Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trip report and pics 9/16-17

I hiked to the top on 9/16-17, old hat for you veterans out there but a first for me.

Here are some pics:

http://community.webshots.com/album/189998590IgKAGB

I took several days to acclimatize: Monday rode my bike to 13,000 ft on White Mountain, then continued on by foot to 13,500, where a headache stopped me - combo of altitude and caffeine withdrawal. Mon-Tues nights I camped at 9,000 ft (lovely campground near Tom's Place) and hiked/rode bike around. Wed night at the WP campground.

Camped at Trail Camp Thursday night, left at 4 a.m., caught a stupendous sunrise at the Crest (aren't they all stupendous?). Unfortunately, a bunch of my photos were messed up, as I did not know the shutter had failed to open completely on my Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P72.

Summmited at 7:50 a.m. with tears in my eyes - thinking of a whole year of dreaming and either months of butt-kicking training, and six months sitting in front of my computer just READING about it. Returned to the trailhead and made the seven-hour drive home that evening.

I had not a bit of altitude sickness - no headache, no shortness of breath. The only symptom was a silly grin that formed on my face and that has not yet totally dissipated!

The weather was outstanding. At Trail Camp I expected to be half (literally) blown away. But for four hours in the evening not a breeze stirred. I brought enough water with me from TC - a good thing - the springs on the 99 were frozen.

One note for first-timers: The Forest Service has posted a notice recommending that people staying at Trail Camp investigate campsites away from the trail, but few people apparently bother to do so. Yet for the extra 100 yards' walk you can find some lovely, quiet, secluded spots. Worth the minor extra effort.

Thanks SO much to Doug for establishing this message board! As I told him in person, I've only been on the mountain once, but was able to answer oodles of questions posed to me because of how much I learned here. So thanks to all of you patient posters as well!

Oops, that should have read "EIGHT months" not "either months."

Enjoyed your thoughts and your photos. It reminds me of that exhilerating first trip. Lots of planning & preperation, followed by a strenous but interesting culmination of all your dreams.

Congratulations! I hope you get to come back for another trip some day. It only gets better with repeat visits.

Your description really put into words our feelings on our climb as 1st timers Aug 24-26, as well as similarities in our many months of preparation. Congratulations to you!

Thanks, folks. Much to my surprise, ESPN was not there at the top waiting to interview me.

I don't know the hike could get better with repeat visits, but I'll take your word for it... for now!

Wow....is that a true statement. The first time you stand on the Mount Whitney it is such a big deal that you wonder why the news media isn't there to cover it. Way to go!

Outstading pictures....I see in the Portal area picture you have a JetBoil stove next to you...how do you like it? Do you just boil water in it or do you cook in it too?

Thanks for sharing the pics..!

BeachAV8R

This was the first time out for my JetBoil. It performed admirably. I used it mostly to heat water for coffee and dried ugh (dried food). But I also steeped coffee in it. It cleaned up OK from the coffee, but it might be a lot harder for roast beef.

Positive features:

- Self-igniting
- Efficient - with your hand alongside it you can hardly feel any heat escaping from the flame
- Quick - boils two cups in 90 seconds
- Larger capacity but they recommend cooking no more than two cups at a time if you have the lid on

Negatives:
- Not as compact or light as the Pocket Rocket
- It costs 80 bucks

I joked about "dried ugh." I suppose the freeze-dried food wasn't that bad, but at 12,000 feet it all tasted like cardboard. The only way I was able to force it down was to remind myself that if I didn't eat it, I'd have to "pack it out" in its rehydrated (i.e., heavier) form. But I'm sure my body appreciated the calories before the assault on the summit.

Thanks for the mini-review I have two stoves, a Coleman Apex II which is a single burner with the external fuel bottle that you pump up to pressurize. I like it a lot and use it on my regular hiking out here. Then I have a MSR Pocket Rocket (like you) that uses the I***utane fuel. Definitely light and compact, but it does tend to cook with a small footprint, which can sometimes scorch food on the bottom..but it works great. The JetBoil sounds like a good compromise for both lightness and maximizing fuel usage I might look into one...

Thanks again..

BeachAV8R

Great report and wonderful photos! I especially liked one of your "window" shots, very nice! Congrats on making it!