Base camp is at 12,000 feet one-Stark, windy, with some shade in the hot August sun, but one place to another great stop for a snack. Voices echo through cold granite as the breeze wraps around dozens of tents, backpacks, stoves, food cans and take-test. An unopened package of banana chips in my lap is immediately kidnapped by a marmot, unhindered by my presence and scary for my search.

Here, animals, people, and how barren granite an active community in the desert, the Sierra Nevada. The trail to Mount Whitney sees thousands of people every year, all seeking the highest peak in the United States (excluding Alaska). The people crowd the track, the animals of the exploitation of people, and Inyo National Forest rakes in thousands of tourism dollars. They say if you want solitude, go to Antarctica. Mount Whitney is Disneyland for hikers.

Thata not saying Whitney should be avoided. Like Disneyland, a good reason crowds there congregate in a landmark California. Few places in the world have a good track to follow up 14,496 feet, where anyone with a pair of sturdy boots can go up to the top of a country and a big one at that. Technical skills are optional in this way, despite the patience and a degree of elevation tolerance is vital.

The trail starts at 8368 meters at the Whitney Portal camp at the end of a paved road from Lone Pine. The trailhead is a maze of parking spaces, which in the summer months are almost always filled to capacity.

This is the part of the forest where black bears rule, but bash in the windows of cars parked and steal everything to find. Robberies are so frequent that people are having aggressive ticket out of tempting packages in sight.

I am relieved when I step on the desert country and away from a bear. Since the beginning ita trail over 11 miles and 6,000 vertical feet to the flat summit, a gradual path, but not for the weak. Forests of whitebark pine gradually give way to exposed granite in the first 7 minutes, then the base camp marks a strong and rocky climb to Sierra Crest.

I made my dad and his friend Tom, two avid hikers in their late 40Â's, to the steep section of trail affectionately called "100 switchbacks.Â" I lose count after 75. Most hikers complete this walk of two to three days backpacking trip, but Dad, Tom and I are going to do in a day.

Sierra Crest is marked at 13,600 meters, taller than I hike. The elevation puts a clamp on my lungs, and I feel a vague sense of sleepiness progressive in my head but my heart is pumping. The route rolls along the ridge behind sheer pinnacles. You might stumble and feet should be 2,000, but the road to help prevent the Immaculate. Thousands of steps per year have taken a nice rhythm irregular mountain

At this point IÂ'm working the track but does not matter. IÂ'ma Hiker climbing to seek, not conquer. The green and gold of Sequoia horizon extends. Deep blue lakes sparkle under a cloudless sky. From here you can almost see the bottom of Death Valley – the lowest point in the United States and only 90 miles from this point.

Dad and Tom is a way ahead when going up the final slope – a gradual ramp that eventually levels off. This is the peak – flat, spacious, almost custom-built to large capacities. A crowd of about a dozen people are scattered over the rocks. We plop next to a geographic marker – Â "Latitude: 35Â ° 36A 'x; Longitude: 118 ° 17Â 'x, "he says – and fix lunch. We have great view of Lone Pine – 13 miles east of Yosemite National Park, the Desert Nevada expansive, of the Sierra Nevada on the horizon extends.

A strong wind whips past my head and muffles the incessant chatter. If I turn my head toward the precipice eastward almost feel alone. Almost. They say if you want solitude, go elsewhere. To see the top of the spectacular American bigger and brighter go to Whitney.

Directions: From Los Angeles take Highway 14 to Highway 395 North to U.S. Lone Pine, about 200 miles. Turn west Whitney Portal DR. 13 miles from the walk. Permits are required for this hike and are somewhat difficult to obtain. Call the Inyo National Forest, Mt. Whitney District, (760) 876-6200, for more information.

About The Author

Jill Homer is a graphic artist and freelance travel writer currently residing in Tooele, Utah. She specializes in outdoor adventure writing. For more information please visit http://www.biketoshine.com or contact jill@biketoshine.com.

Camping at Pinnacles National Park 2009