Mount Whitney Hiking Trips

Mount Whitney Hiking Trips - Itinerary

  • About the Trip: This 7-day trip begins with at the remote access of Horseshoe Meadows trailhead along the famous Pacific Crest Trail. This is a horse-pack supported trip into the far less frequently traveled back side of Mt. Whitney , which sits in Sequoia National Park. This trip is for people who want to climb Mt Whitney and are capable of hiking 10-11 miles on some days, but don't want to carry a heavy backpack.
  • Accommodations: 1 night double occupancy in Lone Pine, Ca 5 nights are spent in tents. Tents space is budgeted at two people per tent, but e also have 1-person tents available.
  • Group Size: 4-11 participants with 1 mountain guide for each 6 people.
  • Grade: Intermediate to strenuous hiking with challenging altitude. You must be in very good physical condition. Stamina is a must and experience with altitude a plus. You will be expected to carry your own day pack each day. Group gear, tents, and food will be carried each day by the horse-packers who will be leading a string of mules.
  • Equipment: SYMG supplies all group gear (stoves, cookware, H2O filters, first aid, tents, etc.) You'll be responsible for your own sleeping bags, pads (we also have these to use at no extra charge if need be), and day backpacks.
  • Cost of the Trip:
    $2295.00 per person on 11-12 people total
    $2595.00 per person 5-10 people total
    $2995.00 per person with 4 people total
  • Your Cost Includes: Lodging on day 1, Meals provided, all gear, wilderness permit, guides, daily and continuous horse pack support.
  • Not Included: Personal gear, tips for guides (10-20% of trip fee), transportation.
  • Meals: Meals begin with breakfast on day 2 and are provided through lunch and trail snacks the last day. Expect fancier fare than simple backpacking meals as we'll have the mules. Fresh and frozen items will be used.
  • Preparation: We recommend increasing your exercise routine in the two months prior to the trip to increase your cardiovascular/aerobic ability. Hiking, preferably with hills, on rough trails is excellent practice. Try training with at least a 10lb. backpack. You must have some experience hiking preferably either with strenuous backpacking or light mountaineering as well.
  • Day 1: Today we'll meet for a stay at the pleasant Best Western Inn Lone Pine, Ca, with views West of Mt Whitney. Meet your guide at 6pm for an orentation and vital gear preparation. Dinner on your own in town.
  • Day 2: Meet your guide for an included breakfast at 7am in the lobby. Here you can go over any last minute questions. Follow your guide to the trailhead a roughly 45 minute drive away. We start our hike up and over Cottonwood Pass to our first night's camp at Rock Creek Lake. 10.5 miles
  • Day 3: Today we'll hike to Crabtree Meadows, another 11 miles.
  • Day 4: Today we'll have a shorter day about 5 miles to Guitar Lake. Half day rest here for an early start on the following day.
  • Day 5: Will be an early start for an attempt of the summit of Mt. Whitney and back down to Guitar Lake for lunch and a siesta. Our pack train will return and meet us here to take our gear back to the lower country of Crabtree Meadows in the afternoon. (14.5 miles total).
  • Day 6: Hike back to Rock Creek Lake (11 miles).
  • Day 7: We'll exit Sequoia NP back over Cottonwood Pass, which would get us back to the trailhead over after 10.5 miles by 2pm.

Please call the SYMG office with any questions - 800/231-4575

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