Sept 7-11, 2011: John Muir Trail (JMT) Segment: Kearsarge Pass to Mt Whitney

Bullfrog Lake from Keasarge Pass Trail

This hike will begin in Onion Valley near Independence CA.  The journey will head west over Kearsarge Pass and join the John Muir Trail and then head south to the west face of Mt Whitney.  The plan is to summit Mt Whitney on the morning of Sept 11 and then exit east to Whitney Portal near Lone Pine, CA.  This hike will take 5 days/4 nights and cover 45 miles.

DETAILS:

Team: Kirby L, John P, & Dave W.

Support Crew: Don W

Miles: 45

Elevation: +13,338' -14,225. Total = 27,563'.  Net -887'. WOW!
Daylight: 0631 to 1906 PDT

Moon Phase: Full Moon!   Sept 2011

ITINERARY:

Sept 7th: Travel to Independence CA. Hike 2 miles to Flower Lake.

• Things to Do:

• Pickup permits in Lone Pine.  Call USFS before 10am to hold permits 
• Rent a Bear Canister if you arrive without one. Usage is mandatory.
• Position at least one car at Whitney Portal
• Carpool to trail-head at Onion Valley west of Independence, CA
• Final Gear Check in parking lot
• Begin 2 mile staging hike to Flower Lake approx 2pm
• Sunset at 7pm

Sept 8: Hike 8 miles. Cross Kearsarge Pass, join the JMT, and then down to Bubb's Creek.

Sept 9: Hike 9 miles. Cross Forester Pass and then down to just past Tyndall Creek.

Sept 10: Hike 10 miles. Hike to Guitar Lake at the west base of Mt Whitney

Sept 11: Hike 15 miles. 4 miles to Mt Whitney summit then 11 miles down to Whitney Portal.

• Things to Do / Decide: 

• Don W plans to meet the hikers coming into the Portal as they finish.  Instead of the Portal Campground, we will all rally at the hotel for dinner and stories.   All are welcome.

• Two hotel rooms are reserved at the Dow Villa Motel in Lone Pine, CA
• We will need to carpool out of the Portal and retrieve the car(s) at Onion Valley as needed.

TOOLKIT

• MAPS of this trail (Printable JPEG format) Added Aug 21.

• GOOGLE EARTH view of Trail Added Aug 6th

• SPOT Locator Page  Active as of Sept 5th

• Weather Conditions 
• Sept is a transitional weather month. It can be the last hot spell of the season or the first snowfall.  Keep an eye on weekly weather patterns especially monsoons from Mexico that can bring a cruel wet snowfall.

• Contacts:
• Sequoia & Kings National Park (SEKI)
• USFS INYO National Forest
• Mono County Sheriff  Dispatch (760) 932-7549
• INYO County Sheriff Dispatch (760) 878-0383