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

Abstract

• Deaths on this scenic however harmful mountain in California have elevated in recent times, with one to 2 fatalities yearly on common.
• Overcrowding, lack of expertise, and altitude illness are the first causes hikers die on this mountain, which is the tallest mountain within the decrease 48 states.
• Security measures together with correct coaching, packing necessities, and turning again if wanted should be adopted when mountaineering this tough Californian mountain.

Critical hikers practice all their lives to deal with a few 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 explicit mountain in California requires probably the most avid adventurers. However when climbers see simply what number of hikers by no means return from California’s most scenic peak, some could 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 ft) as nicely. Mount Whitney, considered one of the Golden State’s highest hikes (and the tallest mountain within the decrease 48 states), has turn into a spot the place hikers are dropping their lives at increased charges than up to now.

Not solely is that this tragic, however it’s needlessly taking place as nicely and has really led a few 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 Might 2024, two hikers had been reported lacking and later discovered deceased on Mount Whitney. A 3rd hiker, lower than every week later, was struck by a rock whereas mountaineering and tragically handed away as nicely. Sadly, these usually are not 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 because of this.

In contrast to different mountains which have a selected depend as to what number of hikers have perished whereas making an attempt 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 attempt smaller mountains earlier than tackling Mount Whitney.

That mentioned, there are identified averages yearly concerning the fatality charge; on a median 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 traditional, making situations treacherous in the course of the summer time months, that is the exception, not the rule. There are a lot easier explanation why accidents are taking place on Mount Whitney, resulting in pointless accidents, or worse, dying, yearly.

Why Hikers Are Dying On Mount Whitney

Overcrowding, lack of expertise, and altitude illness are a few of the important 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 shocking provided 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 simple hike by any means. The path takes hikers over 14,500 ft to the summit, which is a component mountaineering and half mountaineering. However with the one factor standing in hikers’ means being getting a allow, many take to Mount Whitney who maybe shouldn’t.

Overcrowding

Over 30,000 individuals 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 every day. Whereas this limits the variety of hikers every 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 turn into dislodged. Those that lose their stability and start to slip down the mountain can take different hikers with them. Even with simply the sheer variety of individuals on the mountain at one time, there’s a increased chance of accidents resulting from quantity.

It’s due to this massive variety of individuals 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 practice to have the ability to do the 22-mile roundtrip hike. Nevertheless, what many individuals do not practice for is using crampons and ice axes.

As such, plenty of hikers come to Mount Whitney by no means having used this tools earlier than. Consequently, they not solely put themselves at risk however put different hikers in danger as nicely.

Altitude Illness

Altitude sickness is a very real danger on Mount Whitney. Nevertheless, many inexperienced hikers do not know what altitude illness appears 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 must be heeded and plenty of coaching must be undertaken earlier than mountaineering Mount Whitney

When mountaineering mountains like Mount Whitney, there’s all the time an inherent danger. However there are ways to mitigate the risks as a lot as doable earlier than scaling up the mountain for bragging rights.

The methods to soundly hike Mount Whitney embody:

• Practice forward of time on smaller mountains
• Pack loads of water and meals
• Know the best way 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 means of September when there are fewer probabilities of inclement climate
• Flip round if altitude illness or some other ailment strikes

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

Sadly, warnings usually are not all the time considered, resulting in too many accidents, and, in some situations, dying, on the tallest mountain within the continental US.