How to climb Mt. Whitney in one day
It made me
Bleh. 
"It was a grueling 17 hour hike that had amazing views at the top."
How I did it: This was my 2nd attempt on Whitney ... one foot in front of the other for 22 miles. Made sure to drink lots of water and eat continuously. With only one hour of sleep, I ended up having visual and aural hallucinations about 9 hours in, but we were already passed the halfway point. We took 5 minute breaks once every hour, taking our packs off and resting our feet; this added a little overall time to the hike but helped us keep momentum and not get too tired.
Lessons & tips: Acclimate a day or two before and get a good night's rest. Make sure to eat plenty and drink lots. Bring a comfortable pack, layer clothes and use trekking poles.
Resources: Check out the Whitney Portal forums for info about weather, reservations, etc.
