Whitneys east buttress in one day?
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I wanted to do this for my birthday but plan to late and all the overnight permits are gone. Appears you ONLY Need a permit to do this as an overnight but I could be mistaken as it's kind of confusing. |
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It is an ambitious day, but if you are an experienced (alpine rock) climber and endurance athlete, it is definitely doable. People do it all the time. |
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Jennifer, Good luck with your trip, I hope it works out for you! |
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So if I had a permit for the regular hiking trail that would be fine? We have that! I just switched the trip |
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yes people have done it in a day but it's ambitious. it'll take you about 6 hours to get to iceberg lake. then another 45 min to an hour to get to base of EB. so if you start from the portal at 6:00am you won't be to the base of EB until 1:00pm at the earliest. if you're fast you could do it in 3.5 hours BUT keep in mind you're not fresh as someone who started from iceberg lake. and you're starting the climb about 13,000 feet. add to that afternoon thunderstorms are possible and you won't see them until they are overhead. you can rappel into the mountaineers route if needs be. |
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Yes you can easily do this in a day. |
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Ok so we either try for a walk up / next day permit or move the trip back to open days |
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And thank you |
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3+ hours to the base of EB? not a first timer, no way. a better than decent pace is gonna be 90 min to lower boyscout, 45 min to upper and 90 min to iceberg. then another 45 min to EB. that's 4.5 hours and most people aren't going to do 4.5 hours to base of EB. mortals would take about 5 hours to base of EB. |
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We are experienced climbers with recent elevation exposure and I'm an endurance athlete.
Sounds like he is above average to me. Hell, even I did it C2C in 13 hours and change, you just can't dick around. |
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Are you sure that you only need a permit for overnight in the North Fork? Why do I remember something to the contrary? |
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That's shorter then my longest Multi pitch day Multi pitch day. I am too much a planner to take a chance driving up without a permit and trying to get one. I just booked the first available, mid-October. Later than we wanted but I sure thi later than we wanted but a sure thing. Time to take the hub on elevation hikes! |
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Jennifer rau wrote:That's shorter then my longest Multi pitch day Multi pitch day. I am too much a planner to take a chance driving up without a permit and trying to get one. I just booked the first available, mid-October. Later than we wanted but I sure thi later than we wanted but a sure thing. Time to take the hub on elevation hikes!Bring enough layers and gloves for a mid-October climb up Whitney! Brrr! |
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I did it in October as well and it was really nice. YMMV. |
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Jennifer rau wrote:That's shorter then my longest Multi pitch day Multi pitch day. I am too much a planner to take a chance driving up without a permit and trying to get one. I just booked the first available, mid-October. Later than we wanted but I sure thi later than we wanted but a sure thing. Time to take the hub on elevation hikes!The Main Trail Day Permit is valid for the rest of the Whitney Zone (including the approach to the climbing routes via. North Fork of Lone Pine Creek) FWIW, it took us 7 hours to approach to Iceberg last year w/ 50+lb packs, including getting off trail a few times. If you travel light, you can expect it to take much less time. Getting a night at elevation will help as well if you can get it. |
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Get a day permit and go for it. Having never been in the area before, last July my partner and I did the E Buttress in 13 hrs round trip from the campground at Whitney portal. Pack light and have fun. |
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50 pound packs? Not exactly going alpine style, eh? |
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Eric Seidman wrote: The Main Trail Day Permit is valid for the rest of the Whitney Zone (including the approach to the climbing routes via. North Fork of Lone Pine Creek) FWIW, it took us 7 hours to approach to Iceberg last year w/ 50+lb packs, including getting off trail a few times. If you travel light, you can expect it to take much less time. Getting a night at elevation will help as well if you can get it.I have a main trail permit for September 24. Are you saying I can use this?? The permit I got today says entry on north fork, exit Whitney. |
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Jennifer rau wrote: I have a main trail permit for September 24. Are you saying I can use this?? The permit I got today says entry on north fork, exit Whitney.For an accurate, official answer, ask the Forest Service. Give 'em a call. |
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Fat Dad wrote:I did it in October as well and it was really nice. YMMV.Kinda worried about the dates. Glad to hear. |
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It is a pretty big day, but totally reasonable if you're fit. You need a permit, but you don't need an overnight permit. The day use permits are unlimited and available for same day entry at the ranger station in lone pine. For a really killer day, start with the east ridge of russell. I've heard of more than a few people pulling off c2c link ups of the peewee and fishhook. Definitely not 6 hours to iceberg. That is crawling. |