One Best Hike: Mt. Whitney

The most iconic 14er in the country—and the highest mountain in the contiguous United States—California’s 14,505-foot Mt. Whitney positively radiates in the Sierra Nevada, beckoning hikers from around the world to summit its granite massif. Each year, thousands of people climb to the top. For many, the hike up Whitney is a once-in-a-lifetime tick on their outdoor activity list. The most popular route to the summit is the 22-mile round-trip Mt. Whitney Trail, with an elevation gain of more than 6100 feet. Although the hike is non-technical, following well-graded trail the whole way, would-be hikers need to be prepared for the altitude, long distance, elevation gain, mountain weather, and other potential dangers before they embark on this trip. Author and seasoned Sierra hiker Elizabeth Wenk provides the authoritative, step-by-step guide to planning and completing this superb hike with safety advice, insider information, detail, and reassurance found nowhere else. Read more