Mount Whitney Guide for Hikers and Climbers [Paperback]

Paul Hellweg (Author), Scott McDonald (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 143 pages
• Publisher: Canyon Pub Co (June 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0942568222
• ISBN-13: 978-0942568226
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,187,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Hellweg is a freelance writer and author of The Insomniac's Dictionary. He is an assistant professor at California State University, Northridge. The author currently resides in Frazier Park, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great guide!, February 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mount Whitney Guide for Hikers and Climbers (Paperback)

as an avid hiker in SoCal, I gotta say that this book is a *must have* if you want to take day trips up mount whitney. since it was printed, the rangers have changed their ruling about permits (get one!) but that's no fault of the authors. that aside, the book still stands as the definitive guide to the beautiful mt whitney.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Completely out of date!, October 23, 2000

By 

Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mount Whitney Guide for Hikers and Climbers (Paperback)

This is most definitely *not* the guide you need to successfully climb Mount Whitney. Though the book is adequate on the preparation necessary for making the summit, it omits one vital piece of information: you must have a day permit in order to hike Whitney. Because this guide was written prior to this rule being implemented, it doesn't contain any warning about this.

Every hiker from May 15-October 15 *must* possess a day permit issued from the Lone Pine Ranger Station. Don't think you can hike without it, because there are Rangers strategically posted on the trail and they will ask for the pass. If you don't have it, you will be turned away. I have actually seen hikers from Germany, France and even Australia be turned away because they didn't know about this requirement.

Aside from this glaring omission, this book is a fine representation of what you must do to prepare to climb Whitney. A word of caution though, for a first-time climber reading this review. Please do not attempt this hike unless you are supremely physically fit. I have seen many sobering cases of hikers on Whitney who were simply not prepared for the rigors of this climb. Most physically fit people should be able to do the 21 miles in 12-13 hours. If it takes you 24 hours you will suffer and it will be a miserable experience. Train for at least six months before attempting to summit. Be sure and run 25-40 miles a week, hike every weekend at altitude (if practicable)and invest in a good stairclimber. You must have strong quads and calves in order to enjoy the hike and the descent will be brutal on your knees, no matter how fit you are. Also go out for several 10 hour hikes in order to prepare yourself mentally for this challenge. The mental part of Whitney is as difficult as the physical, particularly on the descent when you've been on the trail for a long time already.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A complete and concise presentation of Mount Whitney, June 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mount Whitney Guide for Hikers and Climbers (Paperback)

I purchased this book at Outdoors, Inc in Memphis, Tennessee and devoured it in one day. I was hooked on attempting Whitney as soon as I could acquire a slot which we have done June 22-24, 1998 which is the 125th anniversary of the first to hike this mountain in 1873. We will use this guide as a bible to assist our 4-man group and hope to make it an exciting experience. Although we are only hikers and not technical climbers, we can freely appreciate the time and energy it took to compile this very interesting "labor of love"....