SierraDescents | Tag | Mount Whitney
November 6, 2021
Mount Whitney Crest
Thor Peak's summit offers this expansive view of the Mount Whitney Crest. On display are Trail Crest and Mount Muir's east buttress (left), followed by Keeler and Day Needles and (more)
March 25, 2020
Whitney’s North Face
For the best view of Mount Whitney's north face, try climbing Whitney's next door neighbor, fellow fourteener Mount Russell. From the summit of Russell you can clearly see how (more)
March 23, 2020
101 Switchbacks
How many switchbacks are there between Trail Camp and Trail Crest on The Mount Whitney Trail? A lot. The exact number may never be known, but 101 seems to be the most popular (more)
May 28, 2011
Skiing Whitney’s North Face
Whitney has eluded me. When I first tried to ski this mountain the defeat was so humbling and so absolute it was years before I dared return to the Sierra backcountry. But, every (more)
May 23, 2011
Skiing Whitney!
I'm so excited—Whitney has eluded me since 2006, when I passed on skiing the Mountaineer's Route, figuring I'd get to it next season. Every year since then, I've waited for (more)
May 3, 2011
Portal Road, Snow, Permits
Despite the ease of access, the Whitney Portal region has a less than glowing reputation when it comes to backcountry skiing. Perhaps it's not so much that there's something (more)
August 27, 2009
Mt. Whitney’s East Face
When I close my eyes I see granite. Gray-white blocks angle sharply beneath my feet, plunging downward past my rubber-tipped toes. I press my back against a wall of rock as if I (more)
August 16, 2009
The Fresh Air Traverse
Mount Whitney's East Face is perhaps the classic Alpine climbing route in the Sierra, featuring an otherworldly mix of moderate climbing and breathtaking exposure. I had wanted (more)
July 16, 2008
Whitney Fish Hatchery Destroyed
Sounds like it was a wild weekend in the Whitney Portal region, with heavy storms closing the portal road (due to mudslides) and even Highway 395 (which remains closed at (more)
March 29, 2008
Whitney Portal Road: ‘Closed’ vs. Closed
Well, I drove up to Lone Pine yesterday with big plans for some climbing and skiing in the Whitney Portal region, only to discover the road, which is normally "closed" for winter (more)
June 30, 2007
Mount Whitney — the Mountaineer’s Route
If you are considering climbing the Mountaineer's Route, I heartily recommend it. The route is spectacular. Be aware, however, that hiking conditions are currently unusually (more)
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