Why Many Hikers Never Return From California’s Most Scenic Peak

Critical hikers prepare all their lives to sort out a number of the hardest day hikes in the US. A few of these treks happen on America’s mountains that have been deemed some of the deadliest, so warning is all the time a should. Nevertheless, for these questioning which US mountains to summit, one specific mountain in California requires essentially the most avid adventurers. However when climbers see simply what number of hikers by no means return from California’s most scenic peak, some might want to give the concept a second thought.

Whereas Colorado is best known for its challenging 14ers, California has some extremely difficult 14ers (hikes with elevations over 14,000 toes) as properly. Mount Whitney, one in every of the Golden State’s highest hikes (and the tallest mountain within the decrease 48 states), has develop into a spot the place hikers are dropping their lives at greater charges than previously.

Not solely is that this tragic, however it’s needlessly occurring as properly and has really led a number of the most skilled hikers to skip Mount Whitney altogether for mountains with much less visitors and fewer inexperienced hikers.

Many Hikers By no means Return From Mount Whitney, California’s Most Scenic Peak

Deaths on Mount Whitney have elevated over the past a number of years

In Could 2024, two hikers have been reported lacking and later discovered deceased on Mount Whitney. A 3rd hiker, lower than per week later, was struck by a rock whereas mountain climbing and tragically handed away as properly. Sadly, these will not be unusual tales on Mount Whitney. However due to the accessibility to the mountain, many take to Mount Whitney with out correct expertise and pay with their lives in consequence.

Not like different mountains which have a particular depend as to what number of hikers have perished whereas attempting to make their ascent to the highest, Mount Whitney doesn’t have one. Maybe if there was one thing in black and white, it could deter hikers who weren’t bodily prepared or not skilled sufficient with tools like crampons and ice axes.

A correct register of hiker deaths and accidents would possibly as an alternative urge these inexperienced to strive smaller mountains earlier than tackling Mount Whitney.

That mentioned, there are recognized averages yearly relating to the fatality price; on a mean 12 months, there are one to two deaths on Mount Whitney. Nevertheless, over the past a number of years, the excessive finish of that common, if no more, has occurred on the mountain.

Whereas there are years when the snowpack is deeper than normal, making situations treacherous in the course of the summer season months, that is the exception, not the rule. There are a lot easier the reason why accidents are occurring on Mount Whitney, resulting in useless accidents, or worse, demise, yearly.

Why Hikers Are Dying On Mount Whitney

Overcrowding, lack of expertise, and altitude illness are a number of the essential causes hikers die on Mount Whitney

There are particular mountains on each backpacker’s bucket listing. A kind of mountains is Mount Whitney. This isn’t stunning on condition that Mount Whitney is the tallest peak in the continental US and is deemed the “third-easiest hike” of the 15 peaks in California.

Nevertheless, simply because this designation is given to Mount Whitney doesn’t imply it’s a straightforward hike by any means. The path takes hikers over 14,500 toes to the summit, which is a component mountain climbing and half mountaineering. However with the one factor standing in hikers’ approach being getting a allow, many take to Mount Whitney who maybe shouldn’t.

Overcrowding

Over 30,000 folks try and make it to the highest of Mount Whitney yearly. Hikers are required to have a permit, with 100 day permits and 60 in a single day permits given out each day. Whereas this limits the variety of hikers each day on Mount Whitney, peak season means the mountain is packed.

With this a lot foot visitors on Mount Whitney, extra rocks and particles can develop into dislodged. Those that lose their steadiness and start to slip down the mountain can take different hikers with them. Even with simply the sheer variety of folks on the mountain at one time, there’s a greater probability of accidents because of quantity.

It’s due to this massive variety of folks on Mount Whitney that extra skilled hikers have determined through the years to hike much less fashionable mountains as an alternative.

Lack Of Expertise

As soon as hikers get the allow to hike Mount Whitney, many prepare to have the ability to do the 22-mile roundtrip hike. Nevertheless, what many individuals do not prepare for is using crampons and ice axes.

As such, a number of hikers come to Mount Whitney by no means having used this tools earlier than. Consequently, they not solely put themselves in peril however put different hikers in danger as properly.

Altitude Illness

Altitude sickness is a very real danger on Mount Whitney. Nevertheless, many inexperienced hikers do not know what altitude illness seems like or ignore signs as a result of they’re so decided to not flip again and make it to the highest of Mount Whitney. The result’s that many deaths on Mount Whitney are from altitude illness alone.

The disorientation causes hikers to lose their footing and slip, resulting in huge accidents or worse.

How To Hike Mount Whitney Safely

Security protocols needs to be heeded and plenty of coaching needs to be undertaken earlier than mountain climbing Mount Whitney

When mountain climbing mountains like Mount Whitney, there may be all the time an inherent threat. However there are ways to mitigate the risks as a lot as potential earlier than scaling up the mountain for bragging rights.

The methods to securely hike Mount Whitney embody:

• Prepare forward of time on smaller mountains
• Pack loads of water and meals
• Know methods to use tools like crampons and ice axes earlier than scaling Mount Whitney
• Camp beforehand at Cottonwood Lakes or Whitney Portal to get used to the elevation
• Hike from June by September when there are fewer probabilities of inclement climate
• Flip round if altitude illness or some other ailment strikes

Mountain climbing mountains like Mount Whitney shouldn’t be completed evenly. Whereas accessible, they’re harmful and require coaching to hike to the highest.

Sadly, warnings will not be all the time considered, resulting in too many accidents, and, in some cases, demise, on the tallest mountain within the continental US.