Sierra 500

4:29 PM PDT

Thursday August 14th 2025

Carls Junior Lone Pine Ca

I was on trail at 12:30 AM

Goal: to reach the summit of Mount Whitney before sunrise.

Surprisingly I was not the only beamer in the moonlit darkness

Hikers at the Summit Trail Head.

The first 4.7 Miles up to the Whitney Summit Trail was not bad, the switch backs where well made providing a better working grade towards elevation.

I saw streams of headlamps down below hikers where heading toward the switch backs.

Twinkling in the darkness hikers are making their way to the Summit of Mount Whitney.

Seeing Mount Whitney during sunrise is something truely to see

Hikers pulled there stove and water to make Coffee and Oatmeal with the warmth of Mount Whitney's Sunrise.

After Mount Whitney I continued towards Whitney Portal Trail which starts at Trail Crest. There are 97 Switch Backs going down to the Portal Trail Head with an elevation descent of 5,300 in 8.7 Miles

I got a ride down to Lone Pine Ca where the Elevation stands at 3,327' I just came down from 14,504'. I am at Carl's Junior and I am heading to Portuguese Joe's camp ground where cold refreshing waters of Tuttle Creek Flow through. The Eastern Sierra Shuttle Leaves Lone Pine at 10:00 AM from McDonalds I will be back in Pasadena Friday Night. I have completed my goal. 500 Miles of the Sierra Tahoe Rim Trail to Mount Whitney.