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#53499 09/17/08 11:03 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1
gcc
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Hi all
I've been reading this board carefully in preparation for our Whitney day hike, which we just finished yesterday.
It was my first time up, my husband's second time up, and the first time for our friend who also joined us.

We drove up late on Monday night (really, we should've left sooner, but somehow I underestimated the time it would take us to get there). We got to the permit lockbox in Lone Pine at 11pm. I tried to open it using the combination I had been given when I called to confirm Monday morning, but the damn thing wouldn't open. We tried every related combination we could think of, but it wouldn't give. We reluctantly gave up.

We set up camp at Whitney Portal and got a lousy 4 hours of sleep (I was really concerned about the permit situation, so I hardly slept at all). We got up at 4am and packed up camp. I thought we might be able to start by 4:30, but we weren't on the trail until 5:15.

The first hour of our hike was in the dark, but the full moon provided us so much light that we hardly needed our head lamps. By 6:15, we were at the log bridge crossing of Lone Pine creek. By 7:15, we were at Mirror Lake. We got to Trail Camp by 8:25, and took our first long rest while we ate a bit and filled up all our water containers. None of us had much of a problem with altitude sickness, but none of us were feeling particularly hungry. We kind of had to force down our food.

The switchbacks seemed rather endless. I was trying to count carefully (I counted 97, but I'm sure I made a mistake or two). Counting actually made things worse, in some ways, because the last few switchbacks were so long. I think we stopped at Trail Crest for our next snack around 10am. The wind was picking up, and we put on every piece of clothing that we brought.

The sky was getting more cloudy as we continued past Trail Camp. Because there had been a 20% chance of thunderstorms in the forecast, I was a bit nervous going on, but there were no immediate signs of problems.

After we got within sight of the summit (maybe a mile away?) it started to snow a bit. I expressed my concern about this, but my husband convinced me there wasn't any lightning yet so we continued. A bit later (maybe half a mile from the summit) we heard thunder. I immediately stated my intention of turning back. My husband resisted. A second rumble and I started walking down. He resisted again. We debated for 10 minutes or so, and then he convinced me to continue. I probably wouldn't have except that the storm appeared to be moving away from the summit. We heard only two more rumbles on our way to the summit, and both of them were further away.

We got to the summit just before noon. While we were there, the weather was quite sunny and nice to the east and south, but I refused to stay long on the top. As we started down, another storm started to move in, and before long it was snowing quite heavily.

It snowed on and off all the way down to Trail Camp. I decided I rather enjoyed the snow, especially since it wasn't really accumulating. We were well-dressed for such conditions, and I was glad to not have to worry about sunburn. And we decided it was definitely better than rain. Trail Camp seemed like a blizzard while we were there, but the snow let up a bit beyond that.

The last 4 miles of the trail seemed absolutely endless. It seemed so much shorter on the way up! We finished just before 6pm, tired, sore, and so glad to be done!

Oh yeah... we were hiking the whole time without our permits... which were still in the lockbox. I was concerned that a ranger would turn us back, but I had my confirmation number and was prepared to plead. I felt guilty seeing everyone else on the trail with their permits, and hoped they didn't despise us for sneaking in (which we weren't, really). We didn't encounter a ranger until halfway down. We explained ourselves when he asked about the permits, and he said that we did have the right combination, but that sometimes the lock sticks! All I can say is we were yanking on that thing so hard I thought it would break. Ah well, it all turned out ok in the end.

gcc #53501 09/17/08 11:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
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Congrats on your summit!! Decisions, decisions...looks like your husband and you make a good call. Excellent TR.

p.s. It's amazing what one can accomplish hiking/climbing without a full night's sleep. I guess we get our second wind from the fresh mountain air...


"The mountains are measured for their height but the achievements of one who climbs the mountains are immeasurable." m.c.
http://www.facebook.com/keepclimbing
gcc #53503 09/18/08 12:03 AM
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Congratulations on making the trip! It's great to hear how people read the message board before going and that it helps them to be prepared, especially in this time when the weather can be so fickle.

Your tale of hiking without your permit is good. It is quite easy for the rangers to verify that you are indeed the person permitted to go -- all they need to do is call the ranger station on their radio and confirm that you are ok. Too bad you worried so much.

#53514 09/18/08 03:39 AM
Joined: Aug 2008
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Congratulations. I also made my first summit a few weeks ago. Like you, I didn't get much sleep either but somehow, the adrenlaine gets pumpin' and you come alive when you hit the trail! It HAS to be the mountain air...or the sweet lovely smell of our wag bag that keeps us going up and up.

Great TR and I love this board!! I can't stop reading it...it's like a drug....

Celeste


gcc #53554 09/18/08 10:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
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Congradulations. I do not think many people get more than 4 hours sleep the night before.

I am going to day hike it Monday September 22. I am curious about the conditions after the snow fall. I have done it several times before and it takes me around 8 hours round trip in trail running shoes.

Are there icy spots that require hiking pulls are more serious hiking boots?

Thank you,

Mark

gcc #53592 09/19/08 03:50 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
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Originally Posted By gcc
... but that sometimes the lock sticks! All I can say is we were yanking on that thing so hard I thought it would break.


FYI-next time you have to use the lock box, set the combination and then squeeze the lock (instead of yanking on it). Works like a charm smile


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Mt. Whitney Weather Links


White Mountain/
Barcroft Station

Elev 12,410’

Upper Tyndall Creek
Elev 11,441’

Crabtree Meadows
Elev 10,700’

Cottonwood Lakes
Elev 10,196’

Lone Pine
Elev. 3,727’

Hunter Mountain
Elev. 6,880’

Death Valley/
Furnace Creek

Elev. -193’

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