WNW Edge

Fun interesting scrambling with big exposure -- to reach a ultra-dramatic summit (nothing like the top of Mt Whitney) with dramatic views down in three direction.

. . Could be nice for climbers who for social/family reasons find themselves joined into a team hiking up the Mt Whitney Trail.

. . Or a way to tag a big-name climbing peak with some additional fun before doing

the Mt Whitney SouthWest Edge route

(same start point).

. . (The "other" edge, Southwest from the Keeler peak is less interesting and with more loose rock, about 500 feet of scrambling).

Leave the main hiking trail next to the notch between Mt Whitney and Keeler Needle, and head roughly ESE up toward the pointy summit.

. . (about +130 vertical feet of up).

. . If want more difficulty or exposure, look for places to get closer to the edge (or below the edge).

Starts at the notch between Mt Whitney and Keeler Needle -- GPS latitude longitude approx (N36.5759 W118.2939) -- which is next to the Mt Whitney hiking trail.

Simple way to find it is to hike down from the Mt Whitney summit on the main hiking trail: WNW then SSW then ESE, marked by rock-stack cairns -- just under 0.5 mile distance.

Or if coming from the south from Trail Crest or the John Muir Trail, the start of this route is 2 miles north on Mt Whitney Trail from the junction of the John Muir Trail (coming up from the west) with the Mt Whitney Trail (coming down from the south a very short ways past Trail Crest).

Protection for trad leading is unknown.