MT. WHITNEY CLIMB MOUNTAINEER’S ROUTE OVERVIEW

Climb Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states, via the mountaineer’s route with the professionals at International Alpine Guides. A challenging 3rd class mountaineering route to the summit of Mt. Whitney that sometimes requires crampons and ice axe, the mountaineer’s route is suitable for beginner mountaineers with no previous climbing experience. It affords a less crowded and a more challenging ascent of Mount Whitney as opposed to the regular trail route. First climbed by John Muir in the 1860s, the mountaineer’s route is a fantastic adventure for anyone seeking to climb Mt. Whitney.

We take three days to summit Mt. Whitney which allows for proper acclimating and instruction in mountaineering techniques. On day one we establish a base camp partway up Mt. Whitney along a beautiful alpine lake. The next day, it’s an early “alpine start” so we can summit Mt. Whitney in the morning hours. The route is mostly steep off-trail hiking with some steeper sections of scrambling near the top. Ropes are used for your protection in this section. On the summit of Mt. Whitney, fantastic views of the Great Western Divide and the Owens Valley, 10,000 feet below, are enjoyed. Then it’s back down the mountaineer’s route back to camp for a great dinner and good night’s rest. On the last day, we have a relaxed morning and hike back out to the trailhead at Whitney Portal arriving in the early afternoon.

A great way to climb to the top of the highest peak in the continental United States. Come climb the mountaineer’s route on Mt Whitney in style with our AMGA trained and/or certified mountain guides this season.

Food & Equipment
We provide breakfast & dinner prepared by your guide and backcountry chef from the time we meet until we part ways. We like to call our food "backcountry gourmet".

To make your trip easier for you, we provide all of the gear you need at no extra cost. We provide high-quality backpacks, sleeping bags and pads, any technical gear, trekking poles, headlamps, and eating utensils if needed. We also provide tents, all group cooking gear, a first aid kit, and water purification for the group. Our guides carry emergency two-way satellite communications devices at all times.

 

Interested in climbing Mt. Whitney in the winter? Check out our Mt. Whitney Mountaineer’s Route Winter Climb

 
 
 
 
 

EXPERIENCE & PHYSICAL FITNESS REQUIREMENTS

  • No previous climbing or mountaineering experience required.

  • Previous overnight wilderness backpacking experience is required.

  • Previous off-trail hiking experience on steep uneven terrain required.

  • Very good to excellent physical condition required.

Climbing Mt Whitney is strenuous. The Mountaineers Route is a climb, not just a backpacking trip. You must train accordingly! Please feel free to contact us for any training recommendations.

Curious how to rate your physical ability? Check out our Physical Ability Page.

 

MT. WHITNEY DATES 2024

May:
10-12, 26-28
June:
7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 28-30
July:
12-14
26-28
August:
9-11
September:
6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29
October:
4-6, 11-13

Custom dates available July through October

COST: $1325

We include all technical gear & camping gear at no extra cost! No hidden rental fees.

INCLUDES

  • Breakfast and dinner prepared by your guide while in the field

  • Professional local mountain guides trained or certified by the AMGA & certified in emergency wilderness medicine, food handling, Leave No Trace Principles, & trained in local natural history.

  • Backpacks, sleeping bag, and pad, technical gear if needed such as ice axe and crampons, trekking poles, and eating utensils if needed. ($30 cleaning fee for using our sleeping bags)

  • Tents, all group camping gear and permits

  • Mountaineering boot rentals available at $10 per day

For more info on this trip please fill out the form below:

THE INTERNATIONAL ALPINE GUIDES DIFFERENCE

For over 40 years IAG/ASI team have been guiding on Mount Whitney & throughout California, as well as on many of the great peaks of the world. As one of the most experienced and oldest guide services in California, we bring to you the highest standards in the mountain guiding industry. All of our mountain guides operating in technical terrain have training with the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) in the terrain they guide. We are also one of the most experienced American mountain guiding companies operating in the Alps of Europe and Latin America. Our extensive worldwide experience, adherence to the highest standards, as well as our approachable down to earth guiding philosophy all combine to give you, our valued guests, the best mountain experience possible.

All of our programs are developed and supervised by Internationally licensed IFMGA guide Dave Miller, our founder and technical director. Dave has over 20 years of personal guiding experience on Mount Whitney. We know Whitney & the High Sierra! 

MOUNT WHITNEY MOUNTAINEER’S ROUTE ITINERARY

Day 1
We will meet in the town of Lone Pine at 8am. The exact location will be in your confirmation materials. After a pack check and group gear distribution, we will drive up to the trailhead at Whitney Portal and set off on the mountaineer’s route up Mt. Whitney. After leaving the main trail we head up the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek passing the Erbersbacher Ledges along the way. Then it’s past Lower Boy Scout Lake and up to Beautiful Upper Boy Scout Lake where we will make camp for the next two nights. We get to bed early for our summit day on Mt. Whitney.

Day 2
Waking up early for an alpine start (probably around 5 am), we leave camp after a quick breakfast and hike and scramble up to Iceberg Lake. From there we enter the mountaineer’s route gully (ice axe and crampons may be needed in the spring and early summer). From the top of the gully at the notch, we get into some real, but easy climbing after roping up. After a couple hundred feet of climbing, we top out on Whitney’s summit plateau and then it’s just a few short feet to the actual summit of Mt. Whitney (14,500 ft), the highest point in the contiguous United States! We then make our way back down the way we came and enjoy some rest and a great dinner.

Day 3
After breakfast, we pack up camp and make our way back down to Whitney Portal arriving in the early afternoon.