Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board The ultimate hike in Wallace Lake & Arctic Lake

Richard P. invited me to explore tentatively from the Wallace Lake drainage to Mt. Whitney last weekend. My answer was "YES"!!!

This hike was the ultimate hiking experience of my life ever.
I was invited in his territory.

The final route was set by Richard because of my condition I was in.
The North Fork to Clyde Meadow, up to Mt. Russell and Mt.Carillon saddle,down to Talainyo Lake,up to Tunnabora Peak(13565 ft),down to Wales Lake,hike around 11500 feet tree line of Wallace creek's lakes, marge into JMT heading to CRABTREE and Guitar Lake,heading into Arctic Lake,cross over Whitney & Russell Col,down to Upper Boy Scout Lake,back to the Portal Store.

The weather was relatively stable during the day but nights were:
It was a bit windy at Clyde meadow at night (8/5) .
It was windy at Wales Lake at night because we camped out on sand near the exposed lake shore (8/6).
It was very cold just below Arctic lake. Ice on my US army poncho at night(8/7).

This hike was a series of surprise from the beginning to the end with beauty of mountains and totally new level of skills to deal with terrains which I never dealt before. Especially,millions of boulder hopping,a long slope of mixed sand and scree,sand and rocks,rocks on rocks,navigating in the woods,marshes,boulder fields,sheer drop of rock face,hiking in uncharted mountains,and on. I dealt every things as they came. This hike seemed like a "Kids in a Disney Land".

Please look into my WPSMB photo album link for details.

The highlights of this hike:
Richard let me feel and touch the real beauty of the mountains.
Richard showed me around the places where most of people never seen before.
Richard looked after me for my skills,mental health,and physical health during the entire hike. He was calm and cool and fun all the time.

The downside of hike:
I lost about 7 lb of body weight because I was unable to digest
any solid foods except two bags of fresh grapes,three small apples,a several cuts of carrots,a dozen dried plums, one candy,a cup of coffee,a half of roll, and lot of water for about three days. I didn't have any headache at all. But I threw up,just watery staff(no foods) just before the Guitar Lake area on 8/7 and near the Upper Boy Scout Lake area on 8/8. Don't worry, it was far away from water.

Technical advice from Richard:
Set in feet deep when you hike on sandy uphill so you can save a lot of energy.
Use your poles even relatively steep down hill(Sakai Col) to maintain body balance.
I tried both advices and he was right about them.

Hiking advice in general from Richard:
Check the water source on the planed hiking trail and carry only necessary water and reduce the pack weight.
Do not carry unnecessary weight.

I felt very good for the entire hike because of the ever changing views and challenges.

Special thanks to Doug Sr.
I was totally exhausted even I couldn't eat the "Cheeseburger". I asked "Do you have a water melon"? He said "No".
Later he brought me a plate full of peaches,apples,chocolate puddings,and chicken strips.
Thank you Doug. I am glad that you are at the store.

Through the nuance of conversation between Richard and Doug Sr.,
Richard took me around some crazy places because they kept on laughing pretty hard.

I really experienced the "REAL MOUNTAIN" this weekend.

Thank you Richard for your friendship.

Shin
PS. I am eating like a pig now.
I will be back soon.

Wonderful TR, Shin. You are a very lucky man to have so many friends in the mountains. Keep climbing always higher!

Congratulations Shin! I know how you were looking forward to this trip. Your photos are breathtaking.

Yes we are v. lucky to have such a good friends that enjoy the mountains

Great stuff, Shin! (Too bad you were throwing up---but I guess that just made it more like "kids at Disneyland")

And too bad Mike wasn't there or you would've had your watermelon. (Doug knows how to come through in a pinch, though.)

thanks and congratulations

wonder if your cold night at Arctic was same night I had 23F camped at 11,000 ft on the High Trail cutover from Kearsarge to JMT Sat night? What day is today? Will see Arctic Lake myself next week. Thanks again, Harvey

Fantastic, Shin! So nice that Richard could guide you through his 'neck of the mountains'... What a weekend you had in the eastern Sierra. Your photographs, captions and TR are priceless. Thank you for posting!

A couple of quotes:

"300 can wait for about 10 years... you need to spend more time up here." - Me

"Shin, that's a day-hike..." - Doug as Shin and I arrived back at the Portal Store.


Here are a few highlight photos:


Shin at the Russell / Carillon Plateau.



Shin descending the Russell / Carillon Pass.



Shin taking it all in at Tulainyo Lake.



Shin celebrating on top of Tunnabora Peak, a side-trip I asked him to do because of an obsession I had with seeing what the route down Hogback Creek looks like.



Shin didn't believe this choice of descent route would work. Yee of little faith...



Shin at Wales Lake.



The entry to The Last Cirque that I hadn't yet seen in the Wallace Creek drainage. (Doug hasn't even ever been up here!)



This was the reward!



Shin on his way to the Arctic Lake drainage. He didn't realize that that's Whitney in front of him.



Shin's tuckered out by too much x-c.


[img]http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/Whats-New-1/Wallace-Creek-Loop-With-Shin/IMG2441/965066619_xG5eF-M.jpg[/img]
Shin at Arctic Lake.


I ran out of "film" (last 4GB CF card failed when I powered on the camera) just after this shot, but there are 440 in the album at SmugMug.


Shin, you are a special man. You've done something nobody has been able to do in a LOT of years... get me to sleep on the ground for three days in-a-row!

Let's start planning the next one...

Shin, great TR - congrats! Enjoyed it very much. See? you need to get out of SoCal more!

A few weeks ago while BSing at the Portal Store, Richard suggested I do this "fun" route with him the next time I'm out there. Now my eyes are open . . .

Yo, Bulldog! Remember last year's 20th Wedding Anniversary hike my husband and I did on 09-09-09? And remember my husband David's famous last words "Never again; 3 times is enough"? Guess who said to me last week, "We need to hike that ole mountain again. Maybe for your 55th BD." Yep, Mr. Never Again. So, I am in the process of attempting to secure permits and lodging for a September 27th BD hike. I will be calling the permit people every week for the next few weeks and hope to snag a couple. Might have to get last minute ones on Sunday the 26th. However, even if we don't get permits, we will find something to hike and glory in the adventure, altitude, and venues of one of the most beautiful areas in the world. Hope all is well with your and yours. Big shout out to Doug Sr. and family.

Hey Cecilia, I sure do. Where ya been? If I recall correctly, you told a tale of one epic Whitney dayhike. Had to bivy on the mountain due to darkness - that right? Technically, you were in violation of your permit terms! Funny how "never again!" can turn into "let's go!" as time passes. Best of luck with that 9/27 hike - and be sure to post a TR!

AWESOME! What a great trip, Shin and Richard, and your photos are the best! Congrats on your great accomplishment, and super TR. I can only dream of doing such an epic trip.

Shin, I see you do a lot around Baldy from your photo album. I'm waiting for a little cooler weather then planning Iron Mountain to Baldy. Have you done this before?

Way to go shin awesome trip just pure awesome..

richard what a great friend you are..nice play ground you have!

thanks for the report and pictures...

mark

Ditto what Mark said. Simply fantastic!

I am in awe of the accomplishments of you and Richard. Through your trip reports and photos you provide inspiration to many of us who don't quite have have our "mountain-legs" yet.
Thank you both for being beacons for hiking community!

gary

Hi Shin you are now entering the other side the side where you set the limits and see the mountains from a different view no stronger or wiser just a deeper bond with what you have had in the past, enjoy thr journey and build new strengths as they will be tested but each time a greater reward . Some day I will tell you the day hike story. Until then. Doug

Awesome hike Shin and Richard! Great photos! Shin, i hope you get a chance to go back there with a happy tummy!

Hi everyone,
I ate a lot last few days and my weight got back normal. I didn't have any knee problems or muscle pains, just I was tired for 3 days. I am ready to get out.

50lbpack, I am lucky to have a friend like you,too. Thank you Mt. Baldy. Take care of Jiiju(?), please.

Tracie B, I really like my small digital camera. I tested "Starry night" function and it came out all right but I have to practice more. I couldn't think a lot of time to take a picture. I just kept on hitting the shutter button. You would enjoy the beauty of lakes. Next trip. I could have get the ride on your 4X4.

AxeMan, Next time,please join us. You can help us to look for the short cut to Mt. Young. The area we were in was surrounded by sheer rock walls. There were many places you can climb all day long.

h-lankford, I didn't know the exact temperature at the mouth of Arctic Lake but the dew on the sleeping bag cover,US Army poncho, was frozen with ice around 3:00 am. The temperature went up pretty fast as sunrise. It wasn't freezing cold.

MC, The water of lakes was like a mirror and you could see through to the bottom. I was afraid to look me into the lake. I may only see a sun with white cloud around it.
I was able to see that Richard took your quote to his heart. I felt it very much. Maybe no limit.

Richard, All right, I'll make it as DAY-HIKE next time. I studied the short cut to Mt. Young from the Cirque last night. We could cut a few miles on our last trip if we walked in a small cirque next to hike over to Mt. Young and climb down to just below the Arctic lake. I will be ready next time. Yes, "300" will be delayed some times. Thank you again. See you soon.

Bulldog34, You are right 100% about that we have to get out S.C.
Once you got a taste of it, I maybe gone forever. I'll try my best.

Cecelia, Richard told me that you must hike same mountain 3 times to appreciate the mountain. Have a nice hike with you husband.

VictorM, I have never done Iron-Baldy before. I took a lot of pictures from the ridge line to Iron mountain from West Baldy. I need help for route finding from Iron mountain side. I have to get up Iron first to find out. It is too hot now.

SoBayMark, Sorry Mark, we couldn't hike with Richard this time. I couldn't pass this once in a life time opportunity. I am so glad that I was able to tag along with him. I must provide much complicated camera for him to take more picture so he will slow down.

JamesL, You might have gone crazy on this trip. It had all excitements you can possible experience. You agility would have taken this hike like DAY-HIKE.

Gary, There were many places where you didn't want to leave. Just stay and meditate all day long or forever. It was spiritual.

Doug Sr., Thank you for the special plate. The experience of three days was like that being throw in stormy ocean and learn how to swim at the same time. I'll train more and come back your side of mountains. I'll make it as day hike next time.

NormaR,I am glad to hear that you got well and back on trail. I highly recommend cross country type of hiking,too. It is so challenging different ways. Since I have been hiking the same mountain like a mouse on the spinning wheel, hiking with Richard on vast uncharted mountains was so refreshing. I felt like I was totally free.

This hike opened up a new challenge for me.

Shin,

Labor Day Weekend... 4 days... Meysan, Mitre Basin, Crabtree Lakes, (NO SAND HILL), Crabtree Meadow (visit with Ranger Rob longer...), whatever way you want to exit (Maybe Sakai again?).

I think I heard your carpool partner wanted to do something that weekend too.

Hi Richard,
Not Day hike?

Yes, please count me in this cross country trip as long as you avoid the long sand hill below the Discovery Pinnacle. You and Mike had a bad time on your last trip. I am just fine to exit through Sakai Col. to Upper Boy Scout lake. I want to see the used trail along Sky Blue Lake.

I'll start to train for the trip.

Shin

What an awesome trip! Congrats on surviving the "Richard" field test, Shin!

Beautiful pictures, both of you!!!!!!