Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Main Tral hike 8/11/08

My 14 year-old daughter and I hiked the Main Trail a few weeks ago. This was my 4th time on the mountain and 2nd summit, and we experienced by far the best weather I've ever see up there. On the summit it was probably 70 degrees, not a cloud to be seen anywhere, no fire haze, not even a hint of a breeze.

I've never seen a kid who loves to sleep until 11 a.m. so happy to be up in the middle of the night http://quandary98.smugmug.com/gallery/5726137_yVREj#353754139_HXJ2N-L-LB

It took us 8 hours to reach the summit. After we got there I was looking over the east face when a rope flopped over and two climbers finished their ascent of the east face:
http://quandary98.smugmug.com/gallery/5726137_yVREj#353757157_5UWHo-L-LB
They said it took them three hours.

After spending an hour relaxing on the summit we headed down in no particular hurry and it took us 6 hours to reach the Portal Store. All in all a fantastic day, and my daughter did great, only got a bit of a headache near the summit.

Rest of the pics can be found here:
http://quandary98.smugmug.com/gallery/5726137_yVREj#353754114_kZ6mx

Congratulations on a great trip, I'm sure your daughter will treasure the memories. Thanks for the great summit photos, I love the perspective from the top!
Bobbie

Phil! Congrats to you and Jesse on your summit! I'm really sorry I couldn't catch up to you at the portal when you were here for your trip. But it looks like you both had a wonderful time! Great pics of the day: I especially liked the one where she is looking off into the sunrise.

Hope to see you in this neck of the woods sometime soon!

Congrats again to both of you!
-L

Laura, sorry to have missed you too! Catch you next time. Speaking of which, maybe you could show me the way up the mountaineer's route next time? : ) The main trail is fun but I think I know every rock and tree root now.

Happy hiking...

It might be a snow climb: I've never actually been to Iceberg in summer conditions! Although, I think I've postholed enough up there to be able to ID a few of the bigger rocks.

Let me know when you're coming back into town!

-L

Congrats on a great trip with your daughter. I also summited my 2nd time that day. My name is on the same page of the register. I appreciate the photo, as I did not get one of the register. I also found myself in one of your summit pictures. That was the best weather I have ever had on a Whitney trip as well. I hope to summit with my kids in the next few years as well. I can imagine how proud you are of her. Congratulations to both of you!

Congrats to you too, Matt! Which picture are you in? I can't remember if we spoke or not.

I didn't know weather like that ever happened up there. I'm sure it can't get any better.