Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 100 Times and almost 50

Hi Jack and Betsy took off for the big trip .Jack will finish the goal he set some years ago of hiking Whitney 100 times.Betsy set a goal of looking at every flower on the trail, do all the peaks nearby and take up rock climbing.

This couple stands out as a benchmark for all first timers , late bloomers and I think I can do it.

The first time Betsy talked Jack into hiking Whitney he was hooked, Betsy had stayed in one of the cabins when she was 9 years old and has found one of the cabin people still here that see meet so they talk about the childhood days.

Last week Jack went up and layed a track across the top switchback and this allowed others the chance to take the trail and avoid the chute , now almost everyone is using the trail

Betsy hasn't heard yet but we think this is Jacks first 100.Thanks Doug

Jack, that is awsume! Lets not forget Betsy and her support. I sent you a great picture of you and Brooke form Monday's trip up. You are an absolute inspiration to us all. Badwater next year????

Tom

Go Jack and Betsy go.

Well done.

John

Jack, It was an honor to cross the trail with you on your 99th on Wednesday. My 12-yr-old son was pushing hard when we met you at mile 9. I told him your story and it helped him to keep going up! In the 23 years I've been hiking those trails, I've always been surrounded by encouragement from every direction. Thank you for being part of that inspiration. I hope #100 was fabulous! Mike

Just saw Jack and Betsy a couple of weeks ago when he was on 96 or so. Wow, you go Jack. Betsy, thanks so much for our conversation. I appreciate it and I'm so happy you've got 50 going on!!!! that's incredible.

Jack & Betsy, congratulations! Sorry we had to take off for Mammoth before you guys made it back down Friday - we really wanted to be there for # 100. You two are a huge inspiration to us all!

Jack, it was great meeting you on Trail Crest on your 100th. You rock!

https://picasaweb.google.com/Imdad.Yusuf...feat=directlink

Jack, you look fabulous and in great shape. Congratulations to you on a truly worthwhile achievement.

So many hikers I meet on the trail have said that once they do a hike, they cross it off their "to do" list and never return. I love to hike trails I've done dozens of times before. But you take this idea to an epic level. Well done.

Congrats Jack and Betsy! Those are some very impressive numbers
Speaking of numbers…..how many Portal burgers, brews, and Mt Pancakes did this quest consume?

Yes, good question. Congratulations!

inspirational . i aspire

Thanks Doug! Congrats Jack and Betsy! Jack! Did you kiss the special rock on the top of the trail crest for the 100th time? Consider it a previlege to have met you last August!
Krishna

Congratulations Jack on your century and to you too Betsy! Hope you had a great time with your grand-daughter too! Always enjoy running into you.

Thanks to all for your kind words. We really enjoy being part of the Whitney family. When I first came up with the idea of 100 summits I wasn't even sure if it was possible. But with lots of encouragement from fellow hikers along the way and lots of hard training, the idea took hold and now the first 100 are down and only 100 more to go. I can't promise about Russel, Langley, or Muir yet, but maybe in the future we will see. We want to specially thank the Thompsons for all the fun times at the Portal Store and the Hostel. They make these places Special!!
Thanks again!
See you on the trail. We will be back in August to start the second 100!
Crazy Jack
Hi,
Part of what I love about Whitney is the extended family that bonds fellow hikers together. As I hung out at the Portals, introducing our 2 year old granddaughter to the Sierras and watching Jack complete his goal, I was blessed by renewed contact with this Whitney family. Some I see every year and others not so much, but it is still special to see each of you and catch up on your stories. Dave, Laura, Joe, Gary, Barb, Bri, Tom, Norma, Tracy, Kurt, to name a few that I talked with on this last trip to the mountain and renewed a bond over this very special place. We will be back in a few weeks. I can't wait! In the meantime, I took a rock climbing lesson from Kurt. What a blast! I am hoping to learn enough to do a climbing route on Whitney next summer!
Blessings, Betsy

Here's an article on Jack & Betsy's accomplishment:

http://www.plnusealions.com/news/2011/7/27/BB_0727114435.aspx#.TjGgsVeQ-NU.facebook

I can already see Betsy doing the East Buttress next year . . .