I'm 71 with a triple bypass and would not consider such a climb. But, I'm impressed with anyone at any age who has the guts to make this climb. I enjoy making the climb vicariously in these videos.
Thanks for watching and we're so happy you can enjoy the hike with us! We're the same, anything above our skill level we love to watch others doing on UA-cam. It's great when you can watch and really get a true sense of the place and that's what we try to do with our videos.
Glad you enjoyed the video! We love that people of all ages can watch and join us in our adventures. Hopefully the footage does the incredible scenery justice!
One of the best Whitney videos I’ve seen. Loved the shots throughout the trail to really show us what the hike was like. Thank you also for putting month and year of hike on your video. So many people don’t include this and time of year and year really affect conditions. This is on my goals list and I’ll rewatch many more times.
Thanks! We try as much as possible to include important information in our videos and to show the experience exactly how it happens, and in chronological order. Not only so we remember it, but so viewers can watch and truly get an understanding of how the trail works. Glad this helps you out, and good luck if you ever give Whitney a try...it's totally worth it!! Feel free to ask if you have any questions about the hike.
@@lylesuch4421 Thank you! I also forgot to say how beautiful the footage was. This is truly one of, if not the best Whitney hike videos out there. It's stunning, the music is just right for the video and sound is even, you can actually SEE what the hike is like, and I loved the captions in the windy parts. This is just so well done. New subscriber. So glad I found your channel. Just got back from Canyonlands and I see that's another video you have so watching that one next. Happy hiking!
Wonderful video! I did Mt. Whitney back in 2009. Was supposed to go with two other people but they backed out so I was all alone. I stayed overnight at Outpost Camp then did summit and return on the second day. It was May and the 99 switchbacks were snowed over. Had to climb over the cables (nearly turned back at that point) but it was smooth after that. So many memories!
Wow! That must have been quite an experience...going solo and tackling snowy switchbacks. We just missed the snow, not sure if we would have been confident enough to go up in the snow. Mt. Whitney really is a great trail, full of unique features and beautiful views...definitely will remember this one for a long time to come!
Exactly! We consider ourselves lucky as well to live in such an incredible place. You can live here a lifetime and never run out of new and spectacular views.
Wow 😢❤ Not sure why (maybe later 😉) but this whole shoot brought a tear to my eye. How beautiful. Have hiked the local mountains and grew up in New England (very ocean /costal biased 😎), have seen Hoover dam, San Fran, Maine/Nova Scotia, White Mountains, San Diego, mount Baldy, etc, (etc. (have yet to see the red woods/) and being somewhat close, (southern California), Mt Whitney is really close and seeing this (your shoot) made me smile and you confirmed again, how awesome this planet is. Just simply. Wow. Really cool. 🔜✌️🕊️😎
Whitney is an incredible mountain, we've wanted to see the summit for a long time and it was worth the challenging hike. There's a great book called The High Sierra by Kim Stanley Robinson which really puts into words how unique and beautiful the Sierra's are, worth a read if you're into nature and the mountains. Glad you liked our video!!
@@lylesuch4421 it was pretty great. Really. With all the cgi/green screen, adobe, motion, fcp and the likes theee days, it’s nice to see some “real” footage that captures the essence of your journey, which also inspires. 👍😎😎🕊️
Great vid, thank you for sharing! Brings back so many memories. My gf and I were visiting the area in Lone Pine and were checking into a hotel in the evening and a couple climbers said they had Whitney single-day passes for sale. We bought them, slept just a couple hours, fortunately had some gear and started the ascent at 2:00 am. Her day pack was too heavy for her so I carried her pack up and just threw it on top of my day pack. We made it back down by 7:00 pm and in enough time to have a great Mexican food dinner at a restaurant. It was very difficult to move getting out of the restaurant as my legs were so sore. One of the best days in my life so far.
Sounds like a great adventure...not many chances to climb Whitney spontaneously so you were really lucky!! We know exactly the feeling of exhaustion and accomplishment after a long day hiking Whitney, unfortunately we couldn't stop for Mexican food and had to jump in the car and drive straight back to LA. We love when our videos can bring back people's memories of their own experiences, so glad to hear you enjoyed it!!
Twice, that's impressive! It was quite a challenge, and as much as we vow to never do it again...I'm pretty sure we will one day. By the way great videos on your channel. Very thorough, and cool that you take the extra time to create them in both English and Spanish.
@@lylesuch4421 we lived down south in Orange and LA counties before moving to Independence in the early 70's. It's a completely different lifestyle but definitely worth it if you like living rural. While there was grocery and small item shopping in town, we used Bishop for quite a bit things. I know some of the atmosphere has changed there, but not much since I have been back frequently. There is always something to do! Fishing, hiking, exploring, etc. Be sure to take a small hike if you haven't already over on the other mountains and see Winnedumah. There's so much lore and adventure in that whole area!
Thank you for sharing your adventure. I plan to hike up Mt Whitney in May//June 2023. Doing my research. Your video is very helpful for planning purposes.
That's great! Most likely you'll be taking the mountaineer route if you're going in May or June...still a lot of snow up there at that time. Whitney is a wonderful and challenging experience, good luck and hopefully you make it to the summit!
If you're planning on going in May, you'll be certain to encounter snowy and icy conditions. The mountaineers route is the way people go at that time, and you need experience with winter climbing and equipment. It is very dangerous if you're not familiar with that type of climbing. The snow/ice remains on the traditional route well into July, and while still navigable with snow if you have spikes/crampons, it can be pretty treacherous. I would highly recommend joining the Mt. Whitney Facebook group, it's full of helpful people and up to date weather conditions and is a wealth of helpful information. You can also search back to the previous years and see everyone's post from May and what the conditions are like. But, in my opinion, if you're not familiar with winter ascents, maybe change your climb to late July or August. Good luck!!
I have hiked to the top of Whitney twice, both times starting on the west side of the Sierra. The best trip was when I started at Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon, hiked up Bubbs Creek and over Forester Pass, and eventually exited to Whitney Portal after climbing to the top via the trail. Interestingly, the highlight of that trip was not the climb of Whitney, but rather the two glorious days I spent exploring and fishing in the fabulous Upper Kern Basin at the foot of the Kings-Kern Divide!! 💥
Sounds like some incredible experiences! There's something fun about just summiting from Whitney Portal as a day hike and it feels like such a great accomplishment. But, you really do miss out on the best part of being in the Sierra's which are all those incredible lakes once you descend into the basins and valleys. Next time I think we'll take it slower and hike a similar route that you've described...and relax a little bit to enjoy the scenery.
That's great, Whitney is a pretty incredible adventure. I'm sure you know or will find out through research, spring is unpredictable, and may require full winter gear and experience and can last well into June/July. If you're planning on a hike with no technical gear, fall is much safer bet. Good luck!
Yeah, we knew it would be a challenge but we didn't realize how beautiful of a trail it would be. Lots of lakes, great views and some surprisingly green areas. And the views at the summit are incredible!
I've hiked several mountains in S. Calif. , Yosemite, Sequoia, Longs Peak, CO, Tetons, WY, Beartooths, Montana, Grand Canyon, AZ, but Mt. Whitney is still my fav trail. The majestic peaks and walls tower like inside a cathedral. Always something different around the next corner.
When I was growing up, my dad’s thing was camping and backpacking. Many of our trips either started or ended at Whitney portal, and of course it goes without saying that going over the crest meant leaving the backpacks at the Whitney trail junction to make the jaunt to the top of Whitney. Typically my mom would stay at the junction with the packs to keep the marmots at bay.
Good luck! If you've never summited Mt. Whitney, you're in for an incredible experience. Great views, the people are all nice along the way, and the sense of accomplishment at the end is hard to beat. And hopefully you get good weather!!
Thanks!! We love making these videos, wish we could do more but it takes way too much time. We're actually returning to Mt. Langley next month in hopes of finally summiting. We made a previous video where wildfire smoke drove us out, so hopefully this time we can finish a video with the successful summit.
Loved your video! i too have been up there several times and not a bad idea to spend a night at Trail Camp. You can take more time and enjoy the views.
100% agree. Usually we don't like to rush through scenic hikes like this. We were lucky enough to get a day permit, hopefully in the future we can get an overnight and actually take our time and enjoy a little more! Sunrise on the summit would be incredible.
You're absolutely right...this was a big punishment on our knees! Long distance, huge elevation gain, and to top it off, a four hour car ride immediately upon finishing. The views and experience, however, were 100% worth it!!
Yes, lots of high-altitude experience has taught us exactly what we need to do to prepare. It's surprising how many people rush up with no acclimatizing and end up paying the price.
Highly recommended to wear a helmet on the switchbacks. As you can see in the video, the trail winds up above itself and the entire slope is composed of loose rocks. Many small rocks on the trail can be kicked off to the trail below. Also a helmet is helpful on the upper trail final traverse, where it is easy to trip and fall.
Yeah, definitely a good recommendation. Strange how very few people think about wearing helmets at Whitney on this route considering all the potential rock fall but on similar routes in Europe it's a common thing to see people in helmets.
Yeah, beauty and torture at the same time! We definitely loved this hike but it's probably better to do it as an overnight instead of just one long day hike. One of the best parts is how friendly the people are that you meet on the trail, definitely a bonus!
It need not be a technical climb, and the beauty is incredible. Bring good reading and other treats (Single Malt Scotch), your fave pillow. This climb is for everyone! Enjoy 👏✌️
Thanks!! This was one of our more difficult shoots, hiking in the dark, trying not to spend too much time shooting, etc. The area is beautiful, and it's pretty easy to get great video from a place like Mt. Whitney.
Thanks! We track the hike in Strava, then import the .gpx data into Google Earth where it creates the line. I import it into After Effects to retime it and add the labels. Kind of complicated, and I'm pretty sure there are much better ways to do it. I think the Relive app is a much better option, and much easier.
We summited Whitney in June of 2022. Each year is different though, and depending on the snow levels the non-mountaineer route can be pretty treacherous well into July. If we were to do it again, August or September would be a safer bet to make sure conditions are the best. The biggest problem is getting permits, and it's harder to get one at popular times. Good luck, it is an amazing adventure!!
Thanks! We usually take acclimatizing very seriously, but didn’t have a lot of time for Whitney. Usually up in the Sierras we like to use White Mountain as a place to acclimatize. Sleeping at the trailhead and summiting an easy 14er is a great way to start a more serious mountain. For Whitney, however, we just drove up to Cottonwood Lakes trailhead and hiked 5 miles up to the first lake. Only gained about 500 feet but it starts around 10,000. Slept down in Lone Pine then summited the following day. When we summited Langley a couple months later, we ended up staying overnight at Cottonwood Lakes at the trailhead, which allows you to sleep at 10,000 feet and have immediate access to the trails so it’s a really easy way to combine hiking and sleeping up high. This is now our favorite method in that area. But you really have to know yourself…some people require much more time acclimatizing to be successful, some don’t need it at all. Good luck if you’re thinking about summiting Whitney, it is a fun and challenging adventure!
Good luck! You were smart to attempt Whitney later in the year with all the snow we've had. Hopefully you have an amazing time like we did and safely and successfully summit!
Congrats on successful hike ! Loved the cinematic shots. Can you tellme which light you were using for night hiking? Noticed that it was attached to your hip belt.
Thanks! That light we bought at REI a long time ago, it's a cheap solar powered lantern. I don't think they sell it anymore but there are similar models available now. It is surprisingly useful, people are really stuck on headlamps, but this kind of lantern does a great job, doesn't shine in people's eyes, and is so much more useful around camp. People always ask about it, surprising that it's not more widely used and we highly recommend for night hiking.
Hopefully you get good weather! It is quite an incredible experience. We've hiked at much higher altitudes, but for some reason being the highest in the lower 48 makesMt. Whitney extra special. Great views from the top!
It looks like August should be a good month this year to hike Whitney. We took around 20 hours out and back...but we take our time, enjoy the scenery, and shoot a ton of video. There were hikers slower than us, and a ton of hikers much faster than us so it all depends on your pace. Good luck!!
Been to lone pine about 4x and spoke to a couple of locals and they all stated the same thing, it's best to do this hike in 2 days rather than 1 or 3. That's my plan to do this hike this summer of 23. Anyone know where I can obtain the permits?
What's best depends on your interests/abilities so it's very subjective...we liked the challenge of completing Whitney in one day. Two days would be nice and gives you more time, three days you could really enjoy the scenery and take your time, go fishing, etc. You need to apply at recreation.gov in February I think if you want permits for the summer, so you've already missed the lottery. You can check back regularly and join Whitney social media groups to see if anyone gives up a permit. If anyone does that, the permit goes back available online. Good luck!
Thanks! Good luck on your attempt. If you haven't done it before, you're in for quite an experience. Way more beautiful than we thought it would be, especially if you catch sunrise in the right location. Have fun and be safe!!
We keep talking about making sure the month in our videos is more obvious, seems to be information people really want to know. It's in the thumbnail but we should probably make it a little larger so people notice. We hiked in June of this year. If you're looking to hike the route with the switchbacks, June is still on the verge of being partially covered in snow. Luckily it had mostly melted by the time we got up there. If you're thinking of hiking Mt. Whitney, it is an incredible (and tough) experience...good luck!!
Congratulations on summiting Mt Whiney. My friends and I would be there end of August. How big of a backpack did you carry, and for lighting, did you carry headlamps, if yes, which ones do you reccomend?
Thanks! We're not a good example on what to carry...between heavy and bulky camera gear, extra layers for bad weather, bear spray, and all the extra food/precautions for us and just in case we run into others that are unprepared, we tend to over pack. If you're doing it as a day hike you can go pretty lightweight and depending on water levels you can fill up until you get to the top of the 99 switchbacks so you don't need a ton of water. Just plan on what you need for a long day with possible major weather shifts. As for lighting, you definitely need it. This is a long hike and you'll either be hiking pre-sunrise or post-sunset, possibly even both. The trail is easy to follow but you still need light. I don't even know the brand of mine, it's at least 10 years old and works fine. My wife carries a cheap REI solar lamp that she hangs on her backpack straps and it actually works better than a headlamp in some ways. It's all about personal preference and what you can afford. Good luck!!
@@lylesuch4421 You don't need bear spray on Whitney. I've been on the trail many times and never seen a bear (possibly passed one at night?). The rangers say the bears are afraid of people. There are so many people on the mountain, I doubt bears want to hang around.
We didn't camp so not positive on the camping part, but you need to go to recreation.gov to get trail permits and they have either day permits or multi-day permits which would be used for camping. It's a lottery system and very difficult to get permits. We did not get a permit when they were first available, but we joined a Mt. Whitney Facebook group where someone said they had released permits, so we went back on to recreation.gov and luckily got them. It's a pain and you have to plan a long time in advance.
Very well done! I do have a question though, why emphasis on the "Contiguous United States" instead of just calling it the 11th highest peak in the country? I see this trend quite a bit with younger hikers (including many who mistakenly refer to Whitney as the highest in "Continental" United States. Is it just a convenient metric to boost the accomplishment?
Thanks!! You make a funny and true observation. The claim to “highest” peak in an area is similar to all the summits now having signs when back in the day you often didn’t even know what summit you were on. This definitely isn’t just a younger hiker thing, all ages participate in this title inflation. In our ongoing experience visiting high places, it’s sometimes comical how region plays such a role in claiming “highest” point, often starting with an area’s tourism board. Mt. Toubkal-highest peak in North Africa. Black Elk Peak South Dakota-highest peak between the Rockies and the Pyrenees, Chimborazo-highest peak in the world if you measure it’s distance from the sun, and one of my favorites, Signal de Botrange-the highest point in the European part of Benelux at a whopping 2,277 feet. In the end, everyone wants their summit to be epic, and it definitely boosts the accomplishment if you can say you were on the highest of something. Often when we travel, we specifically look for the highest spot in a country or state just for the fun of knowing we were above everything else in that defined area. In Whitney’s case, I totally get it. The climb is difficult and a challenge, but compare it to those 11 higher peaks in the U.S. and it looks kind of like a walk in the park. Also, unfortunately, I think the most common answer to your question is clickbait…bigger claims equal bigger views.
@@lylesuch4421 Fair enough. I again want to acknowledge just how awesome your accomplishment is, I love watching Whitney videos. If I were to ever make one, I think I'd just post it as the "28th highest in North America!" or something for kicks (I think it's 28th, now I gotta go check). Keep up the good work.
Now you have us wondering what place Langley is. We might be making a summit video very soon of Langley, and it's claim to fame is that it's the Southern-most 14er in the U.S. I think it's around 44th in the U.S. That would make a funny title...summiting the U.S.'s 44th highest peak!!! Maybe we'll give that a try just for fun.
@@lylesuch4421 I saw your Langley hike, I liked you added that 44th highest statistic at the summit (congrats, by the way). You got up there JUST before the weather got nasty it appears. Which would you say is a tougher hike, Langley or Whitney?
We were lucky with the weather, yeah, a couple weeks and we wouldn’t have been able to summit without some gear. Funny how just a couple hundred feet less in elevation and a mountains ranking plummets. Goes to show that even if a mountain is the “highest” or one of the highest, it’s not necessarily the easiest or has the best views. We thought Langley had a much better view than Whitney…and you can see Whitney which is a bonus. Whitney vs Langley in difficulty…we talked about that a lot while we made our way down the mountain. It’s a toss-up and I bet a controversial subject. Similar distances, similar elevation gain, although Whitney is a little longer and has a little more gain. Whitney is moderately strenuous the entire way, you’re constantly climbing, then the trail levels off as you near the summit. A long and continuous climb and very exhausting. Langley is super easy for the first seven miles, until you hit whichever pass you choose to climb. Then it’s a relentless climb, and to top it off, the crown of Langley, when you’re at your most tired, is a vertical, slippery, scree-filled effort, with no real marked path. In the end, I think Langley was more difficult…and a lot of that is psychological. While the stats don’t indicate how hard it is compared to Whitney, the experience for us made it pretty clear. We also met a local woman who hikes both mountains regularly and she concurred, Langley is the harder of the two, at least in our opinion.
Yeah, not a great idea to carry all that weight for a day hike...but we carry a lot of camera gear, extra food/clothes for emergency situations etc. We always seem to run into hikers that are unprepared so if nothing else our over-preparedness can help others on the trail.
Thanks! Now that we've completed the hike in a day, I would definitely prefer doing it in two...camping overnight would be a more relaxed way of seeing Mt. Whitney.
Mt. Whitney is such a pain to get permits! That is the best way...to get an invite from someone who already got lucky and got the permit in the lottery. Good luck if you ever give it a shot!
Very nice! Isn't it fun to see how each person can go on the same hike but see it in completely unique and personal ways? Congrats on reaching the summit and you chose the smart way of doing it in two days instead of one!!
@@lylesuch4421 One enjoys it more if one takes his or her time. Loved your video. I never get tired of seeing Mt Whitney videos now that I have done it.
We're constantly shocked to see the age of some hikers in some pretty difficult to reach places. We once say a 90 year old hiking deep into the Grand Canyon and people over 70 summiting Kilimanjaro. Don't let age stop you!!
Don't let her demeanor fool you, my wife is a highly experienced, competent hiker in all climates, altitudes and conditions. Given that the daily trail reports at that time were indicating ice on several parts of the trail, it seems like the logical thing to bring equipment that might help in those conditions (ie microspikes). We always err on the side of caution, whether it be for us or for others who are unequipped with food, water, spikes, etc. Not sure why this is considered "rookie", we consider it safe based on our many many years of experience.
Not exactly a walk in the park. This is a strenuous, long distance hike with high altitudes and elevation gain if you're summiting in one day and can be very dangerous if taken lightly (as you stated in a previous comment). Kind of irresponsible to label it as easy.
wow... I never knew how ugly Mt. Whitney was. No wonder nobody ever makes a big deal out of it. I've lived in Vegas for decades and never even knew where it was and driven past it many, many times and took no notice of it at all. I'm originally from Seattle and know ALL the mountain peaks around there from Rainier to Shasta but Whitney is the highest of all of them and I had no idea it was so close to me. Now that I've seen it through your video I see why nobody cares.
That's a very unusual opinion of Mt. Whitney. We're pretty sure the 30,000 plus people each year that attempt the summit and the countless reviews raving about the mountain's beauty would tend to disagree (although beauty is of course, subjective). But to say nobody makes a big deal about it and that nobody cares would be objectively wrong. It is a big deal and people come from all over the country (and the world) to hike Mt. Whitney. The permit system exists because it is such a popular mountain that they need to limit the climbers and hikers. Maybe you should climb it and experience it for yourself up close...might not change your mind but it's always worth a shot and it is an incredible challenge and experience!
I'm 71 with a triple bypass and would not consider such a climb. But, I'm impressed with anyone at any age who has the guts to make this climb. I enjoy making the climb vicariously in these videos.
Thanks for watching and we're so happy you can enjoy the hike with us! We're the same, anything above our skill level we love to watch others doing on UA-cam. It's great when you can watch and really get a true sense of the place and that's what we try to do with our videos.
Thank You for letting us join you (age 75) Hugs for blazing such a beautiful trail.
Glad you enjoyed the video! We love that people of all ages can watch and join us in our adventures. Hopefully the footage does the incredible scenery justice!
One of the best Whitney videos I’ve seen. Loved the shots throughout the trail to really show us what the hike was like. Thank you also for putting month and year of hike on your video. So many people don’t include this and time of year and year really affect conditions. This is on my goals list and I’ll rewatch many more times.
Thanks! We try as much as possible to include important information in our videos and to show the experience exactly how it happens, and in chronological order. Not only so we remember it, but so viewers can watch and truly get an understanding of how the trail works. Glad this helps you out, and good luck if you ever give Whitney a try...it's totally worth it!! Feel free to ask if you have any questions about the hike.
@@lylesuch4421 Thank you! I also forgot to say how beautiful the footage was. This is truly one of, if not the best Whitney hike videos out there. It's stunning, the music is just right for the video and sound is even, you can actually SEE what the hike is like, and I loved the captions in the windy parts. This is just so well done. New subscriber. So glad I found your channel. Just got back from Canyonlands and I see that's another video you have so watching that one next. Happy hiking!
Wonderful video! I did Mt. Whitney back in 2009. Was supposed to go with two other people but they backed out so I was all alone. I stayed overnight at Outpost Camp then did summit and return on the second day. It was May and the 99 switchbacks were snowed over. Had to climb over the cables (nearly turned back at that point) but it was smooth after that. So many memories!
Wow! That must have been quite an experience...going solo and tackling snowy switchbacks. We just missed the snow, not sure if we would have been confident enough to go up in the snow. Mt. Whitney really is a great trail, full of unique features and beautiful views...definitely will remember this one for a long time to come!
Damn, I am sure proud to be from California. Insane views all around the state.
Exactly! We consider ourselves lucky as well to live in such an incredible place. You can live here a lifetime and never run out of new and spectacular views.
Beautifully filmed, edited and presented. Thanks
Thanks, we really appreciate the compliment!
5 year old Fletcher Flynn's climb with his father on Oct 4, 2017 has so much more meaning. Appreciate the wildflower photos
Yes, what an accomplishment as a 5 year old. I can't imagine summiting Whitney as a small child.
Amazing video and full of information! We will watch it again to get ready for our hike in July'23
Thanks! Hopefully you have a successful summit and a great experience like we did!!
Wow 😢❤
Not sure why (maybe later 😉) but this whole shoot brought a tear to my eye. How beautiful.
Have hiked the local mountains and grew up in New England (very ocean /costal biased 😎), have seen Hoover dam, San Fran, Maine/Nova Scotia, White Mountains, San Diego, mount Baldy, etc, (etc. (have yet to see the red woods/) and being somewhat close, (southern California), Mt Whitney is really close and seeing this (your shoot) made me smile and you confirmed again, how awesome this planet is. Just simply. Wow. Really cool.
🔜✌️🕊️😎
Whitney is an incredible mountain, we've wanted to see the summit for a long time and it was worth the challenging hike. There's a great book called The High Sierra by Kim Stanley Robinson which really puts into words how unique and beautiful the Sierra's are, worth a read if you're into nature and the mountains. Glad you liked our video!!
@@lylesuch4421 it was pretty great. Really. With all the cgi/green screen, adobe, motion, fcp and the likes theee days, it’s nice to see some “real” footage that captures the essence of your journey, which also inspires.
👍😎😎🕊️
Great vid, thank you for sharing! Brings back so many memories. My gf and I were visiting the area in Lone Pine and were checking into a hotel in the evening and a couple climbers said they had Whitney single-day passes for sale. We bought them, slept just a couple hours, fortunately had some gear and started the ascent at 2:00 am. Her day pack was too heavy for her so I carried her pack up and just threw it on top of my day pack. We made it back down by 7:00 pm and in enough time to have a great Mexican food dinner at a restaurant. It was very difficult to move getting out of the restaurant as my legs were so sore. One of the best days in my life so far.
Sounds like a great adventure...not many chances to climb Whitney spontaneously so you were really lucky!! We know exactly the feeling of exhaustion and accomplishment after a long day hiking Whitney, unfortunately we couldn't stop for Mexican food and had to jump in the car and drive straight back to LA. We love when our videos can bring back people's memories of their own experiences, so glad to hear you enjoyed it!!
Congratulations!!
That is a very hard and strenuous hike, I’ve done it twice and loved it so much, great video!!
Thank your for sharing 🥾🥾
Twice, that's impressive! It was quite a challenge, and as much as we vow to never do it again...I'm pretty sure we will one day. By the way great videos on your channel. Very thorough, and cool that you take the extra time to create them in both English and Spanish.
Maravillosas imágenes en un lugar fantástico. Enhorabuena! wonderful images in a fantastic place. Congratulations!
It is a beautiful area, and as you get higher and higher the views just get better and better!
Awesome video. Love California adventures.
Thanks! California is full of great adventures, we've spent decades exploring and still have so many more things to see here.
Beautifully produced video. Camera work, editing & sound are professional grade. Much appreciated.
Thanks! Always great to hear when someone appreciates the work we put into these videos.
Great video! I lived in Independence for awhile but never got to take this hike so seeing your video is a real bonus...did a few hikes up Bishop Pass.
So many great hikes up in that area! We always wonder what it would be like living up there.
@@lylesuch4421 we lived down south in Orange and LA counties before moving to Independence in the early 70's. It's a completely different lifestyle but definitely worth it if you like living rural. While there was grocery and small item shopping in town, we used Bishop for quite a bit things. I know some of the atmosphere has changed there, but not much since I have been back frequently. There is always something to do! Fishing, hiking, exploring, etc. Be sure to take a small hike if you haven't already over on the other mountains and see Winnedumah. There's so much lore and adventure in that whole area!
Thank you for sharing your adventure. I plan to hike up Mt Whitney in May//June 2023. Doing my research. Your video is very helpful for planning purposes.
That's great! Most likely you'll be taking the mountaineer route if you're going in May or June...still a lot of snow up there at that time. Whitney is a wonderful and challenging experience, good luck and hopefully you make it to the summit!
Hi! I'm planing to do it on May23 too, what weather can I expect? No snow where I live so I have no gear or experience on that part.
If you're planning on going in May, you'll be certain to encounter snowy and icy conditions. The mountaineers route is the way people go at that time, and you need experience with winter climbing and equipment. It is very dangerous if you're not familiar with that type of climbing. The snow/ice remains on the traditional route well into July, and while still navigable with snow if you have spikes/crampons, it can be pretty treacherous. I would highly recommend joining the Mt. Whitney Facebook group, it's full of helpful people and up to date weather conditions and is a wealth of helpful information. You can also search back to the previous years and see everyone's post from May and what the conditions are like. But, in my opinion, if you're not familiar with winter ascents, maybe change your climb to late July or August. Good luck!!
I have hiked to the top of Whitney twice, both times starting on the west side of the Sierra. The best trip was when I started at Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon, hiked up Bubbs Creek and over Forester Pass, and eventually exited to Whitney Portal after climbing to the top via the trail. Interestingly, the highlight of that trip was not the climb of Whitney, but rather the two glorious days I spent exploring and fishing in the fabulous Upper Kern Basin at the foot of the Kings-Kern Divide!! 💥
Sounds like some incredible experiences! There's something fun about just summiting from Whitney Portal as a day hike and it feels like such a great accomplishment. But, you really do miss out on the best part of being in the Sierra's which are all those incredible lakes once you descend into the basins and valleys. Next time I think we'll take it slower and hike a similar route that you've described...and relax a little bit to enjoy the scenery.
An amazing and inspiring video, beautifully done…
Thanks, we really appreciate that! We love the Sierra's, they really are a beautiful place to go hiking.
Nice! Planning on doing this hike in either spring or fall of 2024.
That's great, Whitney is a pretty incredible adventure. I'm sure you know or will find out through research, spring is unpredictable, and may require full winter gear and experience and can last well into June/July. If you're planning on a hike with no technical gear, fall is much safer bet. Good luck!
I was there 2 years ago.Good memories for me.Thank you.
Whitney really is a unique, memorable experience. Glad our video brought you back to your time there!
I didn't realize it was so beautiful hiking up to Mt. Whitney! I'll bump this up in my priority list for places I want to hike.
Yeah, we knew it would be a challenge but we didn't realize how beautiful of a trail it would be. Lots of lakes, great views and some surprisingly green areas. And the views at the summit are incredible!
I've hiked several mountains in S. Calif. , Yosemite, Sequoia, Longs Peak, CO, Tetons, WY, Beartooths, Montana, Grand Canyon, AZ, but Mt. Whitney is still my fav trail. The majestic peaks and walls tower like inside a cathedral. Always something different around the next corner.
When I was growing up, my dad’s thing was camping and backpacking. Many of our trips either started or ended at Whitney portal, and of course it goes without saying that going over the crest meant leaving the backpacks at the Whitney trail junction to make the jaunt to the top of Whitney. Typically my mom would stay at the junction with the packs to keep the marmots at bay.
That's really cool having family memories at a place like Mt. Whitney! Probably hasn't changed a whole lot up there since back then.
Headed up there this weekend, thanks for the hike details!
Good luck! If you've never summited Mt. Whitney, you're in for an incredible experience. Great views, the people are all nice along the way, and the sense of accomplishment at the end is hard to beat. And hopefully you get good weather!!
Wow great video! Please don't stop! Both of you are amazing!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks!! We love making these videos, wish we could do more but it takes way too much time. We're actually returning to Mt. Langley next month in hopes of finally summiting. We made a previous video where wildfire smoke drove us out, so hopefully this time we can finish a video with the successful summit.
@@lylesuch4421 The clips and information that you produced are well thought of. Be safe, goodluck and happy trails to the two of you!
Loved your video! i too have been up there several times and not a bad idea to spend a night at Trail Camp. You can take more time and enjoy the views.
100% agree. Usually we don't like to rush through scenic hikes like this. We were lucky enough to get a day permit, hopefully in the future we can get an overnight and actually take our time and enjoy a little more! Sunrise on the summit would be incredible.
Wow! Another great video, but what really caught my attention was the up and down in one day. My knees are tired just watching.
You're absolutely right...this was a big punishment on our knees! Long distance, huge elevation gain, and to top it off, a four hour car ride immediately upon finishing. The views and experience, however, were 100% worth it!!
Thank you 🙏
That's good you allow your body to acclimate to high elevation before starting the track up.
Yes, lots of high-altitude experience has taught us exactly what we need to do to prepare. It's surprising how many people rush up with no acclimatizing and end up paying the price.
Highly recommended to wear a helmet on the switchbacks. As you can see in the video, the trail winds up above itself and the entire slope is composed of loose rocks. Many small rocks on the trail can be kicked off to the trail below. Also a helmet is helpful on the upper trail final traverse, where it is easy to trip and fall.
Yeah, definitely a good recommendation. Strange how very few people think about wearing helmets at Whitney on this route considering all the potential rock fall but on similar routes in Europe it's a common thing to see people in helmets.
Good job 👏🏼 Looks so beautiful but definitely challenging!
Yeah, beauty and torture at the same time! We definitely loved this hike but it's probably better to do it as an overnight instead of just one long day hike. One of the best parts is how friendly the people are that you meet on the trail, definitely a bonus!
@@lylesuch4421 that’s what I love in general about hikers they’re mostly friendly people
It need not be a technical climb, and the beauty is incredible. Bring good reading and other treats (Single Malt Scotch), your fave pillow. This climb is for everyone! Enjoy 👏✌️
Great video you have inspired me to go here
Thanks! Summiting Mt. Whitney is a great experience.
Spectacular! I hope to attempt this in September)
Good luck! It's an amazing experience and this year with all the heavy snowfall it's smart to attempt later in the season.
@@lylesuch4421 Nice, can't wait!
BEAUTIFUL VIDEO YOUR GUYS ARE AWESOME 👏👏👏👏👏🙏💯♥️
Thanks!! This was one of our more difficult shoots, hiking in the dark, trying not to spend too much time shooting, etc. The area is beautiful, and it's pretty easy to get great video from a place like Mt. Whitney.
Great video!!! Love it
Do u mind sharing which software you used to make the intro map at the beginning of the video? That's very cool
Thanks! We track the hike in Strava, then import the .gpx data into Google Earth where it creates the line. I import it into After Effects to retime it and add the labels. Kind of complicated, and I'm pretty sure there are much better ways to do it. I think the Relive app is a much better option, and much easier.
Wow!
That's what we thought at the summit, wow! Incredible views and a challenging hike.
What month did you summit?! It’s my dream and I would love to go in good conditions 😭🙏🏽 thank you for your video loved it.
We summited Whitney in June of 2022. Each year is different though, and depending on the snow levels the non-mountaineer route can be pretty treacherous well into July. If we were to do it again, August or September would be a safer bet to make sure conditions are the best. The biggest problem is getting permits, and it's harder to get one at popular times. Good luck, it is an amazing adventure!!
Great video, thank you! You mentioned that you did a acclimatizing hike the day before. What did tha look like? What was your process?
Thanks! We usually take acclimatizing very seriously, but didn’t have a lot of time for Whitney. Usually up in the Sierras we like to use White Mountain as a place to acclimatize. Sleeping at the trailhead and summiting an easy 14er is a great way to start a more serious mountain.
For Whitney, however, we just drove up to Cottonwood Lakes trailhead and hiked 5 miles up to the first lake. Only gained about 500 feet but it starts around 10,000. Slept down in Lone Pine then summited the following day.
When we summited Langley a couple months later, we ended up staying overnight at Cottonwood Lakes at the trailhead, which allows you to sleep at 10,000 feet and have immediate access to the trails so it’s a really easy way to combine hiking and sleeping up high. This is now our favorite method in that area.
But you really have to know yourself…some people require much more time acclimatizing to be successful, some don’t need it at all.
Good luck if you’re thinking about summiting Whitney, it is a fun and challenging adventure!
Going this August 2023. Wish me luck !
Good luck! You were smart to attempt Whitney later in the year with all the snow we've had. Hopefully you have an amazing time like we did and safely and successfully summit!
Great Video Lyle!
Thanks Javi! Would have been better if you were there.
Love it!!!!
Thanks!
Congrats
Thanks!
Damn. Very Amazing!
Yeah, we had no idea this would be such an incredible hike. Great views and really unique landscape!
Congrats on successful hike ! Loved the cinematic shots. Can you tellme which light you were using for night hiking? Noticed that it was attached to your hip belt.
Thanks! That light we bought at REI a long time ago, it's a cheap solar powered lantern. I don't think they sell it anymore but there are similar models available now. It is surprisingly useful, people are really stuck on headlamps, but this kind of lantern does a great job, doesn't shine in people's eyes, and is so much more useful around camp. People always ask about it, surprising that it's not more widely used and we highly recommend for night hiking.
Great video!
Thanks! We really had a great (and exhausting) time shooting our hike up Mt. Whitney.
GUYS AWESOME CONGRATULATIONS 🙏💯♥️ GREAT VIDEO AM GOING AUGUST
Hopefully you get good weather! It is quite an incredible experience. We've hiked at much higher altitudes, but for some reason being the highest in the lower 48 makesMt. Whitney extra special. Great views from the top!
Will be there in August! How many hours did it take?
It looks like August should be a good month this year to hike Whitney. We took around 20 hours out and back...but we take our time, enjoy the scenery, and shoot a ton of video. There were hikers slower than us, and a ton of hikers much faster than us so it all depends on your pace. Good luck!!
Been to lone pine about 4x and spoke to a couple of locals and they all stated the same thing, it's best to do this hike in 2 days rather than 1 or 3. That's my plan to do this hike this summer of 23. Anyone know where I can obtain the permits?
What's best depends on your interests/abilities so it's very subjective...we liked the challenge of completing Whitney in one day. Two days would be nice and gives you more time, three days you could really enjoy the scenery and take your time, go fishing, etc. You need to apply at recreation.gov in February I think if you want permits for the summer, so you've already missed the lottery. You can check back regularly and join Whitney social media groups to see if anyone gives up a permit. If anyone does that, the permit goes back available online. Good luck!
What time of year did you do this hike?
Late June of 2022.
Great video
Thanks! We really had a lot of fun shooting this video...even though it was exhausting.
Wow! Great video, thanks for sharing. Planing on an Aug 28th attempt!
Thanks! Good luck on your attempt. If you haven't done it before, you're in for quite an experience. Way more beautiful than we thought it would be, especially if you catch sunrise in the right location. Have fun and be safe!!
When did you climb it? All I see is an upload date no hike date. June?
We keep talking about making sure the month in our videos is more obvious, seems to be information people really want to know. It's in the thumbnail but we should probably make it a little larger so people notice. We hiked in June of this year. If you're looking to hike the route with the switchbacks, June is still on the verge of being partially covered in snow. Luckily it had mostly melted by the time we got up there. If you're thinking of hiking Mt. Whitney, it is an incredible (and tough) experience...good luck!!
Congratulations on summiting Mt Whiney. My friends and I would be there end of August. How big of a backpack did you carry, and for lighting, did you carry headlamps, if yes, which ones do you reccomend?
Thanks! We're not a good example on what to carry...between heavy and bulky camera gear, extra layers for bad weather, bear spray, and all the extra food/precautions for us and just in case we run into others that are unprepared, we tend to over pack. If you're doing it as a day hike you can go pretty lightweight and depending on water levels you can fill up until you get to the top of the 99 switchbacks so you don't need a ton of water. Just plan on what you need for a long day with possible major weather shifts. As for lighting, you definitely need it. This is a long hike and you'll either be hiking pre-sunrise or post-sunset, possibly even both. The trail is easy to follow but you still need light. I don't even know the brand of mine, it's at least 10 years old and works fine. My wife carries a cheap REI solar lamp that she hangs on her backpack straps and it actually works better than a headlamp in some ways. It's all about personal preference and what you can afford. Good luck!!
@@lylesuch4421 You don't need bear spray on Whitney. I've been on the trail many times and never seen a bear (possibly passed one at night?). The rangers say the bears are afraid of people. There are so many people on the mountain, I doubt bears want to hang around.
How do I get the permit to camp?
We didn't camp so not positive on the camping part, but you need to go to recreation.gov to get trail permits and they have either day permits or multi-day permits which would be used for camping. It's a lottery system and very difficult to get permits. We did not get a permit when they were first available, but we joined a Mt. Whitney Facebook group where someone said they had released permits, so we went back on to recreation.gov and luckily got them. It's a pain and you have to plan a long time in advance.
Very well done! I do have a question though, why emphasis on the "Contiguous United States" instead of just calling it the 11th highest peak in the country? I see this trend quite a bit with younger hikers (including many who mistakenly refer to Whitney as the highest in "Continental" United States. Is it just a convenient metric to boost the accomplishment?
Thanks!!
You make a funny and true observation. The claim to “highest” peak in an area is similar to all the summits now having signs when back in the day you often didn’t even know what summit you were on.
This definitely isn’t just a younger hiker thing, all ages participate in this title inflation. In our ongoing experience visiting high places, it’s sometimes comical how region plays such a role in claiming “highest” point, often starting with an area’s tourism board. Mt. Toubkal-highest peak in North Africa. Black Elk Peak South Dakota-highest peak between the Rockies and the Pyrenees, Chimborazo-highest peak in the world if you measure it’s distance from the sun, and one of my favorites, Signal de Botrange-the highest point in the European part of Benelux at a whopping 2,277 feet.
In the end, everyone wants their summit to be epic, and it definitely boosts the accomplishment if you can say you were on the highest of something. Often when we travel, we specifically look for the highest spot in a country or state just for the fun of knowing we were above everything else in that defined area. In Whitney’s case, I totally get it. The climb is difficult and a challenge, but compare it to those 11 higher peaks in the U.S. and it looks kind of like a walk in the park.
Also, unfortunately, I think the most common answer to your question is clickbait…bigger claims equal bigger views.
@@lylesuch4421 Fair enough. I again want to acknowledge just how awesome your accomplishment is, I love watching Whitney videos. If I were to ever make one, I think I'd just post it as the "28th highest in North America!" or something for kicks (I think it's 28th, now I gotta go check). Keep up the good work.
Now you have us wondering what place Langley is. We might be making a summit video very soon of Langley, and it's claim to fame is that it's the Southern-most 14er in the U.S. I think it's around 44th in the U.S. That would make a funny title...summiting the U.S.'s 44th highest peak!!! Maybe we'll give that a try just for fun.
@@lylesuch4421 I saw your Langley hike, I liked you added that 44th highest statistic at the summit (congrats, by the way). You got up there JUST before the weather got nasty it appears. Which would you say is a tougher hike, Langley or Whitney?
We were lucky with the weather, yeah, a couple weeks and we wouldn’t have been able to summit without some gear. Funny how just a couple hundred feet less in elevation and a mountains ranking plummets. Goes to show that even if a mountain is the “highest” or one of the highest, it’s not necessarily the easiest or has the best views. We thought Langley had a much better view than Whitney…and you can see Whitney which is a bonus.
Whitney vs Langley in difficulty…we talked about that a lot while we made our way down the mountain. It’s a toss-up and I bet a controversial subject. Similar distances, similar elevation gain, although Whitney is a little longer and has a little more gain. Whitney is moderately strenuous the entire way, you’re constantly climbing, then the trail levels off as you near the summit. A long and continuous climb and very exhausting. Langley is super easy for the first seven miles, until you hit whichever pass you choose to climb. Then it’s a relentless climb, and to top it off, the crown of Langley, when you’re at your most tired, is a vertical, slippery, scree-filled effort, with no real marked path.
In the end, I think Langley was more difficult…and a lot of that is psychological. While the stats don’t indicate how hard it is compared to Whitney, the experience for us made it pretty clear. We also met a local woman who hikes both mountains regularly and she concurred, Langley is the harder of the two, at least in our opinion.
24 lbs that’s nuts
Yeah, not a great idea to carry all that weight for a day hike...but we carry a lot of camera gear, extra food/clothes for emergency situations etc. We always seem to run into hikers that are unprepared so if nothing else our over-preparedness can help others on the trail.
nice
Whitney is a beautiful mountain!
Peak!
Yes, Whitney is an incredible peak with great views!
New sub! Liked 🙏😛😮
Thanks! We don't release many videos, but when we do we try to do our best to really show what it felt like to be a part of each experience.
Almost 30 years ago I did mt.whitney. shows you my age . What an experience
One of those achievements in life that is unforgettable! I bet it was a lot simpler to climb back then, without permits, planning etc.
There were permits but no need for a wag bag. There were solar composting outhouses at each camp site.
24 pounds for a day pack! Wow! I just did 3 nights at 21 pounds!
It's partially extra food and layers for unexpected situations, but mostly camera gear to shoot these videos. It all adds up quickly!!
Really nice video. Well done doing that hike in a day.
Thanks! Now that we've completed the hike in a day, I would definitely prefer doing it in two...camping overnight would be a more relaxed way of seeing Mt. Whitney.
You should invite me to go with you guys.
Mt. Whitney is such a pain to get permits! That is the best way...to get an invite from someone who already got lucky and got the permit in the lottery. Good luck if you ever give it a shot!
Thank you! My trip in August of 2023: ua-cam.com/video/Txh_NWUmQJs/v-deo.htmlsi=ulLQaRudq_s-A7bp
Very nice! Isn't it fun to see how each person can go on the same hike but see it in completely unique and personal ways? Congrats on reaching the summit and you chose the smart way of doing it in two days instead of one!!
@@lylesuch4421 One enjoys it more if one takes his or her time. Loved your video. I never get tired of seeing Mt Whitney videos now that I have done it.
My dream... But I'm getting older every day!
We're constantly shocked to see the age of some hikers in some pretty difficult to reach places. We once say a 90 year old hiking deep into the Grand Canyon and people over 70 summiting Kilimanjaro. Don't let age stop you!!
Brought spikes and o course she doesn't need them that's what I talking about people who are rookies bring stuff you don't have to
Don't let her demeanor fool you, my wife is a highly experienced, competent hiker in all climates, altitudes and conditions. Given that the daily trail reports at that time were indicating ice on several parts of the trail, it seems like the logical thing to bring equipment that might help in those conditions (ie microspikes). We always err on the side of caution, whether it be for us or for others who are unequipped with food, water, spikes, etc. Not sure why this is considered "rookie", we consider it safe based on our many many years of experience.
Walk in the park
Not exactly a walk in the park. This is a strenuous, long distance hike with high altitudes and elevation gain if you're summiting in one day and can be very dangerous if taken lightly (as you stated in a previous comment). Kind of irresponsible to label it as easy.
wow... I never knew how ugly Mt. Whitney was. No wonder nobody ever makes a big deal out of it. I've lived in Vegas for decades and never even knew where it was and driven past it many, many times and took no notice of it at all. I'm originally from Seattle and know ALL the mountain peaks around there from Rainier to Shasta but Whitney is the highest of all of them and I had no idea it was so close to me. Now that I've seen it through your video I see why nobody cares.
That's a very unusual opinion of Mt. Whitney. We're pretty sure the 30,000 plus people each year that attempt the summit and the countless reviews raving about the mountain's beauty would tend to disagree (although beauty is of course, subjective). But to say nobody makes a big deal about it and that nobody cares would be objectively wrong. It is a big deal and people come from all over the country (and the world) to hike Mt. Whitney. The permit system exists because it is such a popular mountain that they need to limit the climbers and hikers. Maybe you should climb it and experience it for yourself up close...might not change your mind but it's always worth a shot and it is an incredible challenge and experience!
@@lylesuch4421 Don’t feed the trolls.
Mt. Shasta is in N. California.
Great video!
Thanks! It was an incredible hike, great views and we were lucky to have perfect weather.
Great video!
Thanks! Rough hike but we had a blast shooting this one. Great to see all the nice people out on the trails.