Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whiskey on Whitney

Thinking of bringing a little flask up to camp. Not talking about getting belligerent here, just a couple swills. Cons= have heard alcohol could hamper breathing at altitude, will add a few ounces to the pack. Pros= a little Jameson sure sounds like a good idea after a big day, may help to get to sleep. Thoughts??

While I've done it, I don't recommend it. Dehydration is a big problem at altitude, alcohol just exacerbates the problem. Try Gatorade

Save the Jamesone for the end of the trail. At the end of your dayhike, you will be tired after 22 miles. A couple of swills of Jameson at the campsite (before or after a burger and fries at the Portal Store) will definitely knock you out. Be sure you don't pass out with the flask in your tent or the bears will want to join you for happy hour!

I agree with others . . save it. The dehydration is the biggest factor - as you'll be dehydrated enough as it is from the altitude and the workout.

Plus, as others also said . . .there's nothing better than throwing a few back when settled back to base camp (or at a bar/pub if you're in town) It's my wife and my most favorite time, to get that 6 pack from the store and settle down, throw some logs on the fire and crack open a few cold ones . . . . True for alot of athletic type of events - it's why marathoner's get a "beer garden" after the race . . not during

HUI is not a good idea

An ice cold beer AFTER the hike can be most delightful....

What a bunch of wimps! Go with it! A little hair of the dog, a swirl is not going to dehydrate you that much more then you already are. Bring the quality stuff and enjoy!

I vote yea. Why not have a pleasant nip or two under the stars?

As a rule we celebrate a summit with a watermelon and a beer. When back at base camp, a good round of Scotch keeps everyone warm. We're considering a martini celebration on our June 29th trip, just need to figure out how to carry ice for the shaker.

29 June? There will be at least a small snowfield or two.

I have a 5oz flask that pretty much travels everywhere with me, always full with some sort of high quality "hot juice" that I happily pass around the summit. I've takers and naysayers, but no one seemed to complain about me carrying it along...

Do I guzzle enough to get myself wasted? Please. I don't drink that way socially. I always maintain my hydration as well as possible, especially with the purest water on the planet. So if you want a few lovely little sips, go for it, and make sure you are taking responsibility for your actions and condition at all times.

I always save the GOOD stuff for the 14ers:


Shasta:


Tyndall:


White:


Middle Palisade:


Russell:


etc., etc., etc.

-L

Moose you ROCK!

I have a 20 year old video of my sister on top of Whitney swaging a bottle of the bubbly a little too aggressively when all of a sudden it came roaring out of both NOSTRILS!!!! I almost submitted it to Americas Funniest Vidieos (show back in the 80's). Its a gem!

Its not easy opening those corks at 14k plus!
Danbo

There is a tradition started by members of the Colorado Mt Club in Colorado after climbing ALL the 14ers( 55 named + about another dozen over 14,000 that are sub peaks or not
considered in the 55) of drinking champagne out of your boot. I
first learned of this in 1972 when a friend finished the circuit.
I did this in 1980 when I finally finished the circuit. The champagne is the small 187 ml bottle and if you have enough climbers in the group a person barely gets a small swallow. Also the 12% alcohol helps kill any germs in the trail dust in your boot. My preferences: Heidsieck & Co Monopole Blue Top or Perrier Jouet Grand Brut.

So, Laura you still have an invite to come and climb in Colorado
& I'll put my champagne up any day vs your whiskey , although to my uneducated eye for alcoholic drinks it appears your photos are of champagne too!

CMC

In that context, go for it.

Ernie:

You're on! I'm working on it, probably be in 2010, though. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you!

-L

PS: As for either whiskey/bubbly, why quibble? BRING BOTH! HAH!

Moose, Is that a lambic on Shasta? Fine choice if so!!
Thanks for all the sound advice (both sides of the coin). I think I know which way I am leaning... Filtering and drinking water will be my main pass-time at camp I am figuring anyhow.

P-nut I am so envious, wish I could have a snort up high but it would probably kill me.

Whether and what you drink is totally personal. I know world class climbers who pounded down the scotch at camps higher than Whitney's summit and had no adverse effects.

Now if someone packed up the champagne, I might try it, if only out of respect for what Churchill said of the bubbly (who stole it - the saying, not the wine - from Napoleon): "In victory I have earned it; in defeat, I require it".

When I celebrated my 50th birthday atop Whitney a few years ago, I carried a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne to the summit with me. I only took a few sips, then shared with anyone else that wanted to try a little. Like mentioned in other responses, a few sips will not hurt you, as long as you have some water also to stay hydrated. Enjoy!! Whitney Mike

I remember the offer on White Mountain Laura but I don't drink at all so it's all no good for me, now my dad on the other hand finished off a whole bottle of Captain Morgan at Gem Lake in Little Lakes Valley (about 11,000) and well lets just say allot of it came back up on the trail and on the way back.

He also smoked a good amount of pot inside the Whitney Shelter and then climbed down off the mountain lol! now THAT is a good idea for safety! :P