Customer Reviews

Mount Whitney: The Complete Trailhead-To-Summit Hiking Guide

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the standard book in assisting novice Whitney hikers to the summit. If you have never hiked the main trail to Whitney, or if you want to try the alternate routes, then this is a a well-written guide, with insight from an experienced hiker and climber. There is ample information on how to secure a permit for the main trail, when to contact the Ranger Station and additional info on the annual May lottery.

However, there are some problems with the author's descriptions of various other trails and this is imperative to point out. For example, the Meysan Lakes chapter claims that anyone can summit Mt. Whitney via the Meysan Lakes trailhead. This is problematic at best, and a falsehood at its worse. There is a trail to Meysan Lakes, but there is *no trail* afterwards until you hook up with the main Whitney Trail. The author fails to mention that an any hiker attempting the middle sections of this trail must have developed route-finding skills and this section would be a class 3 hike. This is omited from the book and consequently, could cause hikers somes serious problems.

I also quibble with the author's assessment of what is difficult and what is not. I've summited Whitney many times and regard a time of 11 hours (when not trail running) as pretty swift. However, the author says that "standard" or average time in hiking Whitney is 10 hours for a day hike. This is a little elitist and only well-conditioned hikers make it in that time. This also presents novices with faulty information. When they struggle to get done in 16 hours, they might rely on this book's information and regard that time as pathetic.

So be careful with this guide and the information contained within. I still recommend it, and the elevation maps for each trail are interesting. I respect the author, who has summited Whitney via the various routes described and who has even done Everest. But check around with others before attempting any trail aside from the main one and best of luck.

I have been looking at Whitney books a lot and I have been mostly disappointed. This book is very easy to use to compare different routes. I am really impressed with the comparisons of the different routes.

This past summer, my boyfriend and I climbed Mount Whitney (via Route 9) following the detailed narrative descriptions and maps included in this popular guidebook. The author's attention to detail sets it apart from all other books on Whitney. This comprehensive tone has everything one needs to know for a first-time hike to the summit of Whitney or for exploring a more remote, less traveled route to the top of this coveted peak. Along the way, we used the author's meticulous route descriptions to explore off-trail and visit Sky-Blue Lake, one of the most beautiful spots in the entire Sierra Nevada.

I was concerned about altitude sickness before leaving for the trek. Although I experienced the affects of the high altitude for a day, I followed the advice contained in the guidebook and was able to successfully climb the peak with no further complications. We used the bear-proof food boxes noted in the guidebook but at several camps, where bear boxes were not available, we hung our food to protect against bears. If you use the correct method when hanging your food even the most-savvy street-smart bears cannot get your grub.

I highly recommend this guidebook, as it not only details the popular Whitney Trail, but 12 other treks that get you away from the crowds and lead you through spectacular mountain terrain you will long remember. I plan to return to Whitney again this summer to capture the alpenglow on Whitney's east face. I will have this guidebook in my backpack.

/s/ A Hiking Enthusiast from Northern California

Take this book with a grain of salt. I used it last October to plan a climb of Whitney via the Meysan Lake route and found the route descriptions to be woefully inadequate in conveying the difficulty of the terrain and route. I learned later that others have had the same problem with this book. We completed our hike, but are veteran backcountry travellers in good physical condition. And even we were seriously taxed by this "moderate" route. Later we saw some on-line correspondence which indicated we weren't the first ones to be suckered in by this particular route description in this particular book. Some other guide books I've since checked out describe this author's "moderate" route as "gruelling." Those writers must have actually hiked the Meysan Lake route - I suspect this author has not.

I actually purchased this book after I summitted Mt. Whitney. I wished I had found it ahead of time. Lots of great information. I had no idea how many trail heads there are. We backpacked on our trip and used the Main Mt. Whitney Trail, but I would really like to try out some of the other trails Paul suggests. Even if you don't plan to go all the way to the top of Whitney, many of the trails described in this book would be wonderful day or backpacking adventures. I found the Appendix information very useful, too, particularly the food and gear suggestions. The facts and figures section made me fully appreciate the accomplishment of reaching the summit, especially when I discovered that only 1/3 of all hikers reach the top. My only disappointments with the book are that I wish there were color photographs and more information about Mt. Whitney itself (such as history and factoids). Otherwise, this is an extremely practical guide for preparing and planning a trip to the tallest peak in the continental U. S.

Paul Richins has once again offered mountaineers a guide book that is replete with detail and evidence of the author's tremendous experience and passion for the Sierra. For anyone, novice to seasoned mountaineer, who wishes to climb Mount Whitney, this book is your chaperon. The bonus is the consummate resource Paul offers for any backcountry endeavor. From menu planning to first aid to ecological stewardship to acclimatizing ... it's all here.

Especially if you plan to do a more extended tour of Mount Whitney (vs. the 1-day, up-and-back route) this book comes in handy to help make informed trail (= permit!) and camping decisions ahead of time. Once you've read it, suggest to save weight that you xerox and bring along only the relevant pages to your hike, as much of the book is about preparation, facts, and planning. It does not, of course, replace your topographic map. :)

We used it recently on a very enjoyable 4-day camping trip and ascent of Mt. Whitney.

We did enjoy the Appendix as well - especially with the "Facts, Figures, and Firsts" and the "Fourteeners in California" reference tables.

The author, Paul Richins, Jr., starts off this excellent back country guide with a brief introduction to the region, some cautionary commentary, and some real world common sense recommendations on what, and what not to bring on your trip(s). He then describes useage of the book and proceeds to detail the various routes. He covers the basics of getting to the trailheads, details various legs of the routes with common stops and starts and points out areas of risk where appropriate. Unlike other reviewers, I found his approach to be accurate on the trails I am familiar with, but I would caution anyone attempting these trips to thoroughly map out their trek using the most current topographic maps available.

I think the other reviewers that found fault with the book were negligent in recognizing that it is a "guide" book, not a scientific treatise. The trail and cross country conditions one encounters are not static and a certain degree of subjectivity must creep into descriptions that change from season to season. For that reason no one should ever plan a back country trip based solely on a guide book written years distant from one's own journey. Additinally, trail conditions should be verified at the appropriate Ranger Station, ideally speaking directly with field Rangers who have been in the area recently. Finally, current, up to date topographic maps and the ability to read them along with reasonably proficient back country skills are the bare minimums for any of the cross country routes and the multi day trail hikes detailed in the text.

With regard to the criticism leveled against the author's description of the "Meysan Lake Route", I don't know what these reviewers were talking about. First of all, if it's a "route" it involves cross-country travel and the author clearly delineates this in the description. Further, he goes on to describe it as a "strenuous" route and labels it class 2. A little bit of common sense gleaned from the telling data of a 8971' elevation gain in 12.1 miles should be sufficient for anyone attempting it. I've made this one and I might be more apt to label it class 3 as it is strenuous, if not downright grueling....it's also magnificent.

This book is as good as any guide book out there, is well written and contains a lot of information on this specific area just not available elsewhere. If you're going to hike in the Whitney area, it's a must have....just make sure you have the requisite skills to handle the adversity that comes with the territory.

As Mt Whitney is the highest peak in the continental US it draws a great variety of hikers, ranging from the experienced to the clueless looking for bragging rights. Hence getting a permit for the direct route takes luck in the lottery or a last minute cancellation. Aside from the altitude change, climbing Whitney by the standard route is no big shakes, as there is a class I trail that goes all the way to the summit. No guide book is needed, only maps, fitness, and the usual backcountry common sense and supplies (and those who don't know what those are probably shouldn't be tackling Whitney just yet).

What makes this book nice is the variety of approach routes described, from the standard trail route to more challenging off-trail/cross country routes. Essentially the book is a collection of hikes of the Whitney high country that intersect with the summit at some point. This is highly relevant as the 1-3 trip permits are hard to come by, but multi-day treks starting farther away and ending at Whitney are more easily obtained, not to mention the beautiful country encountered along the way. The maps of the book complement topo maps: they are more simplified and easy to read, facilitating planning and consideration of options.

Nothing in the book requires climbing gear if one is going once the snow has melted... The mountaineer's route is the most difficult one covered here and a roped climbing oriented crowd probably wants a supertopo guide instead of this.

Additional note: This book appears to have gone out of print. While the list price seems fair this is in no way worth collector prices.

Great book. I have 2 other guides for the same mountain, one is also really good, the other a bit so so, (lacking in depth of detail).
This one though is my favourite, I find myself refering back to it to confirm the other guides. This is the one that will accompany me in June 2007 when I trek the Circumnavigation Route to the summit. The background, history, geographical and the general information contained within sets this one aside as my personal definitive guide.