I remember it well too, it was a little over six years ago on August 23, 2003 when four separate groups converged at Whitney Portal and shared the route up the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek. Group one was Bob, accompanied by his son and a friend. Group 2 was a solo hiker, Steve (SPC here). Group 3 was Me, my brother Joe and my good friend Mario. Group 4, was another separate solo hiker, Sherry.
I had been up the NFLP before but we talked with Bob at the trailhead and asked if we could tag along, hoping to learn a few of his legendary short-cut route variations. Bob said we were welcome to share the route for as long as we were hiking at the same speed. Steve was very fast and went ahead of the rest of us right after Lower Boyscout Lake. After lagging way behind most of the way to Clyde Meadow, Bob had a candid talk with Sherry and she decided to turn back rather than forge on solo. It was really awkward, we could tell Sherry was definitely not up for the MR. We were so thankful that Bob had the talk with her. We (myself, my brother and my friend) hung with Bob's group most of the day. It was a great trip, we went up the MR and exited via the Main Trail.
Sherry told us she was an experienced hiker and had done the Whitney Main trail before. She assured us that she would be able to find the route down and since it was still morning she would be able to see other people going up or down to help direct her back down through the E-ledges. We were very surprised to find out later the she called 911 to get rescued from the ledges.
