Click Here for a scanned map of the basic trail magic route (zoom in to see contour lines).
Click Here to see a map showing Mt Whitney Summit route and approximate dates (zoom in to see contour lines)
Click Here to access the online National Park Service maps of the area
Click Here for a google map to Roads End Permit Station (the trail head)
Click Here for a google map to Giant Forest Museum near Crescent Meadow (Whitney crew will leave a car here)
Note about Google Maps: It is winter in the Sierra now (when this is being typed) - Lots of roads are closed - If you ask for driving directions, make sure that you also specify "Depart in June" (otherwise it will not be able to find a route)
Overview (2018):
- Our intention is for a maximum of 12 "angels" to arrive at Vidette Meadow in time to provide dinner to hikers on Saturday 6/16 - and continue providing magic to hikers until after breakfast on Monday 6/18. Angels are likely to take different times to get up and down the hill based on temperament and athletic ability.
- Note: We have shifted the Vidette Trail magic dates from our typical Friday/Saturday/Leave Sunday plan to the current Saturday/Sunday/Leave Monday plan (due to permit availability)
- All angels will start at Roads End Ranger Station (in Sequoia Kings Canyon Natl park) and follow Bubbs Creek up the hill to Upper Vidette Meadow. See Map. Sub-groups would converge on Vidette Meadows on Saturday afternoon. We stay at Vidette till late Monday morning (Serving Hikers the whole time) when we would hike back down the way we came and drive home.
- This year we think we can hire mules again to carry the bulk of the gear (and help to resupply those going on to summit Mt Whitney)
- There is a sub-group this year that will participate in the Magic at Vidette, and then instead of going back down the hill on Monday, will head on to summit Mt Whitney and then come back on the High Sierra Trail (trip being led by Seamus S).
Here is my summary of who has confirmed their involvement in the hike (more or less). There may be more people in the google group than are listed here. Visit the google group for email addresses (login required). Use the comments section to introduce yourself if you would like to add some more info to this section
- Ken K: Thur group. 7th trip. Connected through Seamus S (Soccer coaches together)
- Seamus S: Fri group. 7th trip. Started this tradition when his Son hiked the PCT in 2011
- George R: Thur Group. 5th trip. Connected through Ken K (Long time friend)
- Andrew G: Fri Group. 4th trip. Connected through Seamus S
- Deniz C, Friday group, 2nd trip, Connected through Andrew G
- Deane G, Fri group, 2nd trip, Connected through Seamus S
- Rachel H, Thur Group. 1st trip. Connected through Ken
- David W, Fri Group. 1st trip. Connected through Seamus S
There are likely to be Two groups going up the hill this year that will meet at Vidette and perform trail magic on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Then there will be two groups that leave Vidette on Monday, one will head back down the hill to roads end (and drive home), and the other will continue on to summit Mt Whitney
- One day up the hill: start hiking 7am Saturday morning (or possibly even at 4pm the night before) from Road's end Ranger Station, arrive Vidette Saturday evening (14 miles out and 5000 ft up, with a pack!). Only for those in shape for a very strenuous hike. First timer's are recommended to take the "three day up" option.
- Seamus S - Whitney Leader and Permit Holder for Friday Group (7 slots available on Permit)
- Andrew G
- Deniz C
- Deane G
- Three days up the hill: Start hiking 2pm Thursday afternoon from Road's end Ranger Station arriving Vidette Saturday evening (14 miles out and 5000 ft up split over three days). This is a very doable hike, recommended for first-timers and anyone that is not already in exceptional shape.
- Ken K - Three day up Leader and Permit Holder for Thursday Group (5 slots available on Permit)
- George R
- Rachel H
- David W
- Immediate Return to Roads End: Start hiking on Monday morning back down the hill the way we came (14 miles, all down hill). This is a very doable one-day descent for those that are in a hurry to get back (if you want to get home Monday night). Ken will dawdle a bit and take two days to get down the hill so that he can hang out in Vidette a little longer and drive home during the day on Tuesday (rather than late on Monday).
- Ken K - Leader and permit holder (5 slots available on Permit)
- George R
- Rachel H
- David W
- Continue on to summit Mt Whitney: Start hiking from Vidette on Monday- head over Forrester pass and on to Mt Whitney. This part of the hike is being led by Seamus S. Hikers will return along the High Sierra Trail to Crescent Meadow in the Giant Forrest (Not Roads End Ranger Station)
- Seamus S - Leader and permit holder (7 Slots available on Permit)
- Andrew G
- Deane G
- Deniz C
- Planned Itinerary for Three Day up the Hill: As provided by Ken K, group leader:
- Note: We were not able to get all of our "First Choice" Permits, and so this part of the trip has been stretched out a bit so that we arrive at Vidette at about the same time as the "One Day Up the Hill" group.
- Thur 6/14: Converge at Roads End Ranger Station by 1:00 pm to pick up parking permits, check in, and load up packs. Estimated time to start hiking 2:00 pm. Initial Destination: Sphinx Crossing (3.8 miles, up 1500 feet)
- Fri 6/15: Hike to Junction Meadow (5.9 miles, up 1500 feet)
- Sat 6/16: Hike to Vidette (4.3 miles, up 2000 feet) - Meet the mule train and open camp to Thru Hikers
- Planned Itinerary for Mt Whitney Trip: As provided by Seamus S, the group leader (Click Here for map):
- NOTE: We were not able to get our "First Choice" Permits, and so this part of the trip has been pushed back by one day from what was originally advertised. I have updated the itinerary below so that "Original dates" are listed in strikeout, and the new official dates are listed in bold and underline. The map above, has not been updated and still shows "Original Dates".
Thu 6/14 Fri 6/15 - Either me or someone else will drop a vehicle in the Giant Forest at the Crescent Meadow Trail head and depending on time of day try to make Roads End Ranger station before it stops issuing next day permits at 3 pm, then depending on timing ,camp at Ceder grove or head up to sphinx mtn junction (4 miles) and camp there (Note: it is about 65 miles and 2 hours drive from Giant Forest to Roads End according to Google Maps)Fri 6/15 Sat 6/16 - head for Vidette as early as possible 5-30 6 am. Arrive vidette around 6 pm 7 or 8 pm who cares? (approx 15 miles, up 5000 feet)Sat 6/16 Sun 6/17 - Feed hikers, lounge, sing songs, and talk of desperate tales of days gone bye and go to sleep at 9 pm (hiker midnight)Sun 6/17 Mon 6/18 - depart 5 or 6 am. Head south toward Forester Pass and try to make Crabtree ranger station 16 miles ( less than 2 miles an hr pace (besides 7 miles are flat along the Tyndall creek plateau) - Ken's map link (above) shows 20 milesMon 6/18 Tue 6/19 - 3am start for the summit - WE LEAVE ALL OUR EQUIPMENT AT CRABTREE EXCEPT FOOD MEDS AND WATER - our load will be light .It is 7.5 miles to the summit. Reach summit around 6 am ish (maybe see sunrise over the Mojave and the white mountains of Nevada). 20 mins is plenty of time on top for pics (att and Verizon both have signal on the summit). Descend to Crabtree- pick up our tents sleeping ,cooking equipment and everything we left behind and head for Wallace Creek, depending on time we could either drop down another 4000 ft to junction meadow and set up camp(?its all downhill from Whitney for 20 miles). (Map show 21 total miles to Wallace Creek).Tues 6/19 Wed 6/20- Hike south along the Kern river (this is a real easy day with lots of wildlife) camp at hot springs take a dip for our weary bones and sleep. (Map shows 7 miles total)Wed 6/20 Thu 6/21 - Head for the Great Western divide and camp at Hamilton lake (Map shows 18 miles)Thurs 6/21 Fri 6/22- Hike to the Giant Forest (about 12 miles) and “In and Out Burger” in Fresno!!! We should reach Crescent meadow around 2 pm- Note: It is about 65 miles and 2 hours to return to Roads End Ranger Station to pick up cars (according to Google Maps). From Roads End, it is another 2+ hours to Fresno (for a potential burger). From Fresno it is another 3+ hours to drive home.
- Note about Google Maps: It is winter in the Sierra now (when this is being typed) - Lots of roads are closed - If you ask for driving directions, make sure that you also specify "Depart in June" (otherwise it will not be able to find a route)