Reflection canyon is basically an extension of the Lake Powell. Backpacking to reflection canyon is a highly challenging venture of about 20 miles, and this intense hiking has become increasingly popular of late. This location was revealed in the year 2006 by the National Geographic Channel when they published an article named Glen Canyon Revealed along with an amazing picture of the reflection canyon. Just as backpacking to Mount Whitney is an epitome of back country isolation, the same goes with this feat which also demands increased willpower, detailed planning and physical stamina.

Once the photo of this place was revealed, the search for the exact location began immediately. The place is quite remote, and you’ll need some planning to witness the gorgeous view of the canyon. Now the question arises, how to get to the reflection canyon? Well, backpacking to reflection canyon can be a one-day hike trip, but usually, photographers love to make an overnight stay there in order to capture the magnificent view of the milky way and sunrise next morning. Below are the details.

What to Expect

When you’re backpacking to reflection canyon, you’ll see a multitude of views that’ll remind you of Arches National Park, The Wave in Arizona, and Antelope Canyon. It’ll be one of your hardest and most rewarding trips. I can almost guarantee it.

Trail difficulty: Hard. It is around a 9 on a 1-10 scale.

Trail distance: 18-21 miles round trip.

Trail time: It took me 4.5-5.5 hours one way.

Trail type: Unmarked In and out. No coverage from sun. Trail is rocky with patches of sand.

Trail head elevation: 4,478 feet.

Net elevation gain: Roughly 550 feet. It really depends on the path you take but it’s relatively flat.

Water source: Expect no water source. There may be pockets of water if a storm recently passed by.

Parking/Overnight Permits: Not required.

Weather: Dependent on the month. Check HERE for the most current weather forecast.

Cell reception: Expect no reception. At max spotty 3G with AT&T service on an iPhone 7+.

Trailhead coordinates: 37°15’21.70″N, 110°57’47.25″W

Destination coordinates: 37°11’15.72″N, 110°55’8.54″W

Campsite conditions: Minimal to no dirt to stake in tent. I used rocks to hold up my tent.

Best time to go: Late March through April (lowest water level to see the ‘spine’) and October.

Planning the Hike

Backpacking to reflection canyon takes effort in researching and planning. Although I’ve compiled all the information you need here, I advise you to visit a couple of other sites that talk about their ventures to reflection canyon. Rainer Grosskopf shares his adventure during September HERE. I went during the last weekend in April 2017.

GPS: Yes you’ll need GPS to navigate yourself to the destination. There’s several options here to do so. First thing though is to locate and download a GPX file of a previously recorded route. You can find mine HERE.

1. Option 1 is to buy and download Gaia GPS app or similar and upload the GPX file.
2. Option 2 is to buy a GPS device and upload the GPX file. We used a Garmin Fenix 3 on our trip.
3. Option 3 is to use Google map’s offline feature. Simply download the offline map of the area and upload the GPX file onto your google map‘s account. We also used this option.

Click on Image for GPX File.

After figuring out your GPS situation, you’ll need to decide how many nights you’ll be spending out there. From there, you’ll be able to move on to planning your food and water supply.

Water amount: I packed a total of 4.7L water for a one night stay. Keep in mind though that I’m a camel and don’t drink much water. My friend though went through 8L of water. I cooked 2 mountain house meals (dinner and breakfast). My full 700ml bottle rolled down the cliff but luckily a neighbor packed in too much water and was able to share some with me. Also please remember to bring electrolyte packets for your water. This is much needed to reduce cramping and fatigue.

Food: I basically just packed 2 mountain houses and a bunch of high calorie pro bar meals and clif bars for lunch and trail munching. Keep it simple and keep it high in calorie.

Backpacking Equipment: Temperatures don’t usually drop below 30F during April so pack sleeping bags and insulating layers accordingly. The goal is always to pack essentials and keep the load as light as possible. Also it is counter intuitive but to stay cool, you’d want complete coverage from the sun with your apparel. Here’s some crucial items I brought that made the trip comfortable for me:

1. Ultralight backpack: Granite Gear Crown 2
2. Lightweight trail shoes: Astral Footwear TR1 Trek
3. Soft shell rain jacket with a hood
4. Long sleeve base layer
5. Lightweight Smart water bottles
6. SPF 50 Chapstick and sunblock
7. Trekking poles
8. Hat
9. Battery packs to charge phone and GPS
10. High calorie bars and nuts medley

Hole in the Rock Road

This is the infamous road you’ll be on for 50 miles to get to the trailhead (coordinates above). It is not paved and is full of big rocks and potholes. The relatively narrow road is windy and has some crazy hairpin turns. An SUV is definitely needed. 4×4 or AWD option for your SUV is recommended if it rained recently.

Trail Details and Landmarks

It’s pretty scary and daunting tackling a trail that’s not clearly marked. During my trip, I made sure to snap enough pictures of landmarks to help ease your nerves of backpacking to reflection canyon.

Key things to note: When heading to the destination, stay close to the side of Fifty Mile Point mountain and head south, keeping you away from those beautiful yet dangerous slot canyons. You will see the south end of the Fifty Mile Point and use that as a guiding point. When you get to the rounded tips buttes, you’d go around them and not over them. After that you’ll reach the iconic flat butte landmark. Go past it a bit, turn left and head in the southeast direction. You’ll make your own path so I’d advise to go around the buttes and not over them. Use the landmark images below as reference. When you reach the last butte that covers reflection canyon, you’ll want to go to the right of it. I saw many backpackers struggle going over and going to the left of it.

Photography Tips

Proper planning will get you the shots you want here at reflection canyon. Make note of sunrise and sunset times for the days you are going to be there. Also make a note of the optimal times the milky way galaxy will be visible at night for some astro photography. Remember to set your alarms! Pack a couple extra batteries and memory cards if you plan to do long exposures and time lapses. I packed in my Sony A7Rii along with the Sony 16-35mm F4 lens, Sony 70-200mm F4 lens and the Rokinon 14mm lens. Don’t forget your tripod of course! During late April, the sun settled behind me while I faced the canyon and the sun rose to the left front of me as I faced the canyon. Get there early to get the best camping spot.

My Experience

Backpacking to reflection canyon was an experience of a lifetime for me. The first morning hiking into the canyon was pretty cold. I’d say the temperature was around 35F+ in the morning. There were a lot of clouds that blocked the sun. As the day reached noon, it became warmer and was much better. Winds were blowing and it kept us cool from the heat later on during the day. We took a route that gave us a more direct path to the destination but it involved slight rock scrambling. I thought it was fun more than anything. We started our hike early around 8:45AM and we’re the first group to reach reflection canyon that day. This gave us options to choose our camping spot with a view. The hike back to car the next day was super hot and felt forever. Heading back, we just followed the same path we used heading in.  I wouldn’t do anything differently except bring more water and cut my toe nails before hand. Haha yes my toenails were scraping on my toes and caused a lot of discomfort. Feel free to leave any comments and questions below and i’ll do what I can to answer them!

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Backpacking Equipment

If I had to go through the purchase process again to prepare for a couple night out in the back country, the items below are the several items I’d buy to get started. It will make your backpacking trip much more comfortable while not making a dent into your bank account. After doing some hours of research, purchases (Yes I’ve collected quite a bit of gear), and field tests, the items below should be the first things to consider for your first backpacking trip.

Granite Gear VC Crown 60L – $150 (LINK)

The pack is part of the trinity of items that contribute to the majority of the weight you’ll be carrying. Unless you’re also carrying camera gear. This is my go to pack whenever I make a trek into the back country. It is simple, very lightweight and very durable. It literally has one huge compartment, 2 side mesh compartments for water bottles, and a huge center mesh for anything and everything. I pair this with the vapor current airbeam to get the set up to be under 2lbs. The journey should be light and simple when you get away from the city right?

Teton Sports Tracker 5F Sleeping Bag – $70 (LINK)

No it’s not a North Face, REI, Nemo nor Big Agnes. But it actually works really well in cold and wet weather. Although it says its rated for 5F, I think its more around 15F. I’ve used this bag for Mt. Whitney, Desolation Wilderness, and Thousand Island Lake (early May) to name a few. It performed well. This sleeping bag comes with a compression sack and weighs only 3.8lbs. I know this isn’t as light as the competitors but at under $100 for a 5-15F rated bag, you definitely get your money’s worth.

Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 – $250-$300 (LINK)

This tent is known for its very lightweight construction and its popularity in the backpacking community. Although there’s a newer HV UL model for the Fly Creek, I feel that the older version still does the job well. My Fly Creek tent has been in 30-40mph winds, rain, snow and hail and it’s still holding up nicely. There’s very minimal condensation on the inside and enough space in the vestibule for two 60L packs and two pairs of boots. I chose this tent not only because it is 2lb 10z with the footprint (weighed it myself to the grams), but also for the one door style where I can unzip to an epic view.

Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System – $19(LINK) + Evernew 2L Water Bladder – $13(LINK)

At a total of only 3.5oz, this is the water filtration set up I’ve been using since my first backpacking trip to Mt. Whitney. The cool thing with this set up is that the sawyer mini filter screws right over the evernew bladder or any Smartwater bottle, making it convenient to collect water from a stream, filter it right away or carry the bladder and filter the water later. Full Review HERE.

MSR Pocket Rocket Stove – $30(LINK)

This 3oz ultralight backpacking stove will boil your water with jet propelling flames in no time at all. Yes, it does sound like a jet engine underneath your pot. The palm sized dimensions take up virtually no room in your pack and can cook up a hot meal quickly. This stove does not come with a igniter so make sure to bring one of those 99c liquid lighters or matches. Also make sure to get a fuel canister that fits this stove. They go for around $5 for the size you see in the picture.

Smartwater 1L Bottle + Sports Cap Set Up – $2.50/set up(LINK)

There are so many water bottle brands out there you can choose from but none of them will give you the comfort of lightweight and durability. Have you ever dropped those Hydroflasks on the cap? Bam! You now have water leakage. Here’s how I do it. Go to any grocery store and buy two of the 1L Smartwater bottles. And then go find two of the smaller sized Smartwater bottles with the sports cap. Purchase the 4 bottles and simply swap the sports cap on the 1L bottles. Now you have a 2L set up that’s ultralight and fits perfectly in those mesh side pockets (look at pic above).

Adventure Medical Kits Pro Kit With QuikClot – $18(LINK)

This is not the ultralight version of the adventure medical kits but it can save your life from bleeding to death in the back country. Mother Nature is wild and unpredictable. That’s why I have chosen the safe route with a kit that has the quikclot just in case. Although its not advertised in the title, this kit is very durable and waterproof. It has seen over 100+ miles with me on the trail and it is still dry with no holes to the bag.

Breakfast: MH Breakfast Skillet – $5(LINK)  Dinner: MH Beef Stroganoff – $5(LINK)

Those two are my favorites for breakfast and dinner. Why? Because they pack the most calorie/ounce and they taste pretty damn good. Before buying any food items though, I’d suggest figuring out how many mornings and nights you’ll be spending in the back country. I usually don’t boil water for lunch but instead will snack on high calorie bars and nut medleys. There are deals and packages out there that you can purchase with friends to cut the cost/pouch. I’ve gotten these pouches as low at $3/pouch before. But in the end, you don’t have to buy these freeze dried meals. The more creative you get, the tastier and budget friendly your meals can be. I’ve tried food combos with spam packets, oatmeals, Uncle Ben’s Rice varieties, and beef jerky.

Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Poles – $160(LINK)

For your first time backpacking, you’d want a solid pair of trekking poles to help you carry all that weight on your back. I went with these black diamond poles because they fold up to the size of a ruler, roughly. This is especially awesome when you fly and travel since they’ll fit nicely into any carry on. Moreover, these carbon trekking poles are super light; if you have a set of these, they’ll probably be the lightest pair of trekking poles in your group. Why does weight matter for trekking poles? Well your arms will fatigue faster with heavier poles. It’s as simple as that. They come in fixed sizes so make sure to get the correct size for your height. I am 5 feet 8 inches and went with 120cm. These have not broken yet and I’ve put over 100+ miles on them.

Last Thoughts

If you know your backpacking start date, it’s easier to plan and search for deals on these essential items. I always recommend to all my friends and family to start gear shopping early and over a span of several months. This way, it will give more opportunities for retailers to run promos and sales on potential items you want to purchase.

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What you bring with you while backpacking and camping will either make or break your experience. The goal here to be as comfortable as possible with just the essentials. That doesn’t mean you can’t bring a couple luxury items. A couple of luxury items I cannot leave without is my camera (and lens of course), camera shoulder strap and tripod.

Equipment for car camping versus backpacking will vary in weight and size. Backpacking equipment are compact and lightweight. What equipment to get will depend on whether you backpack often and the size of your budget.

The list of equipment below is what I’ve found to fit my needs and capabilities. I absolutely enjoy backpacking and photography. I decided to cut weight in my backpacking and camping gear to make up for the weight in my photography gear. Depending on the trip (hard or easy), I pick and choose from the list below to fit my needs and the terrain and weather conditions.

Essential items at camp

• 2 person backpacking tent – Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 (+ footprint)
• 5F lightweight sleeping bag – Teton Sports 5F bag or REI Igneo bag
• Lightweight sleeping pad – Thermarest NeoAir Xlite
• Ultralight hammock – Hummingbird hammocks
• Bear canister (for bear country) – Bearvault BV 450
• Lightweight camp chair (car camping) – Moon fence camp chair
• Adventure medical kit – Trauma Kit with quickclot
• Emergency blanket – Mylar blanket
• Headlamps – Black Diamond Spot headlamp or these 1000 lumen headlamp (car camping)
• Petroleum Jelly coated cottonballs (fire starter for campfires)

Essential items for cooking

1. Water boiler – Jetboil or SnowPeak LiteMax (for backpacking)
2. Cup – Toaks titanium 450ml cup
3. Utensils – Long handle spoon or a spork
4. Fire ignitor – Plain old matches or the MSR Ignitor
5. Fuel canister – Jetboil 4 season fuel
6. Insulation pouch – Optimus Heat pouch
7. Towel – Pactowl
8. Multitool knife – Leatherman skeletool CX
9. Pot – Evernew titanium pots

Essential items for hydration

1. Water filter – Sawyer mini water filtration
2. Water bladder – Ultralight Evernew bladder
3. Water bottles – I reuse the 1L smart water bottles

Essential clothing and items for hiking

1. A solid lightweight backpack – Granite Gear Crown VC 60L, Lutsen 55L or Nimbus 60L
   • My backpacking set up is the GG Crown VC 60L + VC airbeam frame – under 2lb.
2. Comfortable footwear
   • When it’s muddy, rainy, or snowy terrain my go to is the waterproof Danner 600 boots.
   • When it’s sunny and no forecasted mud or snow terrain, I opt for the lighter New Balance Leadville v3 with speedlaces.
3. Socks – I wear a sock liner underneath my Darn tough socks.
4. Hiking poles – I usually only use my poles during longer trips so I went with a compact and very lightweight Black Diamond Carbon Poles.
5. Base layer top – Drifit UPF 50+ long sleeve shirt (men | women)
6. Insulating layer top – 400g/m2 100% merino wool (men | women)
7. Shell jacket – Marmot Precip jacket (men | women)
8. Insulating base layer bottom – 400 g/m2 100% merino wool ( men | women)
9. Hiking pants – Columbia hiking pants (men | women)
10. Sun hat – Outdoor Research hat
11. Crampons (for icy conditions) – Yaktraks

Essential hiking and camping food

1. Freeze dried pouches – My favorites are the beef stroganoff and chicken a la king.
2. Snacks – I like Clif Bars or Probars because they taste good and are high in calories.
3. Water electrolytes – Propel electrolyte packets
4. Coffee packets – Starbucks VIA ready packets

Let my list help you with gathering the necessary equipment to make your back country adventure memorable. Happy trekking!

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The Big Pine Lakes are some of the most pristine, alpine backpacking spots in California. It’s also quite a trial to traverse, but this is a challenge that’ll expand you, mind, body, and spirit. So if you’re trying to take your outdoor game to the next level, here are five reasons to consider backpacking across the Big Pine area.

1. Exercise

No, alpine backpacking is not ‘just walking around.’ A strenuous hike, anything from beautiful Mt. Whitney to the fierce Mt. Hood, is great for you physically and mentally. It’s the perfect example of a weight-bearing exercise that’ll strengthen your bone density as well as muscle strength, and not just in any single area either. Lugging all your supplies in a single trusty pack while navigating rough terrain is a feat that will try every ounce of strength in your body, from core to quads to glutes. And aside from the intensity of the workout,  the lovely surroundings (make sure to pick a spot with a view to reward your efforts!), combined with a single goal (get to where you’re going), are great for you mentally. For those ‘ten things to do at a time’ types, a good hike can get you re-oriented and recharged for life.

2. Beautiful Views

Like I said, who wants to exercise without some motivation, right? A great workout is nothing without a beautiful nature spot at the end of the path. The Big Pine Lakes have you covered there too with an array of spectacular views and panoramas. The region is famous for its sequence of lakes, which attract visitors with their unearthly, turquoise-blue waters. It’s also a great spot for trout-fishing, if you happen to be an angler. The aspen and pine forests are similarly unbeatable, and turn a vibrant gold yellow towards the autumn seasons. Finally, if you happen to be a cinephile, classic MGM horror icon Lon Chaney’s old cabin still stands for visitors, and was designed by renowned architect Paul Revere Williams, who designed both living quarters for Hollywood stars (Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball, to name a few) and civic buildings like the LA Courthouse.

3. Test Your Limit

So we talked about the health benefits of alpine backpacking, but this isn’t just the equivalent of a good jog. This is a challenge to attempt if you want to come through the other side bigger, better, and more experienced than you were before. The Big Pine lakes are consistently rated ‘difficult’ as a hike, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a 10-20 mile hike up to an elevation of about 9,750 ft., with an incline of 2,500 feet over 4 miles. This isn’t quite the same as a grueling 14,505 ft. climb like Mt. Whitney, but you’ll still definitely feel some of the effects of decreased oxygen pressure. For the unprepared, exercise at higher altitudes can cause nausea, lightheadedness, headaches, and a range of other unpleasant symptoms. So if you’re up for an adventure that will provide more than a tough workout, the Big Pine region can definitely teach you something new about yourself.

4. Learn New Skills

On that note, if you’re still an amateur outdoorsman looking to step up your game, alpine backpacking is a great way to teach yourself some new essential skills. Like I said before, Big Pine Lakes is a place to learn more about your body. I’m talking about learning, ounce for ounce, precisely how much trail rations you need, how much punishment you can take, and how much rest you actually need. If you’re at all still in the dark as to what you’re capable of, alpine backpacking will give you the full diagnostics. The experience will also test some more common outdoor skills. You’ll need to be able to gauge the distances you’ve traveled, as well as navigate to your destination in relatively rough terrain. The cold alpine climate also means getting used to doing everything in the blistering cold–have you ever pitched an alpine tent in a snowstorm? Can you tie a knot with limited visibility? This is the place to put your experience to the test.

5. Life Lessons

Finally, you’ll learn things to take back into your daily life. It goes without saying that such a strenuous activity will demand perseverance, the ability to say ‘Yes’ when everything in your body and mind screams ‘No.’ The weather, your limited resources, and the taxing altitude will work to bring you down. And you’re going to learn that it takes more than a solid body to stand tall. It takes raw willpower, and not many activities can test that as directly as alpine backpacking can. If all of that sounds a little intense, you should know that everyone who attempts higher altitude backpacking will find that they can handle much more than they think. After all, if you’ve never seen your limits, how can you say anything about them?

Perhaps the biggest takeaway of alpine backpacking is the realization that the best things in life really are free. You’ve heard that a lot, I’m sure, but really think about it. Think about how much you spend on commuting, parking, taxes, on all of the little things. Now consider that none of that exists when you’re backpacking. A vacuum of all those little payments of modern society is an incomparable experience, one that will provide some life perspective that you can’t get anywhere else.

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This backpacking Mount Whitney adventure is the epitome of spontaneity. Moreover, this trip has tested my limits and strengthened my will power and appreciation for Mother Nature. I want to share with you my experience on this trip so that it may inspire and guide you to the same rewarding experience I’ve had. The Mount Whitney exploration all started with my friend, Chris, asking me if I had some camping and backpacking equipment he can borrow. I generously agreed to let him borrow anything he needed for his backpacking trip to Mt. Whitney. At first, I didn’t know that summiting Mount Whitney was on a multitude of outdoor enthusiast’s bucket list. After some researching, I was getting excited myself. I took the initiative to ask my friend if there were any room left for me to join their group. Unfortunately, I had to find myself a permit to backpack with them. And as most of you already know, it’s tough to get permits for a popular location like the Whitney trail. In the end, I had to resort to a walk-in permit, which puts me at a risk of driving all the way to lone pine and not joining them. That did not stop me.

I was determined to join them on this special journey. I prepared my hiking pack along with food prep for the 4 day 3 night adventure on the Mount Whitney Trail. Friday morning in July, the outdoor gods were watching over me and granted my wish! We drove northbound to Lone Pine, CA to get our permits. I was able to get a hold of the last permit for Friday entrance into the Mount Whitney Zone. The only thing was that my group was entering Saturday. This meant I had to hike up to Lone Pine Lake by Friday, camp there, and wait for my group to arrive Saturday morning. Although the thought of hiking and camping solo at a location I’ve never been before was intimidating, I hastily and excitedly agreed. My group of awesome friends (David, Doreen, John, and Chris) stayed at Horseshoe Meadows campground Friday night while I stayed Lone Pine Lake Friday night. We then rendezvous at Lone Pine Lake Saturday morning and continued our join to the peak of Mt. Whitney. I will highlight the many awesome moments we had as a group  throughout our trip with some pictures and captions.

Note: This article is image intensive so be patient and let the images load. You won’t regret it! Also, if you want to scroll all the way up, there is a button on the bottom right of the page.

Table of Content:

1. Lone Pine CA
2. Horseshoe Meadows Campground
3. Drive to Whitney Portal
4. Whitney Portal
5. Trail Entrance
6. Alpine Trees
7. Lone Pine Lake
8. Whitney Zone Entrance
9. Meadows
10. Outpost Camp & Waterfall
11. Mirror Lake
12. Trailside Streams
13. Consultation Lake
14. Trail Camp
15. Star Gazing at Trail Camp
16. Getting Ready For Summit
17. 99 Switchbacks
18. The Cables
19. Trail Crest
20. John Muir Trail Junction
21. Westside Of Mt. Whitney
22. Mount Whitney Windows
23. Hitchcock Lake & Guitar Lake
24. Summit House
25. Summit View
26. Gear List
27. Food List

Please feel free to leave comments or questions. I’d love to help anybody who’s has this trip planned in the future.

Lone Pine, CA

After getting our permits, we filled ourselves up with some delicious all you can eat Chinese food for the start of trip.

Horseshoe Meadows Campground

After we devoured our food and carb-loaded, we were off to horseshoe meadows campground where my group stayed Friday night. The switchbacks on the way up the campground were gruesome, especially on our cars, which were a Honda Civic Hybrid and a Subaru WRX. But the view from up top was spectacular! We took a group photo and it was actually the only group photo we took the whole trip. More details on that later! When we arrived, I helped them upload and watched them set up camp. We later explored the area to see what was around us.Our fun-filled nature had us thinking of crazy things to do, like strapping a solar panel on the back of our friend Doreen.And after we settled in, Chris was going to hammock camp overnight. To say the least, he struggled for a bit setting up his hammock but eventually he was able to get his hammock to hang.We then explored around the area and found a really awesome view of the wilderness and mountains. John and Chris definitely shared a special moment here.Afterwards, we headed back to camp and started making dinner for the night. It was around 4pm when we started and I headed out towards the Mt. Whitney trail by 5:30pm.I ate a hearty dinner before hitting the trail towards Lone Pine Lake. During dinner, there were thunder, which intimidated me since I knew I had to hike up by myself at night. But I was still determined to get to Lone Pine Lake.

The Drive to Whitney Portal

The view driving up to Mt. Whitney was nothing short of spectacular. I was constantly in awe, seeing the beauty during sunset. You can see the infamous Mt. Whitney windows as you drive closer and closer to Whitney Portal. I started the trail around sunset and hiked throughout the night. It was a bit scary hiking alone at night, but it was definitely a rewarding experience. It tested my composure, self-control of my thoughts, and refined my focus and determination on the task at hand. I knew I needed to get to Lone Pine Lake as soon as possible to set up camp before it rained. I was feeling the fatigue from the high altitude, which I did no training for. Fortunately, I brought along some altitude sickness medication to alleviate the symptoms. I stayed hydrated as much as possible and did the ~3 mile hike up to Lone Pine Lake in about 1.5 hours.

Whitney Portal

When you drive up to Whitney Portal to park, you’ll see the Mt. Whitney Portal Store, campsites, fishing lake, waterfalls, and the trailhead for the Mt. Whitney trail. I didn’t spend much of my time here at the start of the hike but I enjoyed a well-deserved bacon cheese burger after the long ~22 mile hike. In addition, I didn’t get a chance to weigh my pack before the trail but John, Chris, and I did weighed our packs on our way back to Whitney Portal. Looks like I get the cookie for the lightest pack! This is even with my camera gear inside! Woohoo!

Trail Entrance

You will see this sign a couple hundred feet from the Whitney Portal restaurant, signifying the trail-head for the Mount Whitney Trail. There will be a weigh station for your backpack along with a plethora of information on safety and proper protocols to leave no trace and pack your waste out. This can be found at the wooden structure in the left of the picture below.

Alpine Trees, Redwood Trees, and more Trees

For about three miles, you will be surrounded by trees and a beautiful view. On a hot day, I foresee the shade as being your friend but for me, I powered through this three miles at night to reach Lone Pine Lake in about 1.5 hours. I was hiking at night and in the middle of a rain/thunderstorm so I needed to set up camp as soon as possible. There will be quite a bit of switchbacks and it’s all uphill from the trail-head. You’ll also walk on logs that has water flowing underneath. I also remember crossing a very small waterfall that is at most ankle deep. I had my trusty Columbia waterproof boots so my feet were dry. Take plenty of breaks to acclimate your body to the high altitude. There will be an option to take the Mountaineer’s Route within these three miles.

Lone Pine Lake

This alpine lake, roughly at 10,000 feet elevation, has a beach, camp sites, and a beautiful view of mountains. This location is where I stayed Friday night and can be a great day hike if you camp at Whitney Portal. Hiking to this lake does not require an overnight pass. I arrived at Lone Pine Lake at night and was beyond exhausted. I set up my tent and knocked out. I woke up the next morning to spectacular views and breathtaking scenery. I had the whole place to myself and did not regret camping here one bit!Throughout the morning, I explored around Lone Pine Lake area, enjoying Mother Nature and everything she has to offer. I was mesmerized with every turn I took. Take a look at the pictures and see for yourself.My friend John was the first to arrive at my camp site at Lone Pine Lake while the others were making their way up. While we waited, I showed John around the lake and some cool spots. We found a cave that looked absolutely badass. We did quite a bit of portraits here at Lone Pine since the others took a while to get here. Backpacking Mt. Whitney requires a “wagbag”. What’s a wagbag? Well, whenever you have to go #2, you have to go into the wagbag and carry it with you throughout the journey. How wonderful right? While we explored around Lone Pine Lake, we found the sweetest spot to go #2 into our wagbag. You can see John’s demonstration below. Don’t worry, he’s not actually defecating.
Chris finally arrived and relayed the message that David and Doreen are coming shortly after. So we continued our shenanigans along with Chris.After about 30 minutes, we had a hunch David and Doreen missed the trail to Lone Pine Lake, so Chris decided to go up and down the trail to find them. He was able to finally catch up to them half a mile down the trail. We packed up our packs and continued our journey.

There will be a sign that informs you the entrance to the Whitney Zone. Please make sure you have permits or else you will be fined. There are rangers patrolling the trail and we passed by a couple of them. Along the trail, we took many breaks to adjust to the high altitude and of course to take more portraits of ourselves amongst the beautiful scenery.

Meadows

After some more switchbacks, you’ll descend a bit into a beautiful meadow that will eventually lead you to Mirror Lake. You can take a break here and enjoy the gorgeous views and take in the crisp air. We decided to break for a bit to do a small photo op!

Outpost Camp and Waterfall

The next section after the meadows is Outpost Camp, where you can set up camp and continue the following day. There is also a waterfall here and crystal clear running streams. We took another break here to refill on water and to regain our energy on some trail snacks. And yes we did another photo op here. John got a bit carried away with the poses.

Mirror Lake

After we passed outpost camp and the outpost camp waterfall, we arrived at Mirror Lake, which was breathtaking! See for yourself! For me, this lake revived me on this trail, since the high altitude was taking a toll on my body. It felt like it took forever to reach Mirror Lake from Outpost Camp. Mirror Lake is covered and surrounded by a bunch of trees and mountain. We did another mini photo op here too!

Trailside Meadows & Streams

After Mirror Lake, prepare yourself for a lot of rocks and gravel. It’ll be the most rocks and gravel you’ll see in any area. You’ll see granite for a while until you run into the trail-side meadows and streams, which you can use to refill your water, rest, and take some more pictures. The stream comes from the snow during the past storm. During July, there was still water running but no flowers.

Consultation Lake

When you see this gigantic alpine lake, you are very close to Trail Camp. I remember that I was a bit delirious when I saw this lake and at the same time relieved because I knew we were very close to our destination for the day. The trail does not get you near Consultation Lake so take some pictures once you see it. You’ll get another opportunity to see the Lake when you start your journey to the summit on the switchbacks.

Trail Camp

I remember when I saw the sign for Trail Camp I was beyond relieved to finally stop hiking. This is the campground for overnight hikers. Many backpackers set up camp and refill water here and there is plenty of flat space to set up your tents. This is also the LAST spot to refill your water on the trail so make sure you plan accordingly. There is also a way to get to Consultation Lake but we were too tired and exhausted to visit. We quickly set up our tents, unpacked our sleeping bags, and prepared dinner. Don’t be surprised when you hear howling at night since this area is prone to high winds.

Star Gazing at Trail Camp

After settling in, unpacking our packs, setting up our tents, and cooking our dinners, I decided to stay up a bit to watch the stars. Although you’ll be exhausted, I highly recommend to just hang outside your tent and star gaze.

Getting ready for Summit

Before we hit those gruesome switchbacks, we packed all our snacks and water for the summit. You can leave your tent, sleeping bags, and other miscellaneous items at the campsite. It is safe to leave your gear here. One thing I love about hikers and backpackers: honesty and camaraderie!

97-99 Switchbacks

Anyone who has researched Mt. Whitney has heard of these gruesome switchbacks. They are truly brutal and strenuous. There’s a debate whether it’s really 99 switchbacks or not. Some counted less, some counted more. Nonetheless, this is the first big obstacle to surpass on the way to summit. One good thing about these switchbacks is that it gives you a better bird’s eye view of Trail Camp and the surrounding areas. Storytelling and a good playlist will make this a lot easier.

The Cables

You’ll eventually get to an area where the trail gets really narrow. Cables have been placed here to prevent hikers and backpackers from falling off. I remembered I hugged the granite wall like white on rice. No joke; it’s a steep drop from the trail.

Trail Crest

This area is where you can actually see both the west and east side of Mount Whitney. I’d suggest to take caution if you are a bit delirious and lightheaded. Although the trail is a bit wider than the cables, you can easily fall off the trail. Take a break, drink some water, and take some pictures here. That’s what I did.

John Muir Trail Junction (JMT)

This junction is actually pretty obvious since you’ll see a lot of hikers that are on the JMT leave their packs here to summit Mount Whitney. There’s also a sign that tells you how many more miles you have to suffer until summit. It’ll be the longest 1.9 miles you’ll ever hike. It was for me at least.

Westside of Mount Whitney

The westside of Mount Whitney is completely exposed to winds and the sun. You’ll see plenty of complex rock and granite formations, giving more reasons to stop and take pictures.

Mount Whitney Windows

When you get closer to the summit you’ll actually hike in between the windows of Mt. Whitney, which can be seen from the Meadows section of the trail. Be very careful here since it’s a very steep and deadly fall. There will also be high winds to throw your balance off.

Hitchcock Lake and Guitar Lake

One of my favorite views of the hike is seeing Hitchcock and Guitar Lake. You get to experience how big and vast the Earth is and how high Mount Whitney is.

Approaching the Summit House

As you approach the summit, the granite becomes a bit bigger and the trail becomes less distinguishable. Be aware and cautious of your steps since some of these rocks are loose. Honestly, I was very delirious at this point to know where I was going. Luckily, there were hikers still on the trail for me to figure out the right direction. At the summit house there will be a book for you to sign your signature and leave a note. Unfortunately, when we arrived, there were no books for us to sign our names into but we have a bunch of pictures to record our hard journey.

Summit View

When you’ve reached the summit, you’re now on top of the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. Take plenty of pictures with amazingly beautiful view and the placard rock. Breathe in plenty of the crisp air and just embrace the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer.Leave me a comment below or share this post if you’ve enjoyed my journey. If this is in your itinerary in the future, check out www.WhitneyZone.com. That site has plenty of useful information to make the trip safe and comfortable. I used it myself and I wouldn’t have made it without it. I’ll end this blog with a gear list of items I used during this journey. Cheers!

Gear List

Pack
Granite Gear Torso Blaze Ac 60 Pack (Cactus/Java, Regular)
Sleeping System
Marmot Limelight 3 Persons Tent, Green, One
Thermarest NeoAir XLite Mattress
Rei Igneo Sleeping Bag
Camera System
Sony Alpha a7II Mirrorless Digital Camera – Body Only
Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar T FE F4 ZA OSS E-Mount Lens
MeFOTO A0350Q0K Aluminium Backpacker Travel Tripod Kit (Black)
Water System
Sawyer Products SP103 Mini Water Filtration System, Single, Orange
Evernew Water Carry 2000Ml
CamelBak 90352 Omega Water Reservoir, 100 oz., Black
Miscellaneous
Komperdell C3 Carbon Powerlock Compact 1752311-10
BearVault BV500 Bear Proof Container Bear Vault
Leatherman 830850 Skeletool CX Multitool
Clothing
Vapor Apparel Men’s UPF Long Sleeve Solar Performance T-Shirt Large White
Champion Men’s Powertrain Performance T-Shirt, Black Heather, X-Large
SUB Sports DUAL Compression Base Layer Boxer Briefs – Black – L
Darn Tough Merino Wool Boot Sock Full Cushion,Black,Large
Columbia Men’s Mudhawk Waterproof Hiking Boot,Mud/Maple Sugar,10 D US
Columbia Silver Ridge Convertible Pant, 32×30, Tusk
Outdoor Research Men’s Arete Gloves, Black/Charcoal, Large
Cooking System
Flash Personal Cooking System, Carbon
Light My Fire Original BPA-Free Tritan Spork with Full-Sized Spoon, Fork and Serrated Knife Edge, Green
Optimus Canister Fuel 3.88oz
TOAKS Titanium 450ml Cup

Food List

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