Big hikes don’t just happen, they’re built on a mix of paperwork, patience, and plenty of chaos. Mt. Whitney may be the highest peak in the lower 48, but before you even lace up your boots, (or trail runners, these ones on sale right now are my faves), there are permits to snag, lists to make, and a whole lot of “do we really need this?” conversations to have. In this part of the series, I’m walking you through the less glamorous (but equally important) side of adventure: permits, packing anxiety, and the gear that made the cut.

 

 

How to Apply for a Mt. Whitney Permit

If you’re new to grabbing permits for hiking epic places, you’ll want to first head to recreation.gov to see what your window is and when to apply. Once on the site, you’ll want to click on the “Permits” tab to then type in your desired location. Once you type in say, idk, “Mt. Whitney,” 👀👇 you’ll find the different permits available for the location.

The next page will give you an overview on the location and what to expect, and offers clickable buttons that you can choose to either explore available permits or check on the important dates for that specific area. If you do decide to explore the available permits, you’ll then need to choose your party size and the dates you desire. (The best time to hike Mt. Whitney in particular is July to late September)…unless hiking in snow on the tallest mountain is your thing. 😁

…if it is, then treat yo’self to a pair of these baddies. 😎

Important Mt. Whitney Permit Rules & Tips

Here’s a few important notes from that page:

• The hike will likely take between 12 & 14 hours for most people. (But your girl has got a badass Airbnb to be at come check-in time, so we will be hustling once we grab that once-in-a-lifetime view). 👌

• Most day hikers start well before sunrise, (I’m talking between 12-2am folks), so that you can summit before any inclement weather comes in and the sun gets too toasty. Therefore, make sure you bring headlamps. (We prefer the ones with the locks so they don’t accidentally run out of battery…speaking from experience here).

  • Check the link if you’re wanting to see our favorite 👉 Petzl Headlamp

• All Mt. Whitney hikers are expected to pack-out their poop. 💩 Yes, you read that right. Guys and gals of the hiking world, it’s time we talked about the good ole Wag Bag.

  • Here’s what I’m talking about if you’ve never heard of one.  We opted for the 12-pack since we’ll likely be planning more kinds of backcountry permits in the future, but we’re taking one each with us up the mountain just in case.

You will have to create an account with recreation.gov to actually apply and obtain permits, so just save yourself the headache and do that first. It’s a pretty great site, because you can find regular campsites on there as well, which we used for every campsite of this trip! (There are 6!)

I’m so excited to be able to camp again since it’s been several months, and as much as I love backpacking, I’m almost relieved that we’ll only have to take daypacks up the mountain which weigh significantly less! (We’re shooting for between 15-20lbs each)

Which leads us into the next section! Packing!! 🙈 (my least favorite part)…

Dealing with Packing Stress for a Big Hike

Okay okay, maybe it’s not my least favorite part, it is exciting after all to know that you’re packing for something amazing.
But…hold on I need to google something…cool, here we go:

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. I knew it. I would have to agree with the “cognitive load of making numerous decisions about what to bring and worries about needing specific items while traveling” part… 😅

It’s like all of my adult-decision-making 34-year-old brain just completely poops the wag bag and shuts down.

After the blank stares subside and some much needed Red Bull 👇 came into play, I was actually able to get some packing done.

(Thank you Red Bull for FINALLY making something I can get behind!) Check out their new Monk Fruit option!!! Yay! Ooo and you can even save 25% on subscribe and save right now! Not too shabby. 🤔

…it just occurred to me I over-aged myself. Probably a sign of old-age. (I’m still 33 years young, to be clear).

 

This scene probably gives you anxiety, too. It’s okay, we can be in that boat together.

But guess what? It’s the real deal, packing is a moment of its own in this household and although the hubs somehow does it in 5 minutes, it takes me what seems like an eternity even though I keep telling myself “this time will be different.” 🙄

How do you pack? Tell me about it on socials and we can compare the chaos! 😁

Mt. Whitney Packing List: What We’re Bringing

On a more serious non-ADHD note, here’s the quick vibes of what we are bringing:

• Less clothing overall, choosing more intentional, re-wearable, quick-drying washable items. Finally invested in a Scrubba Bag, I’ll let you know how it goes!
• More packing cubes and bags to sort things in and make finding things WAY easier. I like the Osprey ones because they compress a little more, but this is another cute pack I found on Amazon. (Check out some pics of them below)!
• Snacks. So many snacks. Check out the REI trail snack list to see some of our faves! We’ve always talked about doing this, but never wanted to plan that far ahead. Well, I bought them in bulk this time and divided them into 5 ziplock bags to disperse them throughout our luggage. I’m not upset about it. 🤷‍♀️ (Check out the pic below if you want to see my non-aesthetic photos! 😂 I show all snacks, Loki photo-bombing, and then the final outcome).
• Two sets of trekking poles. This will be our very first trip that we both carry poles. We used to go without, but after nearly falling off of the Napali Coast (thank you for saving my life Black Diamond poles), they’ve become a new staple to bring to any questionable new trail. (For context, we each used one pole there, but now we have a full set for us each!)💪
  • Related: We Ran Out Of Toilet Paper On The Napali Coast: Travel Items You Should Never Skimp On
• Ultra or pretty lightweight camping gear, (tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bags, quilt (plus an extra for the confusing weather range of 30s-100s…), pillows, sheet set, camp light/charger, and chairs.
• Daypacks by Osprey, this one’s been my fave, and a hydration pack for shorter hikes. (Just for myself since he’s basically good forever without having water. I’m more camel-like. Water is my friend. It also makes me pee.
• Which is why I never ever ever go on any trip at all anymore without my handy-dandy Peesport Bottle. For real, I love it so much that I will be making space for a second one in my luggage on our next trip. (Because I hate having to dump it out at midnight when I have to pee 2 more times). TMI? Sorry, welcome to HB. 😅 We’re real here. 🤷‍♀️ We’re also hella hydrated.
• Speaking of hydration, besides those snacks, I bring a TON of of electrolytes. It’s a non-negotiable daily now and especially when we’re pushing for a summit. Orange Nuun Tablets are by far my favorite option.

But Wait…There’s More

We’ll stop there for now, since a full list will be dropped for each category on the blog in the future. But you get the point, bring what you need, leave what you are overthinking about, and move on to relaxation mode before your big day. 🤙

Permits obtained, snacks sorted, and bags (mostly) packed, it’s starting to feel real. The truth is, prep doesn’t end when you zip up your duffel; it keeps unfolding right up until you’re standing at the trailhead. That’s where we’ll pick up in Part 3: the route we mapped, the stops along the way, and how it all ties together before the big climb.

PS! If you’re wondering how we organize things inside the bag, check out the pics below to see all the interior storage bags we use to make sure we can easily access exactly what we need. Goodbye to searching through one large piece of luggage to find that missing t-shirt that you absolutely need! 👇

I purchased the Osprey packing cubes from osprey.com, but the green cubes I grabbed on Amazon. (link above in case you missed it)!

Do you have a favorite brand of cubes or luggage you use for packing? Drop it in the comments!

Thank You For Reading!

Thanks so much for reading! If you’re planning your own Mt. Whitney adventure, I hope this breakdown of permits, prep, and packing helps you feel more ready (and a little less anxious). Drop your own tips in the comments—I’d love to hear what worked for you!