Mile 766-771 Ranger Station to Mt Whitney Summit to Wright Creek Ford

Written by Tracy:

The big day finally arrives, Mt Whitney. (14, 500 ft highest mountain in the US outside of Alaska.) Though not on the official PCT trail it is only an 8 mile detour from Crabtree Meadow and too tempting to miss.  

We decided to do the summit via a night hike, timed to be at the top by sunrise, avoiding the final part of the ascent in the heat. Also, we have been wanting to experience a night hike and this seemed the ideal time. 

So by 2am donning head lights we set off on the trail. It would have been really helpful to have had a full moon because our ultra lightweight Petzel headlights just barely illuminated the trail and several times we lost it when the trail went over large slabs of stone,  or a fallen tree blocked it. 

The 7.5 mile hike up for me was especially hard as the altitude affected my lungs, arms and legs. Ingrid wasn't affected but together we made it to the top just a little after sunrise. Going up was amazing as we watched the light slowly illuminate the mountains around us.

There were only a few patches if snow to walk through. The top consisted if grey slabs of rock and boulders and a small hut. It was a beautiful day, no wind, just clear views all around.

We hung out for about an hour and a half and sent a few texts. Our first cell phone service in over a week! Available only by standing on certain  rocks. 

After the 15 mile round trip we had something to eat and took a couple hour nap before doing another 5 miles along the PCT where we camped with our first mosquitos next to a creek. It was during these last few miles we met Beads, who is doing a challenge to get photographed naked at every pass in the High Sierras. She asked us to take a picture of her lying naked on a rock.