At 14,505 feet the granite megalith of Mt. Whitney juts out 10,080 feet from the Sierra foothills, beckons highpoint climbers with its clean sweeping granite, snow couloirs, and impressive relief.
Partnering with SWS Mountain Guides (www.swsmtns.com), we’ll ascend via the Mountaineers Route. First climbed by legendary climber and naturalist John Muir, the Mountaineers Route is the classic technical ascent route to the summit. On our first day we’ll leave from the Whitney-Portal Trailhead, then quickly depart from the chaos of the standard route and head up North Fork Lone Pine Creek. That night we’ll camp by an alpine lake encircled by jagged granite towers at 11,000 feet. Rising early the next morning, we’ll navigate up past Iceberg Lake and into the steep snow couloir (gully) at the start of the Mountaineers Route. Arriving at the col (saddle) atop the couloir we may encounter a mix of snow, ice, and rock terrain during the final summit push. Standing atop the granite blocks of the summit, you’ll gaze out over the flanks of the mountain which drop away over 10,000 feet in front of you, through snowfields, alpine meadows, pine forests, and the Owens Valley—a truly stunning experience.
June is the perfect time to climb Mt. Whitney, as the snow cover provides smoother travel over the rough terrain, builds skills in technical crampon and ax use, and keeps the crowds at bay. Participating in this adventure, you can hope to advance your high-altitude climbing skills and ability traveling in mixed alpine terrain while enjoying a glorious mountain experience.
This cost is $850 for this 3-day alpine adventure. That includes breakfasts, dinners, climbing and camping equipment, and permit fees. And—of course—that cost also includes the pre-trip communication and consultation that we pride ourselves on at Adventure Spirit and that will provide you with an optimal mountain experience.