Mt. Whitney--Day Hike or Overnight? Other cool hikes nearby?

[ddgrunning]

I'm planning to throw my hat in the ring for the Mt. Whitney lottery this year. Looking for opinions from you experienced Whitney hikers as to applying for a day hike permit vs. overnight. I've day hiked Humphreys (via summit and Weatherford trails) multiple times, as well as multiple day hike R-2-Rs of the Grand Canyon. Beyond that, any other Whitney-related advice is welcome, including other great hikes in the area, in addition to, or (if I don't get drawn) instead of, Whitney . . .

[Grasshopper]

@ddgrunning
I recommend you submit to day hike it! (it's only 21.4 miles R/T & 6700 AEG).. an epic life experience

[imike]

Day hike is easier... more fun... and more practical. Train up and enjoy! Also, unless you have a specific knee issue, this super highway of a trail does not need trekking poles... save the energy! Great Hike!

[Jim]

If you want the trail, do that. If you want steeper, you can do the Mountaineer's Route. If you don't get a permit by mail, you can still do the AM lottery an get a north fork permit (J-34). Just don't camp to day hike that way.

[syoung]

I did it as a day hike last year. I am trying for an overnight pass this year, as the whole experience of camping on the mountain would be fun. It was totally manageable as a day hike if you want to do it however.

[azbackpackr]

I did it as an open-loop 6-day backpack about 7 years ago. It was very fun. I wouldn't have had it any other way. We started at Horseshoe Meadows, camping there the first night. The first hiking day we went up over the pass and camped at Chicken Spring Lake, Rock Creek, Crabtree Meadows, and above Guitar Lake. The morning we hiked Whitney, we hiked up with our big backpacks to the junction, and left our backpacks there, then walked up the trail to the summit with our daypacks. Then, after picking up our big packs, and hiking down the main Mt. Whitney Trail, we made one more camp that night--it was the one with the big waterfall.

I have no desire to do it again, however. It wasn't that hard, it was fun, I'm glad I did it, it's a good memory (except for falling into a deep hole in the snow with my pack on which required two people to haul me out--haha!) but it is too popular for my taste. I would like to do an off-trail backpacking trip in the Sierras to somewhere that no one has ever heard of and nobody talks about where I won't see a soul. Mt. Whitney: Been there, done that, got the patch. (Yes, really--I have a patch! )

[ddgrunning]

Thanks all, for sharing your experience!