Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board MR-MT Loop with Richard

During the Candlelight Peak group hike my son Mike secured an invite to do the MR-MT loop from RichardP. Richard emailed me and told me to pretty much pick any date and he would guide us. Mike had already done a MT trip as an overnight and one as a dayhike. We are working on hiking San Jacinto via every trail head possible this year so I think that got him thinking about trying the MR.

We set the date and as promised Richard met us at the Portal. Mike fished the pond all day Saturday while I hung out near the store. We set a 0400 start time and Mike and I slept in the bed of my truck behind the store.

Right on time we took off up the trail. Richard had Mike lead most of the way and for the most part he did a decent job with only minor course corrections from Richard. Before the E ledges Richard took the lead, but there wasn't much to see via headlamp.

The rest of the morning was just UPHILL with generous breaks peppered in. The wind blew hard in our faces until the last water stop. Above Iceburg Lake I was feeling sluggish, but Mike and Richard were going strong. Once we got into a shaded section and I could see the Notch I felt better and was able to keep up. Richard gave Mike detailed instructions on the final 400 and lead it. Mike did what he was told and I followed. I have a decent fear of hieghts and it didn't bother me at all. Mike says he was nervous, but didn't show it.

We hit the hut in a little over nine hours and there was some concern about getting burgers from the store. Mike set a quick pace down the MT (left us old folks a couple times) and Richard showed us three alternate routes that got us into the Portal with plenty of time to spare to place our order. We were hiking about 15 hours.

I am thankful for Richard's invite and very proud of my 13 year old boy...................................DUG

Congratulations! Yes Richard is a v. nice friend. Sounds like there were a lot of people on the summit this weekend

Congrats to you both! And to Richard for leading. Sounds like a great day.

Windy? Yes! That's the waterfall below Girl Scout Lake flowing uphill!



Ice is already forming on the Final 400'.



Mike topping out of Wayne's Chimney.



Future Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, at right (for his work organizing and executing the Whitney Peace Climb), with former mortal enemy .............Dug and son on the summit of Mt. Whitney.



Heading for home.



................Dug and Mike below the Sierra crest.


This was an excellent experience! It never ceases to amaze me (and I've never met ANYONE who gets STRONGER as the day goes on) how Mike manages to turn what looks to me like a "turn-around waiting to happen" into a successful summit. (See the Candlelight Peak Group Climb thread for the story of his "summit while sick" a few weeks ago.) I see this kid being another Messner, or Viesturs, if this sport becomes his passion. It was a great experience being the one to share his first MR!


Photos.

Thanks again Richard! I really appreciate everything you did to teach Mike and to get him up safely. I know that 15 hours is close to double what it normally takes you so it had to make for a long day for you.

Mortal enemies? You've hiked with them before and with your occasional alt.flamewar style posts I'm sure you'll hike with them again.

It was a very good day - thank you - I can't say that enough.......................................DUG

Maybe I should have captioned it "virtual mortal enemies?" We've thrown a few barbs at each other over the years.

You are welcome! It was nice meeting you a few months ago and nice to see that we can get along. If Mike wants to add any more Sierra peaks to his list, let me know. It WAS a really fun time.

Congratulations to you and your son. It was a pleasure meeting both of you at the store the day before the hike. Hope someday to hike with you and Richard.
Had a good night sleep that night. Even slept through the bear show that night.
Heading up to Lone Pine Lake to fish Sunday morning after having another spectacular breakfest at the store. While up at the lake a group of women hikers showed up for a quick swim at the lake. Just me, the lake and a group of beautiful women. Two swam in bikinis and one skinny dipped. Now that's what I'm talk'n 'bout! Bumped into my adopted 60 year old son on the way back from the lake. He was sitting in a ditch off the trail putting bandages on his foot blisters.
He was low on water and metioned his car batter is dead. After rolling my eyes, I decided I need to unadopt him and head home. Gave him a bottle of water and headed back down. Take care - hope to see you son.
John

John - your boy talked to Richard for a while about rental cars. Very odd conversation. What I got from it was he wants a new car with no computer or electronics. The rest of us just want him to buy shorts that fit and to watch the drool.

Great talking to you on Saturday - let's get a hike in soon............................DUG

LOL!

Were there three of them? If so, I took a photo of them as they walked in to Trail Camp. Wow!

Your "friend" kept asking "Where's Johnnie?" I think the better decision would have been to let the Deputy take him away on Friday. He was still bothering Amy and Earlene on Sunday night.

Congratulations! Richard,Dug,and Mike.
We are lucky to have a friend like Richard in the mountains.
I envy Dug and Mike's relationship. I didn't have that kind of relationship with my father when I was a kid. My wife and my daughter are not interested in out door much. They don't know what they are missing out. I'll get them out at least to Portal Store for nice lunch soon.

Good job,everyone.

Shin


PS. Richard, Blown up cascade is very interesting.
Picture #50 shows Wales Lake. You must find a short cut to Arctic Lake.

Nice classic route and great pics.

Just curious: Is "Wayne's Chimney" the name of the most-often-climbed chute just above the notch? The first one on the left?

Congratulations, Dug and Mike!! I'm jealous that you had Richard's personal guide service, I was with Sara's group that ran into you guys on the slabs below UBSL. Now I have a face to go with the name.

And of course, congrats, Richard, on getting closer to your "official" 100!!

Well, I'm glad you took a photo, because no one here at work believes him! He usually bombards us with TONS of fishing photos, but none of the mermaids!

Yeah, I'm shocked that he "adopted" him... I guess he must have felt some sort of "bond" in the Pizza Factory Thursday night,

It was his tight fitting shorts that clinched the adoption
I agree, they shoud have taken him away - in a sleeveless white jacket.

There were two groups. Sorry, did not see their faces

Thanks.

What I've been calling Wayne's Chimney for more than a decade now, is an enclosed ramp (thus the Chimney) that is about 15' long near the top of the right side rib of the Final 400'. The landmark to look for if you climb up on the right side is a huge roof (overhanging rock) sticking out just to the left of it.

Fat and slow (...Dug's description of himself. He's not either.) people might have a few problems getting into and up Wayne's Chimney because it is a bit on the narrow side. Us small and skinny folks love it because it IS the safest way to exit onto the summit plateau.

Nice you and Mike got the RP treatment. Great job on the MR. My time will come.

Well, I think it was more like Mike got the RP treatment and I was "allowed" to tag along.

Seriously though, Richard took good care of both of us. Mike peppered him with questions all day long and I kept up as best as I could...................................DUG

m.c., the first, third and fifth weekends of October are three-days each if you can make it down this autumn.

Doug, I wouldn't have extended the invite to do the "Doug's Ranger Death March Re-enactment" if I didn't like you. I know you love to suffer, probably more than I do, and if you can get over the fact that much of this is off-trail, it would be a good one to add to your list. There's still time this year. If not, maybe next?

BTW, any feedback on Mike telling his classmates the story yet?

Dug/Richard,

Check out my photos of our hike in Onion Valley.

http://www.nyfiddler.com/SequoiaKings-Na...761987794_nu8GC

John