daily in July and August. The summit must be reached by noon to safely descend before afternoon lightning. The trail is well-marked and heavily trafficked.
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