June, myself, the Harringtons, and Brett rented a condo in Mammoth Lakes for the week. On Tues, Bruce, Brett, and myself drove south to Lone Pine, then up the hill to the Whitney portal.

Google 'terrain' map of the hike (red line and text drawn by me).

Here is another nice map that we had with us for the hike.

Mt Whitney from Lone Pine, Ca.

In the foreground you can see the switchbacks on the 13.5 mi. drive from Lone Pine (4000 ft) to the Whitney Portal (8300 ft).

Nice waterfall at the Whitney Portal campground.

Our campsite at the campground, 1 mile down the canyon from the trail head.

Tues evening we had a chance to hob-nob with one of the expert hikers. If you look closely at his shirt, "Crazy Jack" 64 yrs old, has walked the mountain TWICE in one day (did that 2 times) and hiked the mountain 104 times (and counting). Among other tips, he told us where exactly where and when to refill water. And BTW, don't bother to filter. This really is mountain fresh water.

The lovely Whitney Portal store, serving up supplies and great burgers. Doug (the owner) also shared his best 'first-timer' tip: GO SLOW (1 mph) on the way up. This gives your body time to acclimate to the altitude.

At the parking lot near the trail head, we had to move fast to avoid a confrontation with three different bears. This small one was especially tenacious.

Wed, 3:30 am at the trail head.

The weather was surprisingly warm. Maybe 50°F. The jackets came off around sunrise and stayed off for the remainder of the walk.

About 6 am. Sunrise at Trail side meadow, our first water fill-up. Our spirits were still very high at this point.

Just past Trail Camp (6 mile mark) and looking to scale the dreaded "97 switchbacks". Only 2.2 miles and 1200 ft elevation gain, but relentless monotony.

To get some perspective on the scale of this image, can you see 5 hikers in the red circle?

Now can you see them?

Our last chance for water before summitting: Switchback #22. It will be about 8 tough, high-altitude miles till we return to this spot.  

Brett and I filled our hydration packs, added electrolytes, then Brett drank deeply from the source. We continued on our walk, until the very next switchback. Then we realized THIS was switchback #22, the one we SHOULD have filled at. OOPS!. The water flowed from a rock and across the trail, then down to the one that we filled at. Yikes!.

I emptied my pack bladder and refilled. Brett figured he already drank deeply, so may as well continue to do so.  He says he immediately felt dehydrated after drinking, a sure sign of contaminated water. It didn't slow him down though.

On the switchbacks, Joan - 71 yrs old - a fellow 'first-timer' from West Virginia. One of the several nice people we met on the trail. She took our picture at the summit while she waited for the rest of her party. They were all much younger than her. The peak just left of straight above her head is Whitney.

On the switchbacks, close to Trail Crest. Trail Camp is near the small, greenish lake                   ^ here.

Overnight hikers walk 6 miles to Trail Camp and spend the night. In the morning they continue to the summit with a day pack, back down to camp, and then down to the Portal. Still a very long day.

Trail Crest. 2.8 miles and about 800 ft elevation climb left to go. Now the view is facing West toward Sequoia national park.

The half-mile or so of this part of the trail was TERRORIZING for me. Narrow trail and steep cliffs. I put my head down and moved fast ahead of the others.

Notice the purple flowers?

Gorgeous purple flowers sprinkled along the trail at the higher elevations. Nice touch! The National Park Service thinks of everything!

The infamous 'Wag-bag', complete with plastic sheet, generous portion of TP, and moist towelette.

You do your business on the green sheet, then wrap it all up nicely and put it in the sealable green bag, and carry it down to the portal.  

The morning cold-coffee shooters kicked in for Brett and I earlier that morning near the tree-lined Trail Meadow. We both agreed: the breaking daylight in the quiet forest made this father/son bonding experience a highlight for the trip.

Bruce, however, trying to hold off the inevitable, had to go at 13,000 ft. on the freeway-like, narrow moon-scape trail after Trail Crest. Brett and I ran interference for him.

Snowfield close to the summit, looking back along the windows toward Trail Crest.

Bruce and I walking the last 100 yds to the summit. Sequoia National Park toward the West in the distance.

Mt Whitney summit - 14, 500 ft. 12:45 pm.

Watch video taken by Brett at the summit.

At the summit looking South toward LA.

You can barely see the trail along the 'windows' which provide a look East though the craggy peaks.

Brett at the summit  Looking East in the distance, Lone Pine (at 4000 ft) is 8, 500 ft lower and 25 miles away.

After resting for 45 mins. and signing the book, we headed back down.

Chris, a 25 yr old from San Diego is pictured here with us. He joined us close to Trail Camp and remained with us for the rest of the day. He was a welcome addition to the family.

Heading down, passing the windows. At this point we thought, 9 hrs up, maybe 5 hrs down. WRONG!! Going down is faster, but much of the trail down contains stair-like trail, which is NOT faster. And we were VERY tired.

Bruce and I spent 8 hrs. getting back to the Portal. Chris and Brett left us in the dust. Brett waited for us in the dark after doing some packing at the car. Brett also paid for dinner in Lone Pine, then drove us 2 hrs. back to Mammoth. I passed out.  Thanks son!

Watch a video Brett took of some guy hiking up this little hill.

And I wonder why he did up there? Look over the top?

See pics of the rest of our week at Mammoth Lakes.