Mt Whitney main trail summit sunrise (May 24,2024)

Night climb up the main trail snow chute for sunrise at the summit

[@1970SBenny]

I remember having good knees to be able to run up and down the trails... 😢 Thank you for sharing the climb! 🤘

[@Johnjds]

It’s such an invigorating environment 👍

[@poyless]

Thanks for taking us along for the adventure. I’ll attempt June 2.

[@Johnjds]

Enjoy, it’s a wonderful place 🙌

[@SudhirKumar-nw8vx]

How did the attempt go? We r planning to do this on June 26th. How are the conditions?

[@CruzCruz-nw7fi]

Beautiful video of Mt Whitney Houston ❤, it’s the highest peak & dangerous but id attempt it just to look at those beautiful views , just for something pretty to look at

[@therealJB23]

Thank you for this great video! I will be going mid June, do you think I will need crampons?

[@Johnjds]

Really depends if the trail on the 99 switchbacks is broken in with adequate bootpack yet. There’s plenty of snow on it still. People are still going up the snow chute. Keep an eye out for trip reports on the Whitney forums and see what people are saying.

[@KhurshidsChannel]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing. sub & 👍19

[@Johnjds]

It’s a beautiful place 🙌

[@trailcairn1717]

Excellent trail report of current conditions. Summit sunrise!! I guess the last year's snow field before the summit is still there. Looks like crampons are in my near future. I doubt all that snow will melt in 6 weeks 😫 Running in boots 😮

[@Johnjds]

The snow is melting fast. It was quite different from 2 weeks ago already. The 99 switchbacks are still not passable though. I think this long weekend people will start stomping boot trail up them though. They’ll be usable by 6 weeks. The back side over trail crest has snow drifts over some parts but they’re melting fast. On the top boulder slope before the summit there is already ways to walk around rocks and avoid the snowfield. There will be challenges but I think you’ll be good if you bring the right gear. 👍

[@LaloToledo]

@@Johnjds I'm planning to go up mid July. Would crampons be advised? or would micro spikes suffice? Thanks for the upload!

[@Mkz8918]

I have micro spikes should I opt for crampons instead? We will be going first week of June

[@jburciaga1975]

I’m hearing from most people crampons will be the most efficient. Start early, you want to hit the chute when the snow is hard. Once the sun comes out it becomes slush, making it easier to glissade down to trail camp.

[@Johnjds]

The 99 switchbacks are still not passable on the main trail route at the moment. They are iced over snow drifts without any boot prints to follow (that could change as the crowds start hitting the trail starting this long weekend). Currently everyone is still climbing the snow chute. It’s close to 1,700 feet tall and mostly 45 degree and up angle. That’s crampon + ice axe territory and experience using them IMO. Watch trip reports on the Mount Whitney forums as your time comes close and find out if people are using the 99 switchbacks yet. They’re usually ok with just microspikes and trekking poles once there’s boot prints up them and enough melt, but check the forums.

[@geobio3054]

Hi John, I have watched quite a few of your videos in the last 2 years, and get the impression you are in high elevation places quite often. I am curious if you still feel the effects of above 10K' elevation, such as discomfort to high altitude sickness.

[@Johnjds]

I generally don’t feel any bad altitude related effects except for increased heart rate and temporary exhaustion during activity if I don’t pace myself. This usually occurs in thresholds and then passes. I start to feel more tired and out of breath then I’d expect around 10,000 then I get used to it and everything is normal until I feel it again somewhere between 12,000 and 13,000 then it passes and I don’t feel it anymore. Whenever I start to feel anything I just slow down and wait to acclimate and then it passes.

[@geobio3054]

@@Johnjds Thanks for sharing your experience. It helps newbies such as me.

[@Johnjds]

@@geobio3054 I know it can be very different for everyone though. Between these past two trips I encountered at least 8 groups of people who turned around because of elevation issues. I run a lot, I think that’s a good activity to help lung capacity, but I don’t know why it’s different for some people.

[@geobio3054]

@@Johnjds Thanks for inspiring others and myself. For the last 30+ years I have hiked quite frequently, but all near sea level to a few thousand feet. Last July and August I went backpacking above 10K' with my adult kids, and that was rough both times. This time, I plan to acclimatize at Cottonwood Lakes for 2 days, and another 2 days along the main Mt Whitney Trail. However, I still expect to be tough on the last day from Trail Camp to the summit and back down to Trail Camp.

[@jburciaga1975]

What time did you start from the portal?

[@Johnjds]

A little before 11pm, hit trail camp at 2:30am, trail crest at 4:00am, and summit at 5:30am ten minutes before sunrise. The snow route cuts about 6 miles off the main trail round trip, but it’s still slower than the trail for me (I go faster in the summer).