Highest mountain in the contiguous United States
Photo: daveynin from United States, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Mount Whitney is in the Sierra Nevada range in California. At an elevation of 14505 ft above sea level, it is the highest point in the contiguous United States.
Provides 47 sites of varying types, the majority of which are non-electric.
Situated near Bighorn Meadow at an elevation of more than 10000 ft. It is below the treeline (which is at about 11000 ft) and hence sheltered from most winds. However, its location on a slow-moving portion of Lone Pine Creek means mosquitoes are a problem here.
At 12000 ft, it is above the treeline and hence exposed to the elements. Water sources here tend to be very limited unless substantial snow remains on the ground; unless there is melting snow, there is no water available anywhere beyond this point on the hike.
The mountain is accessible via the city of Lone Pine on US-395, running along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada.
Read in the guideWhitney Portal Road is the access road for Whitney Portal. The road is narrow and has no guardrails, although the number of switchbacks is relatively low.
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