North America, United States, California, Mount Whitney

Publication Year: 1988.

Mount Whitney. This long route, The Hairline, ascends between the Great Book and the Direct East Face. It starts with 5.10 face climbing (bolt protected) to attain cracks which don’t quite reach the ground. It crosses the East Face route just below the Fresh Air Traverse and stays left of the upper pitches of the Great Book. The route is about 30% aid. 20 to 25 pitons should be carried, as well as several kinds of hooks, nuts and Friends up to five inches. Bernie Bindner and I climbed it in August. (V, 5.10, A3.)

Alex Schmauss