Are you up to the challenge of ascending Mount Whitney? This guidebook contains everything you need to summit the highest point in the contiguous United States. This new edition includes a thorough examination of the planning, preparation, and physical training/conditioning necessary for a safe and successful climb, as well as an updated discussion of wilderness permit requirements of both the National Park Service and the US Forest Service. With the increasing popularity of winter ascents on Mount Whitney, a new snow and ice chapter has been added, with a discussion of avalanche risks and awareness, a primer on constructing igloos and snow caves, what to expect from the weather, and the necessary equipment and clothing. Richins examines the mental and physical aspects of mountain climbing and provides equipment checklists for single-day, multi-day, and winter/spring ascents. He identifies the best places to camp on multi-day backpacking routes, the most interesting exploratory side trips to take, and presents route variations that either reduce the length of a given route, avoid difficult terrain, or add additional "must-see" are