Whitney-Mt. Muir Trip, CA

Harlan W. S.
July 01, 2007

The roundtrip took ~12 hours, with a healthy stay on top. There was a delaying drama on the switchbacks—a woman was severely altitude sick, and was being carried out, pick-a-back style. We found a ranger just east of Trail Camp, and he called in for a helicopter.

For the WT (west) route to Mt. Muir, the description in Secor’s “High Sierra” book is pretty good. The moves are principally class 3-- though many holds are just nubbins of granite and require a lot of trust in the good friction of the rock, and may seem a little creepy to some.

GPS trace (blue). Because there are so many switchbacks, the roundtrip route (with side trip up Muir) was ~22 miles.		View NW to Wotan’s Throne.
Mirror Lake, Thor Peak in background.	Mount Muir at R – just below Trail Camp.	Marmot at Trail Camp.
The marmot was stealing food out of the pack owned by the fellow in orange.	Nick and Matt heading up the 99 switchbacks; Muir in background at R.	Polemonium above a switchback.
View W at Trail Crest.	Nick takes off up Muir. This 1st chimney is really a crack.	View down the chimney. I put up a strap for security, but Matt didn’t need it.
Matt on top of Muir.	View of “99 switchbacks” from Muir.	Matt descends past upper section of Muir.
Matt, view NW, on traverse with good holds.	Back on Whitney Trail at ~13800’, view N.	View E through an early window.
S from Summit.	Matt reprises a photo from 8 years back. Iceberg Lake at R.	View S, itchy R foot.
	Pano N over Russell, to Williamson.
		Keeler Needle at L.