Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board What do you do???

Just started a job that will cut into my Sierra time. It's like dying a 1000 times being stuck inside. Just wondering what you guys do for a living that enables you to get out and play.

I'm a physical therapist in a small private outpatient clinic. While I have a set schedule, I can shift it a bit to accommodate patients earlier or later, and then try to get out of the office earlier on Fridays. Makes for an easier commute out of lala land, at least!

-L

Right now I am a waiter at a high-end waterfront seafood restuarant. The flexibility in hours is the best part of the job. I can takeoff pretty much whenever I want. The downside is the inconsistent salary. Good thing climbing is cheap(once you have everything)!!!

I'm a Firefighter working 3 days on 4 days off (rotating every month), my wife is an ATC (Air Traffic Controller) Her days off are W,T but she goes in late on Friday. So, with two kids in grade school we are pretty much stuck in the San Gabriels and are locked into hikes that can accomidate dropping off the kids at school hitting the trail and getting back in time to pick them up. Usually a hike of 8 miles or less + drive time.

We will all be up to hike to Lone Pine Lake and snoop in the Alabama Hills this Wed. and Thurs.

Planning on a Summit(attempt)trip next year..

I work for Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (waste water).

I'm a single parent with a 14 yr. old that plays soccer 10 months out of the year...This year she starts high school so next Monday is High School camp, soccer and cross crountry for 6 weeks at Torrance High. So in a few years I will be hiking ALOT more...mark

I work as a Quality Engineer for an aerospace firm. We are on a 9/80 work schedule that allows me every other Friday off - great for getting away to the mountains!
Doug F.

Doctor of Chiropractic. Owning my own practice allows me the freedom to take off 3-4 days every 10 years.

Seriously considering getting my teacher's credentials so I can have my summers off. Or maybe I should just marry one of the Paris sisters.

I do computer database work for an HMO. I pull reports and also build custom desktop database tools. The work is pretty steady, but usually not so urgent that I can't take a few days or a week off here and there, and they are pretty flexible. I took last week off (June 11-15) for a 3-day trip up Whitney, but several of my group (not me) got altitude sick after sleeping at Trail Camp, and we ended coming back down the second day. But in the governator's immortal words, "I'll be back!"

Deputy Sheriff with a large So. California agency. After twenty years, I have Fri-Sun off. We can also swap shifts to create more days off without taking vacation days. I can even work weekends and have three or four days off during the week. Its nice when the trails are less congested. See you on the trail on the 17th of July. I'll be the tall guy, not Sasquatch.

As a dentist is SoCal for the last 30 years I can definitely adjust my schedule to accommodate hikes in the local mountains. Planning bigger trips requires some planning but as an empty nester and two kids in college my four boys still like to hike with me if they get the chance which I love! Flexibility is the key to getting out regularly which I try and do at least twice a month. There's nothing like hiking and enjoying the beauty of nature which is abundant in California!

A engineer/systems analyst specializing in telemetry on orbital and balistic vehicles, here on the coast with never enough time to hike the Sierra's as much as I'd like.

I'll be heading out in a couple of weeks hopefully and successfuly taking my 16yr old up the MR for his first Whitney trip.

Songwriter/Photographer. I was in the Sporting Good Industry for years in So. Calif. and was an assistant rep for Dynastar (fun times and good deals)!!! I just left a customer service and logistics position to pursue my music!

I'm a 20 year old poor College Student, studying Aerospace Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona, and work at home depot to make my mountaneering money.

I'm an air ambulance pilot (fixed wing). I work a 4 day on, 4 day off schedule..so I have plenty of time to goof off...

Chris

I work for myself, and w/partner performing additions, remodels, etc, yada yada, (bathroom specialists!)

I work for West Marine. We have a Sabbatical policy allowing a 6 week paid sabbatical every 10 yrs of service. I have been here 21 years and kept waiting for the "right" time to leave. When all was in order, yada, yada.
Well, last year I was diagnosed with colon cancer and during my chemo last summer I decided this summer was sabbatical summer!!! My son and I are trying to climb all of the 14'ers on the west coast this summer. 7 down and 9 to go!

Design ophthalmic (cataract) surgical equipment. I've been at the same company (or predecessors as they were bought out) for 25 years, so have 5 weeks plus can buy one. Currently working on the 50 state geographic highpoints. 41 down, 9 to go. (Did Whitney in 2001.)

Stories on my WWW site.

Risk Management for a large Southern California City. I now have 4 1/2 weeks off, but due to Little League and Boy Scouts, my adventures of old are now adventures of new. Of course I would like to get to the backcountry more, but at this stage of life, parenthood is fun.

The problem with enjoying many activities is, you can't do as much of one as you would like. The benefit? You are never bored. Even a "hike" with the dog in the neighborhood at 5:30 am is an adventure!

UPS driver for 23 yrs.Have 6-7 weeks vacation a year,still not enough it seems. Hope to summit Aug 6 for first time with my son!!!