Mono County High Point Trip Report

White Mountain Peak (14,246 ft)

Date: June 20, 2002
Author: Scott Surgent

Originally not in my plans, I decided at the last moment while driving through Big Pine to go for this 14er. I spent a day visiting the Schulman and Patriarch Bristlecone groves, acclimating to the elevation. I camped at the gate and witnessed a small but strong thunderstorm come through my area.

The next morning I started up the road at 4:30 am, reaching the Barcroft Labs at 5:15 am and making great time to the saddle just below the summit. Only the final mile and 1,500 feet of gain at the end slowed me; I made the top in 4 hours and 10 minutes in great conditions.

An unreal summit and immediately one that goes into my top-10. The hike is all road and totally non-technical. Total time for me was 7 hours 30 minutes, 15 miles and nearly 3,000 feet of gross gain.