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Mt Whitney via Cottonwood – Mule Supported
$3,995.00
Dates
- 2025 - August 3-9
Description
The pinnacle of our mule supported trips, Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the continental United States at 14,505 feet. This trip includes long days and high mileage at altitude, but the mules carry most of your weight, making the trip more feasible.
This route from Horseshoe Meadows crosses over the Sierra Crest at Cottonwood Pass, eventually drops west towards the Kern River, and then loops east to Guitar Lake below the western slopes of the peak. We like this route for a number of reasons:
- It is beautiful with high alpine lakes and expansive views. This is a wonderful backpacking trip with Mt. Whitney’s summit as a bonus.
- There are far fewer people than on the regular Whitney Trail.
- We utilize the services of Cottonwood Pack Station to carry equipment while we hike with a day pack.
Inclusions
Price includes guiding, pack stock support, permits, group gear, tents, kitchen gear, breakfasts, lunches and dinners. We provide delicious healthy meals – our guides are great backcountry chefs! No pre-packaged dehydrated meals, we promise!
Prerequisites
You should be able to hike, with a day pack, up to thirteen miles a day with 3,000 feet or more in elevation gain. Prior experience hiking on rocky, uneven trails is required. While we use mules to carry the loads, the distances to be covered each day are significant.
Acclimatization & Physical Training
For proper acclimatization, we suggest spending at least one night at a moderate altitude, higher than 8,000 feet, just prior to the start of the journey. See our detailed tips on acclimatizing and physical training in the “Resources” tab.
Distance
Day Out | Destination | Mileage | Elevation Gain | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | Chicken Springs Lake | 5.3 miles | 1405 | |
Day 2 | Rock Creek Crossing | 10.5 miles | 620 | |
Day 3 | Guitar Lake | 10.3 miles | 2985 | |
Day 4 | Mount Whitney then back to Crabtree Meadows | 14.4 miles | 3405 | |
Day 5 | Rock Creek Lake | 11.3 miles | 2020 | |
Day 6 | back to pack station | 11.4 miles | 1435 |
Getting to the top of Whitney: 32.2 miles
Total 63.2 miles Total Elevation Gain 11,870
Day 1 – Acclimatization Day
We meet for a trip orientation at 5.00 p.m. at the Cottonwood Campground, set up tents and have dinner before settling in for the night.
Day 2 – The Journey Begins
We get our equipment sorted and to the packers before hiking from the Cottonwood Pack station up and over Cottonwood Pass and descend a little over about a half mile to Chicken Springs Lake, our first night’s camp. This day is about 5 miles long with about 1400 feet of elevation gain and makes for a great break-in day further improving your acclimatization to the elevation. There will be plenty of time in camp to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
Day 3 - Acclimatization Day – Enter Sequoia Kings National Park
We leave camp and, after a short initial climb, much of the day is relatively flat or downhill. We contour above Big Whitney Meadow with views towards the Kaweah’s. After entering Sequoia Kings National Park, we continue to the lower crossing of Rock Creek. This is about a 10 mile day.
Day 4 – Getting Ready for Whitney
Our day starts with a climb over Guyot Pass and into the wide open spaces of Guyot Flat. Staying near treeline, we climb and contour around into Crabtree Meadows. We now turn towards Mt. Whitney and steadily climb to camp overlooking Guitar Lake (11,460’). The pack stock leave us here and return to Crabtree Meadows to overnight the mules.
Day 5 – Summit Day!
We are not too far from the summit but we allow all day for the ascent to the summit and the return to a lower camp. There are numerous switchbacks up to Trailcrest (13,550’) where we meet others coming up from the other side. The summit seems within grasp but the thin air limits our ability to move speedily, though with slow but steadily progress before long we will be on top and enjoying the highest point outside of Alaska. After summit photos and relaxing on top we retrace our steps back. While we are climbing the packers come up and collect our camp and move it down to Crabtree Meadow. Doing it this way sets the stage for an easier last day back to the cars.
Day 6 – Return to Rock Creek
The packstock return and pick up our gear and we retrace our steps back to Rock Creek Crossing and then head to camp at Rock Creek Lake via a different route.
Day 7 – Return to the Trailhead
Back to the road head. This is a long day so be prepared for an early start and a late afternoon return to the trailhead.
Links
Rental Equipment
We have rental equipment available at checkout.
Reviews
Betsy, Mule Supported Mt. Whitney
“I can’t say enough great things about the Sierra Mountain Center’s 7-day Pack Supported Women’s Whitney Trip. Our guides and packers were professional and on top of every detail. The guides especially were knowledgeable, experienced and fun to be around. They made all 10 of us feel supported on our quest for Mt. Whitney. The food was nutritious and delicious and our campsites were private and spacious. All in all, a wonderful way to experience the Sierra!”
More Reviews
Karen, Mule Supported Mt. Whitney
“This is a top notch outfitter. For a week-long, mule-supported trip for 9 women that included summiting Mt. Whitney, our guides were excellent: knowledgeable, experienced, patient, kind, excellent cooks, skilled communicators and planners. As for Sierra Mountain Center, they represented the trip accurately, gave detailed advice on what to bring and how to prepare for the trip, designed a comfortable itinerary that we all could complete, provided excellent tents. The mule support was executed seamlessly, as we always had our gear, transported carefully and delivered in fine form when we arrived at our next camp. I highly recommend this outfitter/guiding service.”
Jennifer, Mammoth to Yosemite Mule Supported
“I had the most amazing experience with Sierra Mountain Center on a mule supported section hike on the John Muir Trail from Red’s Meadow to Yosemite Valley in July 2022. Everything about this trip was fantastic! Emma was wonderful helping set up the trip and answer all of my questions beforehand. Our guide, Larry, was simply the best! He is extremely knowledgeable about backpacking and the surrounding area, and his enthusiasm is contagious. He was as excited as we were to be on the trip, and he was great at anticipating when we might need a break and motivating us to push through the hills. This was my first backpacking trip, so I really appreciated his guidance and encouragement, not to mention his great cooking skills in the back country! I loved that this trip was supported by mules, and our cowboy, Tom, was fantastic as well. The mules helped carry the bulk of our gear, so we only carried a daypack of belongings and snacks, allowing us to fully appreciate the long hikes. The camp spots were beautiful and this section of the JMT is incredible, and I am now looking forward to joining other SMC trips in the future.”
Beth, Mule Supported Mt. Whitney
“Best ever trip in the Sierra! I would highly recommend the Women’s Whitney trip with Sierrs Mountain Center. Everything was ideal. The guides (Heather and Madeline) were the very best–so knowledgeable and supportive of our goals.
Thanks so much!!”
Jessica, Mule Supported Mt. Whitney
“BIG GIANT THANKS to Tyler & Dave for guiding us on an EPIC 7-day adventure through the Sierras and helping us all summit Mount Whitney 🙂 What an incredible playground full of ancient trees, luscious valleys, streams and natures best COLD plunge lakes! It literally was something I dreamed of for the past 20 years and sharing this journey with my teenage boys was a memory I will never forget. You truly spoiled us with all your backpacking & cheffing skills 🙂 Thank you for sharing your passion, wisdom, humor and patience. WE all learned so much and can’t wait for the next one!”