White Mountain Peak is one of twelve mountains in California that rise above 14,000 feet (or the less interesting number of 4267.2 meters). It's also the easiest "fourteener" to hike in the state. I've attemped the out-and-back hike three times, and didn't complete one of those attempts likely due to my slow recovery from a COVID-19 infection in 2022.

Clockwise from the upper left:

• White Mountain Peak, visible in the upper left of this image, is in the White Mountain Wilderness area of the Inyo National Forest. The only trees that grow in the high-altitude environment are Bristlecone Pines, which include some of the oldest trees in the world.
• Access to the peak is via White Mountain Road. There is a locked gate approximately seven miles (11 km) from the peak. It is here that people car-camp at 12,000 feet for the night then start their hike to the summit early the next morning, typically before sunrise. Be warned, the road to the locked gate is gravel for 15 miles starting at the Methuselah Grove turnoff. Some sections are steep and poorly graded. Extreme care should be taken if driving a car with normal ground clearance.
• I first did the hike on 4 July 2008. There was still some snow at the summit that day, and I was the only person at the summit when I arrived and took this selfie.
• Prior to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic the Barcroft Research Station had an annual Open Gate Day. By opening the locked gate and allowing people to park at the research station the hike is reduced by two miles (4 miles counting the return trip). On the 2018 Open Gate Day I hiked with my friend Bob Hayes along with many others. This is a photo of the stone hut at the summit, with a large group resting after the final steep section of the hike.

As of 2024 there has yet to be an Open Gate Day since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, though apparently one is planned for 2025.

A few more notes. Unlike the 253 feet higher Mount Whitney, no access permit is required. And even though hiking access via the jeep trail is relatively straightforward, most of the hike is above 12,000 feet, and the last section of the hike gains 1,000 feet in a mile or so. People who are prone to altitude sickness should take this into consideration as it can take several hours to get down to a lower elevation.