Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Over the Hill Bill Fails to reach Summit

For those who care, I gave it my best, but stopped about 250 vertical feet from Trail Crest so I didn't get to summit on June 30th.

The good news is the mountain will be there next year, and so will I.

We planned the “stroll” well, that is we spent 3 nights at Horseshoe Meadows, by the way, a wonderful drive with views and Hiking trails, it is at 10,000 feet, so we did get ourselves set for the altitude. We did a few practice hikes up to the lakes and all was well.

I picked up a set of crampons in town, got a great deal from a real nice guy who was at the most “northern” Sport goods store in Lone Pine and since I already had borrowed an ice axe, we were set for the hike.

We, my friend Steve (better known as “Poop-for-brains” at the Whitney Portal Store - more on that later) and Roger (he hasn’t got a nickname yet) started off at the trail head at a OK time (just about 3:00 AM) and so we started the stroll.

Right away I knew something was wrong, ‘cause I was pushing myself and we hadn’t really done much yet. As the hike continued, I had to stop more and more for rest stops, I thought it was because I was still out of shape from the time my knee was hurting so much I couldn’t walk around the block. But it turns out that I picked up a cold or flu bug and I was just sick. When I was going down I tried to hack-up a lung and today I can barely go for a couple of minutes without going into a coughing fit.

We got to trail camp and I figured I could push myself onward – dumb thought that. I am a very, well to put nicely, tenacious, well more like pig-headed. We got though the cables, very scary by the way – more on that later – and after the next big food and water break, I knew I didn’t have the time, nor the energy to make it up to the summit and then back to the parking lot. I was just too burned out. I finally got the courage to admit to myself and the group that I could not go on. Steve (Poop-for-brains) and Roger (no nickname yet) agreed that I should head down, so we decided to split up. Roger would go down with me and Ole Poop-for-brains would continue on to the Summit. The plan was that we would meet in the parking lot later.

By the way, Steve got his name because he was giving me a hard time at the Whitney Portal Store and when we had to put a name on the food order, I said it was for Steve, you know Poop-for-brains. Just proves you should be nice to everyone.

Roger and I headed off down after I ate a Payday candy bar and were doing somewhat OK until we hit the cables. Even from the short time since we had crossed it, the condition of the snow around the cables had deteriorated. For some stupid reason I decided to take the track just below the high-side tracks next to the mountain (real big mistake that). I dug in with my poles (I gave Roger the ice ax, ‘cause I had better crampons) took a step and in an instant, the snow/ice shelf gave way. I was on the other side of the cables with my feet stuck in the snow, but I still had a hand-hold my trekking poles (they bent, but did not break, because I had buried them deep). I made a quick decision and gave up on the idea of using them to get back up and reached for the bottom cable. I let go of the poles (we retrieved the later and sorta straighten them out) and used the bottom cable to traverse the cables. Roger seeing what happened to me, decided to traverse the cables by going around them using the bottom cable. I found out later the Steve (remember Ole Poop-for-brains) on his way down, spent a long time helping a lot of people traverse the cable area safety. He was once part of a mountain rescue team in Colorado, so old habits die hard.

Roger and I got back to the parking lot at 6:00 PM and Steve (Ole Poop-for-brains) finally got back at around 11:00 PM. He had let someone borrow one of his headlights and we had to wait for them to come down.

We left for San Diego and after a real fun car ride, I took a bath and went to bed a 6:00AM.
So there is the story, for those who care.

Over the Hill Bill

Bill... Congrats on a successful attempt!! You may not have made the summit.. but thats ok.. you'll get it next time.

Sorry about the bug.. hope you're feeling better soon!!!

Bill,

It was great seing you on the trail. The 69 yr old Bill, my father, gave up not because of weather like he said. It was really altitude sickness. Yes, the weather was a slight issue, but we didn't even attempt the switchbacks.

We got to Trail Camp on 6/29 early afternoon. Within the next 12 hours he used 3 of our 4 wag bags. He was just too proud to admit it. But, that's alright. I know he didn't drink nearly enough WATER! He got real upset stomach and head ache on the way down. He got even worse after we passed you near Trailside Meadows. When dealing with altitude sickness, you don't go up the hill, you go down. It was slow going with many stops. The only problem I had with it was when I became "skeeter food" near Mirror Lake. A quick dose of deet took care of that. Glad we went down when we did. He finally got better as we neared Portal. I made him better by splitting a "Moose Burger" and sliding 2 beers his way.

Unfortunately that might be his last attempt on the summit of Whitney. He got so sick he said that he wanted to put cement in the hiking shoes so he wouldn't think of trying it again. LOL From now on he'll have to stick to some lighter stuff near Tahoe or below the 10k level or get better acclimated. But, I know he won't give up hiking. He loves the mountains and the scenery too much. He just needs to retire from NASA, move from the "flat land" (Houston) and get to the mountains "full time".

Glad to see that we didn't try to summit on 6/30. No winter gear, little experience from a party member, altitude sickness and icy conditions sound like a receipe for disaster. Also, I found out later that at 6:30 AM, it was snowing along Trail Crest to Summit with 20-30 mph winds. Not the most ideal conditions for a first timer at 69 yrs old. Even though, the conditions cleared a little, better safe than sorry.

Anyway, I'll be back to do Whitney again. When, I don't know. But, I hope to see you, Steve and Roger out there again.

Anthony

Great effort, Over The Hill Bill! Well, my 16 year winning streak came to an end yesterday - I only bested you by 250 feet, and my bug was down in my foot. I reached Trail Crest at 11:00, but I did some off trail exploration before heading down. I'll post a trip report tonight, and I'll talk about the cables, as I killed some time there both up and down, which included watching the rescue of the guy who slipped off down the slope.

I would love to read your trip report Tom, I have aluminum light weight crampons and an ice axe--will these work? Thanks!

I used Walmart "Bandy II" boots, REI kiddie poles, a bruised 54 year old foot, and reasonably careful 3 point of contact movement, and did not find it scary. I crossed about 9:30 on an overcast day. And the snow is melting back day by day. Stow the mountaineering gear until the next storm.

I'm just curious. How old is "over the hill"?

Bob,

Don't let Bill fool you. He's only 62 and "over the hill" is only a self imposed signature. Just because he has a bum knee, don't think he's ready for the rocking chair. He's sceduled for a new one (knee replacement surgery) shortly. Then he'll be back on the mountain showing us how it's done.

Anthony

Anthony:

I'm 60 and hoping I can hold off "over the hill" for a while longer. I have an Achilles problem, but the knees are still good. I'm well on my way to re-climbing the 14ers this year.

Hi Anthony,
I too enjoyed meeting you and your Dad on the trail. Sorry I wasn’t at my best. As to your Father’s altitude sickness, that is nothing to fool around with. At best it just makes you feel like (dump a lot of) crap. There are a lot of bad things that can happen if you don’t get off the mountain quickly.

My first time I tried the little stroll of Mount Whitney, we turned around at the cables because we didn’t bring crampons and ice axes, but the truth be known, I was also getting a headache and feeling like filling up a few wag bags.

My second attempt got me up to the summit, but it was painful and the altitude sickness was really there. It was only because of my “pigheadedness” that I got to the top. I paid for it by feeling like poop for the next week or so.

This last trip, I found the three night stay at Horseshoe Meadows (10,000 feet) really helped. Although I was totally wasted with no energy, I didn’t have the infamous headache, nor the problems I had with the lack of breathing air instead of vacuum. Maybe your Dad might want to try the “stroll up Mount Whitney again when he has had a few nights at a higher altitude.

By the way, my wife had returned from Asia on a Wednesday, 6 days before my attempt with a cough she had picked up. I was really worried that she might pass it on to me. I guess I can stop worrying, ‘casue now I sound like a frog and cough all night long. That and feeling tired and sore has made my life just spiffy.
I look forward to seeing you on the trail again. If ever you are in the San Diego area, I Steve and Roger usually can be found hiking Iron Mountain (in Poway) Saturday and Sunday Mornings.
Say “Hi” to your Dad.
All the best,
Over the Hill Bill

Hi Tom S,
Yea, I saw part of that saga when I was at Trail Camp. I look forward to your report,
Over the Hill Bill

Over the Hill Bill is only 62

Thanks SoCalGirl,
Right now the score with me verses the “bug” is:
Bug 10 me zip.

I will try again next year, possibly with a new knee, sorta - Bionic Bill rides again.

All the best,
Over the hill Bill

Good attitude Bill... catch you on Iron Mtn sometime!!!

OHB:

Congratulations on a grand trip, so sorry to hear of you getting sick. I mean, my pop only made it to just above the cables, but, you know, since he's 68 I cut him a little more slack...

-L

Hay Anthony,
Thank you for the response, I didn't see it right away.
Once I become "Bionic" Over the Hill Bill with the new knee, maybe I'll see you up on the mountain again.
Or, if you get the chance, stop by San Diego and hike Iron mountain with Roger Steve and me on most weekends.
All the best,
Over the Hill Bill