Mt Whitney - Mountaineers route

I love hiking Whitney.  You meet so many people, all with the same thing in mind...the summit.  Most use the Main trail, a 21 mile R/T with 6,100' of elevation gain.  The Mountaineers route or North Fork, 12 miles R/T with the same gain!   If you don't like heights or a relentless slog up, use the main trail.

                   A look at Whitney the afternoon before.  Just a little ol thunderhead. 
                         You need an ealy start and be off the summit before noon.

Got a 5am start.  Sunrise

   looking at the Ebersbacher ledges

                                   
                           A little slim and airy.  Really not as bad as it looks.

                                     On the slabs looking back at Lower Boy Scout.

                                              Whitney is the peak on the right.

                           Working my way up the chute to the notch.  We hang a left
                                  at the notch for the last 500' up the North Face.

              Sergio and I met at the ledges.  Looking up the North Face at our last obstacle.

                               Just topped out and looking over to the summit - 14,505'.
                               
                                    The picture at the top this page is my summit pic.

                                               Starting back down the North Face.

                                       Scree at it's best.  Every step is an adventure.

                                                    An example of the conditions.
                         

                                    A final look back up the chute from Iceberg lake basin. 
                                 That's a tough hike.  5.5 hours up and 3.5 to get back down.