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MOUNT WHITNEY DOUBLE

9/27/09

Since I wouldn't be able to join Richard and others in a couple weeks for their attempt at a Whitney double dayhike I decided to do it now since this was likely my last free Sierra weekend before snow sets in.

I started at midnight. For the first trip I decided to go up the Mountaineers Route. Despite going from Portal to summit (and much of the way back) in the dark I made good time. It helps that I know the route well. I reached the summit at 3:43am (3 hrs 40 mins from the Portal). I was alone on the summit and the hut was empty. I returned to the Portal a little after sunrise at 6:54am for a total roundtrip time of 6 hrs 51 mins.

This quick time had me briefly wondering whether a 3rd summit would be possible. That dillusion was thoroughly dispelled on my 2nd trip up. For the 2nd trip I decided to go for the Main Trail. I took a half hour break before starting. As much as I knew I needed to eat I couldn't manage to get much down. I started up the Main Trail at 7:22am.

As I closed in on Trail Camp I began to slow noticeably. Both the MT and MR are hard on the calves (too many steps). Going up the switchbacks my speed slowed further. I past a few other hikers but only just barely. By the time I reached Trail Crest my calves were done. From Trail Crest to summit was agonizingly slow and my calves kept wanting to cramp up. For some reason I kept thinking about my first time up Whitney almost exactly 7 years ago. I reached the summit for the 2nd time at 1:11pm. I was thoroughly depleted. Time from Portal to summit was a less than stellar 5 hrs 49 mins. Roundtrip time was 9 hrs 33 mins.

I regained strength on the way down. I did some running but for the most part just took a fast pace. My priority now was to get down in time for a burger at the Portal. I knew this would probably be my last Portal burger for the year so I was well motivated. I reached the the Portal at 4:53pm. Laura, Rob, and Sean were there so I joined them. The Portal burger and fries hit the spot and it was still early enough that the drive home wasn't bad.

This was a nice way to finish off the season. Although the 2nd summit was a bit harder than I expected both trips together took less than 17 hours combined. This marked my 28th and 29th Whitney summits.

Photos are here: Whitney Double 9/27/09

-Rick

Nice job Rick! There is nothing shabby about getting up in 5 hours and 45 minutes for the second attempt or doing a second round trip time of 9 hours and 33 minutes. About a week ago I talked to Richard on Mt. Russell and told hime that a double loop would be nice. That would be going up the MR and down the MT twice. I personally wouldn't want to come down the MR unless I really had to do it. The steepness and rougher terrain would slow me down. I'm fortunate. My calves don't ever seem to cramp on hikes. A while back when I attempted a double I became overwhelmed at the thought of going up a second time. I was almost relieved when the weather went bad and closed my plans.

Rafael...

Rick, you never cease to amaze!

congrats and stretch those calves!

You just wanted to beat them to the punch...
Seriously, AhhhMayZing! Congrats!

that's only half the gain of your Nov 7th challenge. better carb load!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!

Awesome Job Rick. Your time for 2 summits is almost what it takes some to do it once...

Wow, I think 9 1/2 hours is faster than MOST hikers make a round trip.
Some day I hope to do a Mount Whitney Double - twice in one year!

LOL

RickK,
Congrats on an outstanding accomplishment. Muy muy bueno!
I counted about ~37 signatures between your 2 summit visits...busy day on Whitney
Cheers,
RickG

Yes, quite a few entries. Even so, perhaps because of my later start time, I saw very few people on the Main Trail until I got up to Trail Crest. Certainly no reason the dayhike quota couldn't be increased to 200 per day.

Awesome job! Congrats on your 2 summits!

You should change your name to Clark Kent

We moved the "event" up a week and had loads of fun (total sarcasm here) with the wind and cold.

We (SierraGator and I) started at midnight, were down for breakfast at around 9:00am, headed back up a little after 10:00am, reached the summit the second time after 3:00pm and were down at the Portal too late for dinner at around 8:00pm. Both trips up were via the MR, the final descent down the MT.

I don't know if I would classify this as harder than the Main Trail Double, but the miserable weather sure made it seem that way.

Congrats Rick and Jim.

Congrats on the double!!! I started serious hiking last year. This year I did the MT in early June(snowing) for my 1st time and in July for my 2nd time (sunny-much easier).
I was thinking about a double on the MT and saw it was completed on the MR. I see the MR is a shorter distance, but looks slower due to the bouldering. Any thoughts from the conquerors.--Thanks

Ask again in a few weeks... when I do these these things, the one I did yesterday always seems like it was the hardest thing I've ever done.



A Whitney classic photo.

The rest of the photos.

Richard

That is one of the most stunning photos of Whitney. Spectacular!!!

MC

Stoked about finally getting this done. Long, tough day but well worth it.

Whitney double

Great job guys! That second time is a little tough isn't it?

I recall afterwards thinking ... I'll never do that again. I was pretty sore when I finished. Hopefully you guys at least got to the Pizza Factory.

Congrats RK, sierragator and Richard. Outstanding accomplishment. It's all relative, isn't it? I'm looking forward to my first single MR ascent next spring.

Congrats, guys!! Glad you were able to get it done this year.

So -- how many times do you think you could do it in a week?