Route to Whitney -- too optimistic?

[evolving]

I've read other posts about routes from Cottonwood Lakes to Whitney Summitt and wanted to make sure this sounds right and is doable without feeling rushed.

Last week of July:
Day 1: Cottonwood Lakes to Rock Creek about 15-16 miles. Given elevation over New Army Pass, is this too much?
Day 2: Rock Creek to Guitar Lake about 12-13 miles. Is there a spot a bit away from where most of the campers are?
Day 3. Guitar Lake to Summitt and out Whitney Portal about 15-16 miles

We are two, both spending a day of travel at either end. Me from Tucson, friend from New Hamphsire

Appreciate any feedback.

[FrankPS]

Going over Cottonwood Pass, which is a different trailhead, would be easier than going over New Army Pass. Similar mileage. Have you hiked at elevation before? Generally your high mileages are doable, depending on fitness and how the altitude affects you.

Personally, I would take 4 or 5 days to do that hike, so I'm not rushed.

It would benefit you to spend the night before your trip at elevation, such as Horseshoe Meadows.

Also, don't forget you need an "Overnight Exiting Mt. Whitney" approval on your permit.

[Wandering Daisy]

I would say "rushed". And it assumes perfect weather. The elevation gains, directly from coming from sea level added to the heat may slow you down. If your ONLY goal is the summit of Mt. Whitney, and you can do long days, then your schedule may work. The fact that you are both traveling from long distances compounds the difficulty. Tuscon to Cottonwood Lakes TH/camp sounds like a long drive!

[c9h13no3]

Yeah, only you can determine what is rushed for you. My pace is usually fast, but I do enjoy leisurely trips where you can do more unplugging and observing. What do you need from the trip?

Slow Hiker: "Stop working out in my church!"
Fast Hiker: "Stop praying in my gym!"

[stevet]

As noted, the mileages are doable if fit and not adversely affected by altitude. My last JMT hike, in 2021, I entered over Cottonwood Pass and stopped at Upper Rock Creek Lake. This is 10.6 miles. Add 2 if entering over New Army Pass, and add another ~1500 ft elevation gain. Still, this makes for a good first night stop. My 2nd day I stopped at the 1st tarns above Guitar Lake. These can be dry, but given the snow year should hold water at end of July. This is 14 miles Upper Rock Creek Lake. 3rd day I summited Whitney. Summiting and exiting on the same day is a schlog but doable. I've summited and exited in one day from from Upper Crabtree Meadow, from Guitar Lake, and from this tarn.

I am reasonably fit, and in 2021 63 years. I did at the time however have 52 years of experience hiking in the Sierra and had a good idea what to expect of the terrain and how my body reacts to elevation. YMMV.

[stevet]

Let me also add that on my 2021 hike I met a young couple who trained in the mountains around LA (Wilson, Baldy, San Jacinto) and attempted Mt Whitney for their first ever hike in the Sierra. They entered via Cottonwood Lakes and New Army Pass camping at Upper Rock Creek Lake their first night. They were pasted. A lot of this was knowing what to expect.

They made Guitar Lake on Day 3 of their hike, summiting on Day 4. Their original plan was to summit day 3 but the terrain and altitude was more difficult than they expected. They were successful summiting Mt Whitney on their first ever backpack in the Sierra, but had to adjust their plans to accommodate the things they couldn't prepare for.

So, if this is your first ever Sierra hike, allow an extra day. You may "kill it", or maybe not. If on the other hand you have a lot of Sierra experience and know how your body deals, then a 3-day itinerary is doable.

[Gogd]

If you're in very good condition and pack light, it is doable in three days, albeit the lasting memories will mostly be of the toil, fatigue, and possibly the altitude headaches. Unless you have a severe case of bucket list fever that compels you to do this in three days, I'd suggest the alternative of summiting Mt Langley. You'll get plenty high, the trip easily doable in three days, and you won't have to deal with the crowds of Whitney or special regs permit issues
Ed

[Wandering Daisy]

I am not sure what you meant by a "day of travel" before the trip. I hope it does not mean driving 635 miles from Tuscon (10 hours) to the trailhead! Even if you fly to Las Vegas, especially from New Hampshire, it could be a tiring day of plane changes in addition to the East Coast time change from New Hampshire. Luckily, Arizona is on California time in the summer. It is still a bit of a drive from Las Vegas and there will be little time to acclimate. Maybe you both are very lucky, but that kind of travel would wear me out before I even step foot on the trail. Those of us who have cited doing a similar route have done it from a more nearby home.

I would much rather add a day than substitute Mt. Langly. I have done Langly, from a more technical north face route, and is far less scenic than Mt. Whitney. A better substitute would be to go into Miter Basin and climb Pickering, or Newcomb.

In spite of the crowds, the descent of Whitney to Whitney Portal is a very impressive. Langly from New Army Pass is simply a slog. Instead of camping at Guiter Lake, if you feel it is too crowded, you can instead go over to Hitchcock Lake for more solitude.

[Gogd]

So the plan is entering via Horseshoe Meadow trailhead, and exiting via Whitney Portal. Have you allocated the time it will take to either place the car at the end of the trail, or alternatively get back to the car if left back at starting point? I'd bet at least 3 hours, assuming help is instantaneously available, but would not be surprised if it took many more hours, given the logistics.

Ed

[evolving]

Any ideas for where to spend the first night at an intermediate elevation outside Cottonwood Lakes? It looks like most the hotels in Lone Pine, Bishop, etc are only about 4000 feet...I'm coming from 2,300 and friend is coming from pretty close to sea level

When I did Bubb's Creek out Whitney, I was living in San Francisco and we spent the first night at the trailhead, which I think is 5,100 feet. Once up to tree line on the second night we had mild short period of nausea and headache but the next day was fine

And for transportation between exit and back to car, haven't found anyone so far that does this over the weekend, they must exist, will keep looking