Mount Whitney: An In-Depth Hiker’s Guide to Climbing the Tallest Peak in the Lower 48 States

Bush & Banter

In this episode, Jen and Dyana dive into the highs, lows, and hilarious moments of hiking Mount Whitney—the tallest peak in the contiguous United States. Both Jen and Dyana have successfully summited Mount Whitney and have unique perspectives to share about their trips, with Jen tackling the summit via the Pacific Crest Trail and Dyana using the famous Whitney Portal. They swap stories about the mental and physical grit it takes to summit, share lessons learned from unpredictable weather and altitude sickness, and reminisce on the history and beauty of the mountain. The duo also break down the nitty-gritty: permits, gear, route options, and everything you need to know before taking on this iconic adventure. Whether you're planning your own Whitney hike or just love a good trail tale, this episode has something for every outdoor enthusiast.

Jen's Mount Whitney PCT video

NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Intro to Mount Whitney

4:27 Fun facts about Mount Whitney

10:39 How to summit Whitney from the Eastern side

15:57 How to summit Whitney via the Pacific Crest Trail

21:19 Altitude sickness

24:56 To poop, or not to poop

30:27 The history behind the hut on top of Whitney

44:37 Common questions about hiking Whitney

57:40 Dyana's recommended route up Whitney

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Chapters

1. Intro to Mount Whitney (00:00:00)

2. Fun facts about Mount Whitney (00:04:27)

3. How to summit Whitney from the Eastern side (00:10:39)

4. How to summit Whitney via the Pacific Crest Trail (00:15:57)

5. Can you hike Whitney in a day? (00:19:04)

6. Altitude sickness (00:21:19)

7. To poop, or not to poop (00:24:56)

8. Weather on the mountain (00:28:15)

9. The history behind the hut on top of Whitney (00:30:27)

10. Wildlife you can expect to encounter (00:33:21)

11. Gear required to summit (00:36:29)

12. Common questions about hiking Whitney (00:44:37)

13. Dyana's recommended route up Whitney (00:57:40)