First photos below are of an afternoon hike from Whitney Portal to Lone Pine Lake on September 16, 2007. Subsequent photos are of a day hike from Whitney Portal to Mount Whitney on September 17, 2007. The Mount Whitney hike was 22 miles round trip with elevation gains exceeding 7,000 feet (the trail has up and down segments each direction). Weather was perfect with temperatures on summit hovering around 50 degrees Farenheit (cooler feeling with wind chill). A few days after this trip, the first significant snow storm of the season hit the area.

Picking up wilderness permits and bio-bags at Inter-Agency Visitor Center




Looking toward Mount Whitney from room at Dow Villa motel in Lone Pine


Looking northerly from Dow Villa


Looking southerly from Dow Villa


Mount Whitney (center) from Dow Villa


Lone Pine Peak (left) and Mount Whitney (right)






There's bears on this mountain


Driving up Whitney Portal Road - Mount Whitney in center background










Last view of Mount Whitney from Whitney Portal Road




Arriving in parking lot at Whitney Portal before warm-up hike




At Whitney trailhead (Elev 8360 ft) before starting warm-up hike to Lone Pine Lake.
Left to right: Mark, Paul, Carrie, Jerry, Carlos Jr., Roger, Carlos Sr.
















First view of Lone Pine Lake






Lone Pine Lake






Standing on outer edge of Lone Pine Lake looking down toward Whitney Portal






Starting up Whitney trail at 5:15 AM in total darkness


Wearing the headlamp


Pitch black trail


Sunrise about one hour after beginning of hike






Yes, there is a deer in this picture






Another impressive deer picture
































At turn off for Lone Pine Lake - Mile 2.8 - Elev 9,960 ft


















Looking down on Lone Pine Lake


Arriving at Bighorn Park looking west - Mile 3.5 - Elev 10,340 ft






At westerly end of Bighorn Park looking east








Outpost Camp - Mile 3.8 - Elev 10,360 ft


Looking down on Bighorn Park












Resting on climb toward Mirror Lake




Mirror Lake in shadow of sunrise - Mile 4.3 - Elev 10,640


















Taking a break at the tree line












Climbing toward Trailside Meadow looking east




Trailside Meadow - Mile 5.3 - Elev 11,395 ft








Looking down toward Trailside Meadow






Consultation Lake




Furry Marmot waiting for a backpack to pilfer






Trail Camp - Mile 6.3 - Elev 12,039 ft












Looking easterly down on Trail Camp while climbing 97 switchbacks






Switchback cables approximately half way up 97 switchbacks - Mile 7.7 - Elev 12,820 ft






Ice at switchback cables




Nearing trail crest at top of 97 switchbacks


Trail crest - Mile 8.5 - Elev 13,600 ft




Looking westerly from trail crest down on Hitchcock Lakes




Looking easterly from trail crest down on Trail Camp and Consultation Lake




Junction below trail crest for Whitney summit and Crabtree Meadows - Mile 9.0 - Elev 13,480 ft










Looking westerly down on Guitar Lake


Looking easterly through first "window" between peaks




Looking easterly through second "window" between peaks










Looking southerly toward Mount Muir standing adjacent to peaks south of Mount Whitney


Looking northerly toward back side of Mount Whitney


Looking northerly at southeasterly face of Mount Whitney standing adjacent to Keeler Needle


Looking southerly at the westerly side of peaks to the south of Mount Whitney






Looking southwesterly toward Hitchcock Lakes adjacent to Keeler Needle








Jerry, Carrie and Roger at shelter on summit of Mount Whitney




Paul signing visitor register at summit of Mount Whitney




One of several brass caps marking summit of Mount Whitney - Mile 11.0 - Elev 14,496 ft


Looking northeasterly from summit of Mount Whitney


Looking easterly from summit of Mount Whitney


Looking easterly from summit of Mount Whitney toward town of Lone Pine


Looking southeasterly from summit of Mount Whitney toward Lone Pine Peak


Looking southeasterly from summit of Mount Whitney


Looking southerly from summit of Mount Whitney - Visible are Keeler Needle, Crooks Peak, Third Needle and Mount Muir


Looking southerly from summit of Mount Whitney


Looking southwesterly from summit of Mount Whitney


Looking westerly from summit of Mount Whitney


Looking northwesterly from summit of Mount Whitney


Looking northerly from summit of Mount Whitney


Carrie, Jerry, Paul and Roger standing on summit of Mount Whitney






Door on shelter


Inside shelter


Decending on back side between Third Needle and Mount Muir