Mt. Whitney Trail starts high at 8,600 feet and ascends gently over the course of its 6,000 vertical feet gain in elevation. The average of 550-feet in elevation gain per mile makes for a relatively gentle ascent.
For fast hikers, the ascent can be done in about 5 hours, with about 7 to 8 hours for the average hiker
.
How long should a day hike be?
Most people will plan to hike
3-10 miles per day
, depending on what shape you’re in and how much elevation gain there is.
How hard is the Mt Whitney hike?
Whitney trail is
extremely difficult
, especially if you try to do it in just one day (as many do). The trail is 20 miles long, with about 6,600 feet of total elevation gain, which is A LOT for most hikers if they haven’t trained appropriately. However, you can also backpack this trail for a more enjoyable experience!
How many calories do you burn hiking Mt Whitney?
The hike had been 15 and a half hours long totaling
10755 calories
burned. We flopped into our seats, cracked open some well deserved beers, and contemplated what had just transpired. Dave told me that he remembered the good parts of the hike more than the bad ones.
How do I prepare for Mt Whitney hike?
- Prepare by hiking 8-10 miles per week with 5000-6000 feet of elevation gain.
- Run 10-14 miles per week.
- Focus on building leg strength.
- Be able to carry a 40 lb pack for a two day climb.
How many miles is Mt Whitney hike?
Mt. Whitney Trail climbs over 6,000 feet in
11 miles
. When free of snow, it provides a strenuous, non-technical route to the summit of Mt. Whitney.
Can you hike 20 miles a day?
Yes, you can hike 20 miles a day
, but you need the right kind of fitness in order to back it up day after day. It is possible to hike 20 miles without being super fit, although you most likely will be quite sore the next day.
Is a 10 mile hike long?
A 10-mile hike can take
between 4 and 10 hours
, depending on the pace, trail surface, elevation gain, and pack weight. Additional variables can affect the amount of time it takes to hike this distance, such as your level of fitness, the number of rest breaks you take, and the weather.
Can I walk 20 miles a day?
Trained Walkers
If a walker is well-trained and is taking breaks and a meal stop, then 20 miles a day is reasonable
. If you take no breaks and are going fast, you may be able to cover 30 miles if you have steadily built your mileage over the course of three to six months.
Are there bears on Mt. Whitney?
Whitney and the Whitney Portal area, like most of the Sierras are home to
many Black Bears
and a lot of Black Bear activity.
What to know before hiking Mount Whitney?
- Mount Whitney Can Be Climbed as a Day Hike or Overnight Adventure.
- There’s Hiking Season and There’s Mountaineering Season.
- Mount Whitney Permits are Highly Competitive During Quota Season.
- Check out more great hikes in the USA.
- Acclimating Beforehand Greatly Increases Your Chances of Success.
Do you need oxygen to climb Mount Whitney?
Supplementary Oxygen is usually used at very high altitude, like above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) in the Himalayas.
It will do nothing for you on Mt. Whitney except waste your money
. The fastest cure for altitude sickness is to quickly go to a much lower altitude.
How much does it cost to hike Mt. Whitney?
The transaction fee to apply for the permit lottery costs $6 per application. If you are lucky enough to receive a Mt. Whitney permit, you will then need to pay an additional
$15 per person in your group by April 30th
. If you do not pay by this date, your permit will be canceled.
What should I eat before a long hike?
- A peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole wheat bread.
- Greek yogurt with berries.
- Oatmeal with low fat milk and fruit.
- Apple and peanut butter.
- A handful of nuts and raisins (2 parts raisins, 1 part nuts)
Do you need crampons for Mt. Whitney?
You should expect to need crampons
and an ice axe. Based on the record current snowpack in that area right now the section of the trail known as the “switchbacks” will just be an approximately 45+ degree snow and ice slog.
What happens if you hike Mt. Whitney without a permit?
You do need a permit to hike up Whitney and any nearby mountain in the summer. If you don’t have a permit,
rangers will cite you and turn you back
.
Is there cell service on Mt. Whitney?
Yes to all 3
, at least for me with AT&T. To add, many of the high peaks in the sierra will also have service. I’ve sent snapchats from the summits of Williamson and Russell.
What Mile is Mt. Whitney on PCT?
Explore this
116.70 mile
, point to point trail near Inyokern, California. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 56 h 6 min to complete.
How long does a 16 mile hike take?
Hiking Estimates:
Naismith’s Rule: is
191⁄2 minutes per mile
, plus 30 minutes for every 1,000 feet of ascent. A good rough estimate on reasonably easy ground with well marked trails.
Can you hike too much?
Hiking too Far or too Fast too Soon
Much like adding weight to your pack, you also have to earn the right to add miles to your day.
When you start a long trail with an overly ambitious itinerary you have a higher risk of sustaining an overuse injury.
Is 7 miles a long hike?
Hiking 7 miles will take approximately 2 to 7 hours
, depending on the pace, trail surface, and pack weight. Additional variables such as the elevation gain and the number of breaks you will take during the hike can affect how long it takes to hike 7 miles.
How difficult is a 10-mile hike?
If your fitness level is relatively good and the hike isn’t littered with hills, mountains, or other obstacles, your 10-mile hike could be
around four to five hours
. However, if there are large hills or steep slopes, it’s possible a 10-mile hike could take all day.
How long should a 9 mile hike take?
Using Naismith’s Rule, a nine mile hike should have a base hiking time of
three hours
at a calculation of three miles per hour. The elevation gain was 3,169 feet. Adding on 10 minutes to the overall hike time for every 328 feet, that’s roughly 100 minutes to tack on.
How long does a 7 mile hike take?
For example, most people hike 2 miles per hour on an average hike. If you are walking a five-mile loop through moderate, you should allocate 2.5 hours for the hike. Likewise, a 7-mile hike will take
3.5 hours
, while a 10-mile hike will take 5 hours.
