I've been working on building up my leg and knee strength since my knee surgery almost two months ago and that training has been going pretty well. My legs are already both stronger than they've probably been in 15 years. I plan to keep doing strength training on them for a long time, but I feel like I need some sort of longer term goal that I'm working towards. The marathon training earlier this year was a great goal to work towards. Knowing there was a fixed date in the future that you had to be ready for really helped to motivate me to get out there and train on days when you just didn't feel like it. I feel like I need some other goal like that. I was originally hoping that I'd shoot for another marathon, but it's probably better if I pick something that isn't as hard on my knees. So, Mount Whitney seemed appropriate. In order to handle a backpack at altitude on mountains, I'm going to have to really get in the right kind of shape.
The more time you give you body to get used to the altitude, the less your chances are of altitude headaches or sickness and the more prepared your lungs are for processing the thin air. I will definitely want to spend some time at altitude before the main hike.
No matter which way you go, if you go during July and August (after snow melts, but before most thunderstorms), you have to get a permit. If you camp, you have to get an overnight, multi-day permit. If you day hike, you have to get a day-use permit. Apparently, they severely limit the number of people that they let in to preserve the environment so not everyone who wants to go can get a permit. To get a permit, you participate in the Mount Whitney lottery in February and you find out if you got a permit by the beginning of April. So, step one will obviously be getting a permit. Apparently, there are something like 10,000 people trying to 540 permits for the weekends from July 4th to Labor Day. I'm hoping it's the kind of thing that if you plan ahead and are flexible on dates (I can go during the week) that you have a much better chance. Apparently Tue-Thurs is considered "during the week" because lots of people include Monday or Friday in their weekend plan. I'll have to start planning and training assuming I'm getting one and hopefully it will work out for mid-week.
There are multiple ways to the top and multiple places to start from. The Mount Whitney Trail is the main way up starting from Whitney Portal. From what I've read so far, it's not a technical trail at all. It's just high, long and with a zillion switchbacks. You can go up from the other side too, but there is some rock climbing involved to get up that way. This is one of those things that I don't need any extra challenge, so I'm going on the main trail.
There are bears to watch out for if hiking in the dark or camping. All food must be stored in bear-proof containers which you can rent for the trip.
You literally have to bring everything out with you that you take in. There are seven main points to the "Leave No Trace" policy on the Mount Whitney Trail. Not only do you pack out all your trash, but you even pack out your human waste.
