FKT: Helen Mino Faukner - Mt Whitney (CA) - 2026-07-31

Route variation
Whitney Trail car-to-car
Multi-sport
No
Para athlete
No
Gender category
Female
Style
Unsupported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
4h 29m 22s
GPS track(s)
Report

 

I started at 5:50am from the Whitney Portal Trailhead. It was light enough to not need a headlamp. I felt pretty good and knew the trail/what to expect a lot more than the first time I did it in 2022. Saw quite a few people. It was pretty perfect weather, just a little hot at the bottom. The last place to filter water was 6.5 miles from the bottom. Not windy at all. It was hard, but I've spent a lot more time at altitude compared to the previous time which was the first time I had ever been above 14k. I got to the top in 2:36:59 and then turned around to go back down. I thought the most time I could make up from 2022 was the downhill and since I was already 10ish minutes ahead at the top I thought I had a pretty good chance. I filtered water back down at 6.5 miles to go. I was about 2 miles from the bottom when I realized if I pushed I could probably make it under 4:30 and I did. Overall super happy and what a beautiful expansive experience and day I was lucky enough to have.