Mt Whitney: Hiking the Tallest Mountain in the USA (Outside Alaska)

Mt Whitney is the tallest mountain in the Lower 48 and sits at over 14,500 feet in the Eastern Sierra Range. The hike is 21.5 miles round trip with over 6000 feet of elevation gain. We did the trail over 2 days with an overnight at Trail Camp in September of 2023. It was an incredible adventure and one that I will never forget. Let me know what you think in the comments.
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5198 Arlington Ave # 937
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#californiathroughmylens #mtwhitney

[@lloydberges3533]

Thank you for taking me places I can no longer go.

[@rupman27isback]

😢

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

Now I do my climbing like Pops did on this one.

[@breathewithjasmine]

This comment made me tear up so much. Made me appreciate all my adventures so much more.🩵

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thank you for the comment and I am so glad that the videos can show you places you haven't seen. I hope you are still able to explore in your own way and see as much as you possibly can. Really appreciate the kind words

[@PEDALSnPROJECTS]

Awww...places I may never go 😮

[@michaelanderson5490]

My best friend and I were there 50 years ago this last June. We were 17 years old in 1973. The memories are just like yesterday. Thank you for reminding myself of on of the best experiences of my life.

[@3VJohnny]

Josh your California through my lens, and Through my Lens channels are absolutely incredible. A couple weeks ago I stumbled across your Route 66 video by chance as it was on my homepage. And ever since I have not been able to stop watching your videos. My sister did the trip back in 2016 And as a big car guy, it's something that I have always wanted to do myself. The way you documented that video was second to none. Your relationship with your dad is so fun on camera, and your trips are so well documented and narrated. Pretty rare for a channel to pull me in like that but you've definitely done it. Really enjoy your videos and look forward to crossing some of these trips off my bucket list. Seriously love your work.

[@californiathroughmylens]

SO cool, I am glad that video came across your page and thanks so much for taking the time to let me know. I am so glad the trips with my dad have connected so much with people it is a life highlight for me to be able to go on so many adventures with him!

[@stevemccuen8131]

Thank you for a great video! I did the Whitney overnight when I was in my 20's - it was awesome! Last year, at 61, I only made it about 3/4 of the way up the 99 switchbacks on the 'day' hike. You've inspired me to try for an overnight permit next year and see if I can manage that at 63, lol!

[@erict5878]

There is NOTHING like going up the switches and seeing the sun coming up as YOU look down on it!

[@mitchellmysliwiecphotography]

That was just fantastic!

[@hikingonthebeautifulplanet]

The mountain scenery is spectacular.

[@lopezexplora]

I’ve been lucky enough to summit this mountain twice and watching your video made me re-live the moment and got emotional too. It is a unique experience, thank you so much for sharing 🥾🥾

[@OutdoorsWithJohnUSA]

Inspiring trip. Best one I've seen on Mt Whitney yet.

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

What an epic adventure! So many amazing views. Made all the better being able to experience it with your friends

[@deans178]

Excellent, realistic account of your hike/climb. My wife & I have completed 40 of the 50 geographic Highpoints, but not Whitney. We did "bag" Mt Elbert (14,440) in Colorado several years ago. That's the highest we've been! Congratulations! Well done video & thanks for posting it!

[@SharonNolfi]

Thanks for taking us along. This is one of your best videos! Loved it.

[@californiathroughmylens]

So kind of you to say that, really appreciate the support

[@CG-ss4jm]

I’ve done Mt. Whitney overnight and let me tell you hiking this is no joke. You absolutely need to train otherwise you won’t be able to summit. It wiped me out at the end. Props to you Josh!! Keep up your amazing videos!!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Agreed, it is a tough hike and training is a must

[@TonyCanones]

Beyond the obvious training your cardio capacity and overall strength, how do you recommend that one train if one lives at sea level?

[@TravellingTrav1025]

Awesome hike and video!

[@williamcharnow9038]

Your videos and sceneries etc make it easy to imagine being on the Trail with you! But at 70 and walked alot over the years I like watching you good folks going up Mt Whitney rather than trying to do it and be happy and have fun doing it physically.

[@driliagor]

Thank you for taking me with you on this epic hike! Your honest down to earth commentaries are greatly appreciated by ordinary people who cannot or wouldn’t do this hike! Many more adventures !

[@Dlee4000]

Congrats Josh for another epic adventure hiking Mt Whitney and also visiting the lowest point in Death Valley. Only thing left is to hike Mt Denali with your friends.

[@marieborchardt2910]

I was 18 when I backpacked on the Sierra Trail for a week with my Explorer Post. We made our final goal of climbing Mt. Whitney summit and then took the switchbacks down that same day. It was fun to backpack with my friends, but I didn't think it was such a big deal at the time. Watching your video now brings back good memories and makes me proud of our accomplishment. ❤

[@TheAsif5182]

you are the best to show exactly what i want to see .you are feeding my soul indeed whenever i feel hungry ,but love to see your pops in every video .may God live him long healthy life .

[@arronclark711]

Thanks so much. I did Whitney twice up and down in a day. To tell you how long ago it was... my pictures are all on slides. It was great seeing it again, one of the highlights of my life!!!

[@user-tz1ry6io8y]

Wonderful video. Best I have seen of this hike. you captured it for us who are too old to do. My Son did it. Now I know what he did. He doesn't share much. Thanks.

[@danmittler6321]

What a bunch of great guys,i wish them the best in life

[@andy88965]

My friends (Matt & Ryan) and I were so stoked to run into you at Lone Pine Lake! Such a cool trail encounter. We did this as a day hike and summited the day after you, and we were completely drained by the end of it. It's awesome to be able to re-live the hike again through this video. Congrats to you guys on your summit and great to meet you!

[@paulr4074]

I did this in one day on June 17, 2014 and it was one of the defining experiences of my young adulthood. I live a couple thousand miles away, but I hope to get back someday. Thanks for this awesome tribute to the best mountain.

[@Welovenaturee]

Heyy I hike quite often with ease ,done 20 miles+ hike in a day, is it just a hike bc I don’t really have rock climbing experience.

[@elyssethekraken4143]

Love to see your emotion come thru at the summit. Truly a special moment you for guys ✨

[@SmileyShawnSee]

Another great video 🎉🎉Than you!!!😊

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Josh, I want to thank you for sharing your incredible second trip to the summit of Mt Whitney! Your trip was beautiful to watch.

[@231krazy]

pb&j goes with anything. thanks for the great video!

[@2007rSix]

Josh man…. This is the best video I’ve seen of a Mt Whitney summit.. It really put me there, it was like watching a 3D model of the topography, and the footage right before sunrise was EPIC. Thanks!

[@chrisignacio1791]

Pretty Epic Sunset 🌞🥾&Hike Thanks Josh & Friends👏🏽💪🏽

[@CactusAtlas]

This may be my new favorite video of yours. That was amazing!!! Congrats on a job well done and thanks for sharing that!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Really appreciate that! You have seen a ton of them so that is kind words!

[@violetbf3773]

WOW!!!!! THIS WAS AMAZING!!! Thank you for taking us along. Your friends look like they’re super cool, and a cameo appearance from Pops! What else could’ve we asked for?!! 🙌🏽

[@_Dana_B]

AGREED!

[@californiathroughmylens]

haha thanks so much Violet, I am glad you enjoyed it!

[@marthacamacho2653]

Hello!!! Wow, thank you for taking us on your grest adventure to Mount Whitney. Its beautiful!! Your audio was fantastic. I always enjoy watching you. The sunrise 🌅 was amazing. Just so breathtaking. I can't hike like this anymore. But, by you taking us along, it gives us a glimce of whst beauty God has created for us. I do enjoy your father also.. Great team. God Bless you. Have a wonderful week. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE SPECTACULAR VIDEO. ALL YOUR VIDEOS ARE Awesome.

[@christikovach6394]

❤❤❤I finished the summit in one day . Started at 4 am and just went straight up. 1991

[@mlefeber4227]

Very nice! I did this back when I was 21 with 60 pound pack, spent the night and then continued on to the Muir trail. When I got to the top a sailplane buzzed the summit a couple of times before disappearing to the south. Good memories…thanks

[@garyconley69]

Nicely done. I ended up day hiking it about 20 years ago and like you did a few training hikes at Mt. Baldy before I went. Though I made it I won't do it again due to getting a mild case of HAPE at that altitude. Enjoyed your camera work as always and brought back some memories. Thanks!!

[@Canyon_Shawn]

Please do the planning video. This video is the best one of Whitney I’ve seen. Thanks!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Will do! Hoping to shoot it in the next week or so. Thanks for the kind words!

[@nwesterbeckmaster]

I did this hike twice. The first time, I was 10 years old and it was a day hike. I couldn't make it to the top due to altitude sickness. I stopped around the switchbacks after the rocky lake. The second attempt was just a few years later and an overnight hike. Still couldn't make it to the top. That was almost 20 years ago, so one of these days I'll try and complete it.

[@ervinslens]

Another awesome video. Your film quality and cinematography are absolutely brilliant here!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Really kind of you to say that, very much appreciate it!

[@_Dana_B]

Josh...another AMAZING hike! The views were incredible! I'm sure it pales in comparison to actually being there and sharing it with close friends. Hope Amy and the twins are doing well🥰

[@sts24]

Loved the cameo appearance of Pops

[@californiathroughmylens]

haha I thought it was fun to add in as well!

[@ANonyMouse627]

What a lovely adventure!

[@kellyjohnson3617]

This is a killer year to go in September cuz there was still a lot of water and snow. You got perfect weather. And I think mountain house beef stroganoff is my fav. Tho their lasagna is solid but I bring some extra parmigiana cheese. For breakfast I usually cold soak oatmeal with powdered cream by Judees and cranberries and raisins and almonds and walnuts and pecans and cinnamon that I premake. What a wonderful sunrise!!! Thanks for sharing that. I’ve watched ppl hike Whitney for years but I never realized it took you to the back side of the mountain. I know it can be freezing there. So many take their sleeping bags to wrap around them at the top. Congrats on summitting. You were wise to break it up cuz that elevation is intense. Oh and I’m with Jared. PBJ on a tortilla is great. But the portal store is the best way to reward that kind of epic adventure with your friends. Thanks for posting

[@harrya8813]

Sweet video. My college friends and I climbed Whitney in one day back in 1996. This was before you needed a permit. 22 miles round trip. Never knew what knee pain was like until I did that hike. I couldn't even bend my knees once we got back down to the cars at night fall. We had a blast and it was a beautiful hike. Great memories.

[@CarolynsRVLife]

I climbed Mt Whitney as part of my JMT hike in 2015 (NOBO, so with only a day pack!). The hardest and most rewarding thing I've ever done. Thank you for taking me back with out the aches and pains and tears 😛

[@georgefulton7012]

Summited with my best friends and daughters over thirty years ago. Thanks for bringing back the great memories.

[@chloejasminerob8379]

Thank you for taking us to the summit of Mt. Whitney! Just breathtaking views! Your dedication to taking stunning videos while hiking just shows how passionate you are on creating great content. Probably one of the best on your California Through My Lens channel too! Keep up the good work Josh!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Really appreciate the kind words! I wanted to make the best video I could to show people what this hike was like

[@MusicallyFitMusician]

Beautiful video! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@lindalakewood8302]

Wow! That's all I can say, WOW! Thank you so much for taking me along too.

[@movingman67]

I did it 6 years ago for my 50th birthday and I did a Facebook Live. Thanks for the recap.

[@user-xt8xr8pe6c]

Love to see your emotion come thru at the summit. Truly a special moment you for guys

[@sunset3052]

Awesome hike! Thank you for sharing!

[@OutsideChronicles]

Awesome video, thanks for the great explanation. Going to check out the planning video. See you outside!

[@ddc163264]

Nice video. What I find amazing is that from where you were standing, only about 150 miles away is the LOWEST point in North America and one of the lowest in the world. When people say how the rest of the world is so much better or grander than the U.S., it's things like this that I ask them if they've ever seen or done. When they say NO (as they usually do), it shows how little they know. I haven't climbed Whitney, but as having lived in 40 states, I've been over 14,000 a few times in Colorado. You guys were very good at not having altitude sickness or getting dizzy. I'll never forget my 1st time and I thought I was going to faint after moving too fast. Next time, if I get to go, I'm bringing either O2 or an concentrator to breathe better.

[@JenniferLupine]

Amazing trip! Great views and advice- thanks!

[@nancycamaquin6648]

Epic hike! Wish I was younger and good knees. Wow! Amazing trip of a lifetime. Thank you for this beautiful hike.❤

[@bchi521]

It is always amazing to see the top of Mt. Whitney. Last time I hiked this peak was in 1988 (long time ago) no permit was need it at that time and I did the entire up-down in one day starting at 5 am, it was brutal. I remember eating my cold KFC 3 piece meal at switchback #45 with big Hasselblad 503 camera. When I got back to down to the trailhead I asked my wife (she waited for me at the trailhead) to bring the car over to pick me up, I refused to take another step... lol Thank you so much for sharing your adventure and refreshed my memories of those craze days when I was young.

[@christheswiss390]

Fantastic hike - thank you for a wonderful video! I just put this hike on my bucket list.

[@johnjaymesgreatadventures4503]

Awesome!!!

[@kplante7881]

What an adventure. Great video. Well done. Thanks for sharing…!

[@parfenyj]

Epic!

[@barbarabladen8963]

LOOKS AMAZING!!!

[@DD-ro7EF]

I climbed this mountain while in college. So fun to watch your video and relive the memories.

[@darlingsailor5381]

You guys are awesome !

[@virgo714]

Thank you so much, this means a lot since I been craving this adventure for the longest! 🤗🤗

[@overwatchxrescue]

Looks like an epic hike! Congrats for doing this one.

[@francesharvey2673]

Thank you, i feel the experience with this video

[@francis999]

What a beautiful hike and amazing circumstances. You get what you deserve and thank you so much for sharing.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for watching it!

[@yoalmocalderon3197]

Great stuff

[@MH_6160]

The views are phenomenal. Excellent video..

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

A PBJ tortilla is an awesome snack

[@ashurany]

Terrific video!

[@justicegusting2476]

My first backpacking trip was to the top of Whitney 55 years ago when I was 18. I went with an experienced “friend” and his brother who had all the appropriate down gear. I had a dacron sleeping bag. My friend slept outside all snug in his down parka and down sleeping bag while his brother and I “slept” in the hut on a foot of solid ice, punching each other all night long to keep from freezing to death. That was the longest, coldest night of my life.

[@dockins]

Thanks for the video.

[@snowfootoutdoors2910]

Great footage, as always. One of the best done of the Whitney Trail. I've been up there a few times and it never gets old!

[@agustinbarroso8781]

Awesome 👏

[@sofip.4539]

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for making this video!

[@californiathroughmylens]

My pleasure!

[@user-tz1ry6io8y]

I have seen a number of vids for this hike but have to say, yours is pretty much my favorite and has given me the best feel for how it is. I am an old guy who always wanted to do the hike but waited too long. You brought it home to me as close to if I had done it myself. You are very good at what you do and see things from the typical person who does not do extreme things or even very tough things. I like your simple approach and non-padded approach to things. Just say it how it is and to the point with visuals to support. Excellent. When you and your friends reached the summit, I felt exhilarated like I had done it with you and felt like I had moist eyes. You did it for me. Thank you. Cannot do a video any better than that.

[@lulusthriftingworld]

WOW WOW WOW! Amazing hike! Your videos are always amazing but this hike was just wow! I told my husband we need to do this hike. It’s on my bucket list! Thank you for sharing! 🙏

[@joemontainsm7635]

Amazing!!!!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks!

[@GiuliaontheSummit]

amazing shots!😍

[@dudeman5569]

I wish I was young and in shape enough to do something like this. Great video.

[@lowma1]

Great video you guys, I'm heading for a day hike summit this Saturday and this popped up in my feed this morning and got me even more stoked! 🙂

[@veronicarodriguezflores-wf4bm]

Congratulations Josh, beautiful place 👍👍👏👏❤❤

[@aidaovasapyan9951]

I love your Chanel is one of my favorites, and a big respect for you when you reach the top you are face time with you dad , that is say a lot for you how nice and respectful person you are , and also most time your travel with your dad ,which not many people do that, Thanks again for this amazing beautiful episode, p

[@reluctantfellrunner]

Epic hike. Thats a tall mountain. Best wishes.

[@drawdiagrams]

Truly amazing footage

[@watdahek2]

I tried it with a friend in my 30's. We reached Consultation Lake, spent the night and my partner got really sick. We were forced to turn back down. Now, I am almost 70 and wish to try it again! A 2 nighter sounds good to me. Thanks!

[@josemarques5655]

I can tell you are a great guy to be around with!! Jah Bless you and this videos🙏🏽

[@davidleung5154]

Thanks you for the video and your excitements. It brought back memories from my 3 trips to Mt Whitney. With a few college friends we did it in one day, starting at the portal at 9 am and didn't get back down until past 10 pm. The second trip we camped at trail camp at 12,000 ft just before the switchbacks, and the last trip we spent the night inside the cabin (research building) to avoid the cold and wind. At 14, 500 ft, it was difficult to get a good night sleep, but it was worth it to see the sunrise from the top of Mt Whitney. Now, I'm too old to do it again even for nostalgia.

[@mykirbs2002]

So beautiful thank you for sharing❤️

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for watching!

[@wildzenventures]

Epic views for sure! nice work y'all!!

[@rephaelrechitzky9763]

Wow, that was amazing. Thank you for sharing.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@barbarabladen8963]

WOW!!!!!

[@liliacase26]

Wow! Thank you for bringing us up the mountain with you ❤

[@californiathroughmylens]

No problem! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@californiahiker9616]

Thanks!

[@yvonnesmith8245]

Thanks for letting me share in your long trek to summit Mt. Whitney! It was fun-wish I could make it up there myself. All the best on your future climbing adventures!

[@kayleebeare]

Congrats on your summit Josh!! One of my favorite videos you've ever done. Thanks so much for taking us along, as always!!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@markb9347]

AWESOME!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks!

[@chall7688]

Thank you so much for going back up Mt Whitney and sharing it with us! Spectacular video 🗻⛰️🏔️🏞️

[@californiathroughmylens]

No problem, I was so happy to be able to do it again!