Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Day Hike Main Trail July 7th - Photos

Hello All,

Did a day hike of the Main Trail on July 7th. With my Dad (Earl, a very in shape 63) and my friend Bryan. It was my Dad's first successful summit after turning back about 3/4 a mile from the summit last year. It was my 2nd and my friend Bryan's 3rd.

Here are the pics,

Cottonwood Lakes Photos
Whitney Day Hike, July 7th 2009

It was a great day, very pretty, not a cloud in the sky. It got a little chilly at trail crest with some gusty winds, but they calmed on the summit. Still some snowy spots on the trail and some spots that I was glad to have good hiking boots and treking poles. Some of the snowing icy spots just before trail crest I would not have felt comfortable doing in sneakers, but we certainly saw people doing it. Like last year I again did not eat enough calories and ran out of juice, this time coming down the switchbacks. A little gatorade and a meal and rest at Trail Camp and I felt okay again.

After a successful summit on Tuesday and reaching the Cottonwood Lakes basin on Monday we setteled in Wednesday morning to tackle some victory pancakes at the Portal Store. Alas we were unable to completely conquer the delicious pancakes

Thanks for all the advice, info and motivation this forum provides!

Dean

Thanks, Dean.  Congrats on a successful summit.  Just curious, what does your dad do to stay "very in shape" at 63. (Some of us are not that far behind him )

Sometimes I think that more people fail to summit Mt. Pancake then fail to summit Mt. Whitney!

Congrats on making one of the two summits Dean and Dad!

Steve C,
My Dad has always been into exercise, after inviting him to Whitney in 2008 and turning back 3/4 mile from the summit he was a man on a mission. He hikes 5-8 miles 3 or so times a week, rides a stationary bike for an hour or so on most days and lifts weights and does core strengthening. He has a treadmill and has worked up to keep increasing the length of time he could maintain a 3mph pace at 12% grade. I think the most important things is that over the years he has kept at it very consistenty. He has inspired me to lose 50 pounds and keep in better shape so I have the chance to do this sort of thing at his age.


SoCalGirl, Fortunately all my training for Whitney has kind of "untrained" me for eating a Portal Store Pancake. It sure tasted good to eat even un-finished.

Dean