Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Dont let failure get you down !

It did for me.

I went with my brother and three friends to climb Whitney dayhike on MMWT on June 24, 2010. I prepared for SO long. I injured my right foot two weeks before the hike. I was able to make it to Trail Camp and decided to call it quits (due to my ailing foot). I made a post back then about the trip on the forum.

I guess the reason I am posting today, is that it has taken me a few months to get that "fire" back. I really loved being on Whitney and enjoyed the day (even though I didnt summit). The bitterness "crept in" weeks after the hike and made me not want to get out and hike here in Idaho. I am so glad to hear that there are GREATS on this forum that didnt summit and their first attempt on Whitney. Now, I have a renewed determination to keep climbing and to plan my next trip to Whitney.

And the foot is feeling great !!!

Thanks to all on this forum for their passion, stories, advice and encouragement!!!!

Glad to hear the foot is feeling great!

My first failed attempt was September 15, 2007. My wife and I just got married back in July, and I was undergoing training in the SSA in Huntington Park. Yes, Huntington Park. Not Huntington Beach...Huntington Park.

Anyhoo...

My wife, and her two coworkers drove up Wednesday and stayed at one of the cabins at the Portal. One of the coworkers had a friend who owned one of the cabins.

On Friday, September 14, at 4:30 p.m., I headed out from HP after class. Yes, LA rush hour traiffic was horrendous. I got to the cabin at around 9:00 p.m. My wife greeted me at the door. Exhausted from the drive I went upstairs and crashed. We started hiking around 1:00 a.m. By the time I hit Trailside Meadow, I could feel the altitude taking its toll on me. Every other step. Mountaineering breaths did nothing. By the time we reached Trail Camp, I could go no further. I told my wife and the others I would stay right here and wait for their return.

So there I stayed for six hours. After seeing them head up the switchbacks, I thought I would give it a try to proceed, but a voice in the back of my head said, "Today is not going to be your day."

A marmot kept me company hoping for a handout. Sorry, pal, not today. I tried to sleep but when all you have is a daypack and no mattress pad the ground can become uncomfortable. So I wandered around and found a campsite to shield me from the wind, zipped up my orange Marmot pulled the cover over my eyes and tried to make do.

Four hikers from the Bay Area set up camp next to me. It was their very first hike to the summit. They asked me questions about the trail and I provided the answers. Told them the dos and donts and what to expect during their stay here at TC.

My wife and her coworkers made it to the summit. I was very proud of my wife. For one of her coworkers, it was her very first summit first try. Second summit, but first dayhike summit for the gentleman whose friend had that cabin.

My wife's female coworker was having issues with her knees and feet on the descent once we past TC. She was in agony, but my wife and I stayed with her. I told the male coworker to go ahead and wait for us at the Portal.

I wouldn't even call it a "failure." The mountain won that day, but I still had fun. Yes, I wish I did make it to the summit that day.

I don't know if the party made to the summit. I hoped they did. Maybe they read these posts. Maybe not.

Oh, my wife and I hiked to the summit to celebrate our first anniversary on July 17, 2008. We hiked with BruinDave. Rain, lightning, thunder, graupel, sleet, snow, and soggy switchbacks. Can't think of a better way.

rob111, we can't wait to read your TR next year!




Have fun...

I know the feeling, 3 for 4, the 0 being the first time.

keep your chin up. This quote seems appropriate. Harvey

Reflection convinced me that we’d done the maximum to achieve success. It had not been enough, but that was reason enough for wanting to go back.
Dougal Haston, In High Places page 162

I quit on the switchbacks first time. Then went up one month later and summited. Came back the next summer with an overnighter and summit. You'll be at the summit next Summer.

I know a few others that didn't make it the first time.

Failed on my first attempt which was a day hike, made it to trail crest and hit an absolute wall! Could not go any further. The next year I camped at the lake right before the switchbacks and made it now problem at all, just a headache on the way down. Will try again this year with my son and will spend some time at Horseshoe meadow and White Mt. before the hike. In my opinion if you don't make it to the summit you still saw in my opinion the most beautiful parts of the trail such as the meadows and the lakes, I love that place!!

I failed twice before success on the third time. The First time I tried for Moutaineers route with 4 others, couldn't get past Iceburg lake, all the other made it. Second time trail conditions were bad above Trail camp and the group had altitude problems. The Third time I was solo from the backside, no problems. I enjoyed all three adventures. Took over 12 years of trying.

There is no such thing as failure. A beautiful day on the mountain is what most of us enjoy most. You made the right choice and protected your foot.
There is a secret that you need to know about.... The Mountain will still be there when you come back.... I lost track of my turn arounds a long time ago...

A bad day in the mountains is better than a good day at work...

Although my son and I made it up Whitney on our first try (overnighter back in '01), it took me seven attempts to get to the top of my eponymous peak, Mt. Ritter. A couple of times it was weather, a couple of times poor route-finding, but I kept going back until a group of us made it to the top in '99. So far, I'm oh for two on both Borah Peak in Idaho and Kings Peak in Utah. Weather once each, other issues the second time on both peaks. But, I'll be back...

Mountains have their ways of humbling you. The trick is to learn from each experience and continue to improve...