Whats the rules on sleeping on the summit and has anybody done it here?
I know there is a shelter but is it emergency shelter only? I am curious while planning my 07 trip and how to set up the last days schedule.
Thanks for any comments
Tuco
Sleeping On Whitney Summit
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#2
Slept on the summit once and probably wouldn’t do it again. It was very cold and there is always the chance of of a thunderstorm later in the evening when you have left it too late to get down off the summit before dark.
I think the shelter is supposed to be for emergencies but that is where I stayed. I you prefer a tent or whatever you will be able to find room between rocks fairly close to the top.
The most common option is to find an overused site at Guitar Lake on your last night before summiting and hiking out. If you head to Guitar Lake then get away from the lake by a half mile or more, you should find somewhere that hasn’t been trampled to dust by the crowds.
Phil B
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#3
ok, sleeping on whitney is wrong (and/or stupid, but so is climbing everest) but I loved it. I have video on my PCT '06 site (last entry july 5th at the bottom, click arrow on the tumbnail) of the great sunrise over this years snow packed sierras. it was early in the year before the rain season. probably not a good idea now, good chance of turning into a french fry.
hellkat
system
#4
Know your weather and watch for signs of a storm along the horizon line. Watching the shadow of Whitney grow over the Owens Valley is a pretty awesome event and wicked colorful.
Sleeping on the top is neither wrong nor stupid if you know what you’re doing. The ranger at Crabtree recommended we stay on top, in fact. Early September got down to 20 and windy, but the hut is open to sleeping 3, maybe 4 in a pinch. Unless they replaced the door of the hut, though, it makes for a noisy night. There are a handful of cleared out flat spaces to set up a tent with windbreaks built from rock, but expect to feel the wind, nonetheless. There is a secondary campsite just west of the JMT near the Whitney crest intersection down off the main trail–very tough to see however.
And contrary to the last post, night, IMHO, is the BEST time to hike. As I said before, though, try and know what your weather might do.
Enjoy!
Cap’n
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#6
go for it! how often do you get to be the highest person in the lower 48 states that is still on solid ground??!! i slept up there on my 2005 hike and would definately do it again! although i have to say that it was the absolutely coldest night of the entire trail. especially since right when i was cooking dinner a HUGE gust of wind came in and around my stone barrier and stole away my two sleeping pads........ all i could do is give a little whimpering noise and watch them both sail away into the blue yonder. i hardly slept that night and actually got out my emergency blanket at 4 am because i was shivering to much.
even with that experience i would be back in a heartbeat!
when will you get the chance to do it again??? unless you live in california, probably not for a good long time. while your out there on the trail make sure to take advantage of every single oppertunity of adventure you come across, because you never know when you might get to do it again!
have a wonderful hike next year.
TYVEK pct 2005
TYVEK
system
#7
Thanks for the replies.
Tyvek- OK, I am inspired 
Plenty of time to decide but I will leave that option open for sure. It will depend on weather and what time I get in the vicinity. Thanks again all.
Tuco
system
#8
I stayed there in 2004. I slept in the hut, it was warm and cozy! I remember the funny noises the hut made when the wind would blow. The thin air felt strange too. The other three of my party were sleeping outside and they froze! :smokin I suggest the hut! It was an awesome experience!
thinair
system
#9
I’m wondering if anyone can comment on the point where they started their summit hike from, and how long it took to get to the summit.
I’ve read lots of posts on the Whitney Portal store message board about the foolishness of folks ascending to the summit, and walking straight into electrical storms. So I guess if you wanted to spend the night, you’d want to get up top maybe just after dark (assuming bad weather most likely in late afternoon?). But how to time your ascent…?
Len