Sonja SaxeExplorer
Seattle, WA based, adventuring everywhere. I'm on an endless journey to explore and photograph the national parks' scenic backcountry!
I summited Mount Whitney on 6/9/17. After the drought-breaking winter we knew we were going to be in for a tough hike but it was 100%, without-a-doubt, worth it! We started the hike from Whitney Portal at 1am and route-finding below treeline was a bit tricky but we had a GPS (downloaded the Gaia Maps app) so we were able to get back on track pretty quickly whenever we lost our way. The trail was intermittently snowy (which is what made route-finding difficult) until just past Mirror Lake when it became entirely snow covered and we put on crampons. We made it to Trail Camp at 6am and took a half an hour break. It took us another 2 hours to climb up the chute and make it to Trail Crest. Because of elevation and fatigue it took us yet another 2 hours to reach the summit, but we did it!! We didn't stay long because we knew we still had a long hike back down ahead of us. Sliding down the chute was one of the most fun aspects of doing this trail in the snow but please make sure you bring an ice axe and know how to use it so you can self-arrest if necessary. It was nice to hike back down in the daylight but the sun made the snow an absolute nightmare to walk through! We finally made it back to the trailhead at 6pm, completely worked but so elated!
5.0
The BLM only allows 20 people to enter the canyon for overnight trips each day so you will likely be alone for the most of your trip. In November 2016 I spent 3 days/2 nights hiking from the White House Trailhead to Lee's Ferry and only saw one other person, which made for an incredible wilderness experience. If you choose to hike the Paria Canyon through its entirety you will have to use two cars or use a shuttle service. I used Seeking Treasure Adventures and was very pleased with the service Yermo provided! Also, you cannot drink the river water, so if you are doing this hike from start to finish you will need to refill your water at the 3 reliable springs. The first is Big Spring at mile 12, the second is Shower Spring at mile 22, and Last Reliable Spring is at mile 25. The springs can easily be missed if you aren't looking for them so be sure to pay attention to your mileage. And yes, there is quicksand, I actually got stuck in it and while I knew I wasn't in much danger it was a scary experience. If you find yourself stuck in quicksand, immediately take off your pack and throw it to shore. It is much easier to climb out of quicksand without a heavy pack dragging you down. All in all this is one of the most unique hikes I've ever been on and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a multi-day hike that combines beauty and solitude!
5.0
Even under (and over) a thick layer of clouds this hike was gorgeous. It's a workout and the views won't come easy but they are well worth the effort! I would recommend budgeting extra time to explore the ridge once you're there.
4.0
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