Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board WPSMB group hike 2009

I have to say it again, I have never been on a summit where I have felt such a bond with all those there.
Photos here

SanDi Carol, your photos! yeah! Wow!

Hi all Thor peak hike members of WPSMB.
Thank you very much for your friendship and kindness during the Thor peak hike. I have never met such nice people who share the
high value of mountaineer. I was very honored to be a new member.
This was the most memorable hike ever.

Thank you,again.

Shin

Shin you'll have to join us on Baldy. Date is set for November 20th...

Like everyone said, I cannot add any more to all the words that have been said already.

I want to thank the “group formally known as Stemwinder” and to everyone whom I met and talk to along this amazing journey for their support.

Being that this was my first hike in the Whitney zone, this one will be hard to top!

Larry
WPSMB Goup Hike

Hi Jeff,
I'll join with the Baldy hike.
Thank you.
Shin

I consider myself privileged to be a part of the Kent Ashcraft Memorial Hike to Thor Peak

Over the years my family and I have hiked numerous times. For me, this was my first wilderness route. Believe me when I say that I realize how fortunate I was to be hiking along side those who were familiar with the mountain. I would never have contemplated attempting such an undertaking without their guidance. Additionally, their encouragement made a rather daunting enterprise look as if it were achievable.

The entire experience was tremendous. The spectacular backwoods panoramas, complete with autumn foliage, which gave way to the snow covered peaks, was surpasses only by the camaraderie of beautiful people. I am referring to an inner beauty, the kind that goes to the soul. I was new to the group but immediately felt a sense of belonging and comfort that is normally reserved for family members.

I was never fortunate enough to meet Kent Ashcraft but he must have been an extraordinary man. I could help but feel overwhelmed with emotion during the ceremony atop Thor Peak. It is true that all people express emotion in their own manner, nevertheless I can not believe anyone on the peak was not deeply affected.

I have heard it said the measure of a man if the effect he has on others. Based upon that Kent must have been a great man.

I want to express my appreciation for all those who planned, trail blazed, ice picked, kicked foot holds, offered encouragement, made it to the peak, partook in the service, prepared a delicious meal, made a slide show and provided the venue.

Lastly, thanks to all those who posted pictures. All in all, this was one weekend in October that I will not so forget.

Ken (Rosie’s Brother)

Hi all,
For me, the hike was fantastic! I really enjoyed putting names to faces and getting to hike with wonderful people. I have been thinking about last Saturday all this week and what sticks out the most is that there were 34 individuals who all deferred to the best overall interest for the group! It was an amazing day and one that will stay in my heart.
There are two things I would like to say.
I first hiked this mountain with my dad when I was 9. When I came back to hike the first time with Jack, I remember the moment when we started to make that left turn in the main trail right before the last little incline where you drop into Bighorn Park. There is a rock ledge there, and as we went by I flashed onto a memory of that time with my Dad. I am sitting on the ledge with my legs dangling down. My feet are even with my dad's chest and he is putting mole skin on my heels. Well that was 50 years and 2 months ago. My dad is now gone and I have started on the down hill slide, but that rock ledge is still the same. We come, we change, we pass on, but the mountain is still there.
My hope for Kent's children is that they will come to these mountains where they learned and grew, and laughed and loved. And as they hike down the trails, I hope and believe that they will see their father there with them.

Thanks to all! I hope to hike with you again!!
Betsy
Wife of Wtny N1

Betsy, that's a sweet memory of your Dad and good ol' Mt Whitney! I'll bet he had no idea at the time that he'd be leaving you a gift that would far outlast the moleskin he put on your blisters.
That's how it is with our children--you just keep doing the right things cuz you never know what's going to stick. I have similar flashbacks when I'm camping at Morro Bay, since my dad took us there a lot. And that damn rock hasn't changed a bit!
From what I could see, Kent did a good job of filling his kids up with treasures that will later be revealed.
Thanks for sharing.

"My dad is now gone and I have started on the down hill slide, but that rock ledge is still the same"

Well Betsy if you are "on the down hill side" you must have been awesome on the up hill side.....You were awesome on Thor good job....Pleasure climbing with ya!!

ditto!

i was hiking locally with the Sierra Club recently and the gal leading was 82 years old. from the start i couldn't believe her speed. no warm up, she was FAST, the whole 4 hours! blew my mind. she used to do the 14'ers though no longer does Class 3, but man was she solid and fast on her feet.

that downhill side/slide is just a myth, Betsy!

I have arthritis in my knees and they have decided to be mad at me when I hike, especially when I go downhill. Jack finally convinced me to go to the doctor today because of the swelling I have had since Sunday. The doctor told me about injections they can do now to put artificial lubricant into the knee joint. There is no limit to the number of times you can have this done. Sounds like a great alternative to surgery! Anyway, I am fighting back, including physical therapy that focuses on structural alignment. I need to hike!
Thanks for the kind words!
Betsy

Betsy,
nice to have met you on Saturday, and take a tumble in the snow with you on the last downhill pitch!
looking forward to the next time...

It was nice to meet the Ashcrafts, and meeting you all putting faces to the names...mark

Hi Mark, I would have liked to have a video of that tumble! I'm sure it would be highly entertaining! ..Thanks again for all your help.
I'm looking forward to future hikes with this group!
Happy hiking!
Betsy

Hi everyone!
I just returned to rainy Washington yesterday. After I left Lone Pine last Sunday, I headed south to Temecula, then continued to Coronado where I spent the remainder of the week with my Mother and an older sister.

I had a wonderful time visiting with family, and in the quiet times of the day and evening, my thoughts would often wander back to last weekend and the climb. There is not much to say that hasn’t already been expressed here… the thanks to all that organized and lead, and the awe and appreciation of that amazing weekend that presented itself to us.

I just want to add my thanks to every one of you for your encouragement, comfort, and camaraderie. How wonderful to have met Kent’s beautiful family the day before the hike and to have another glimpse into Kent’s life… not only as the amazing mountaineer and loving husband and father, but also man with great sense of humor!

Experiences such as these touch our hearts and change us forever.

I posted a link to my pictures on Richard’s picture thread. The album is actually a combination of Ken’s and mine.

Rosie

P.S. Betsy, I think my memory of my first hike up Whitney is probably very similar to yours. It was such an adventure! Ken was 6 years old and I was 7 years... we had so much fun! My favorite memory of my Dad on that trip was when we were going up the 97 switchbacks. We were carrying our packs because we were going as far as Crabtree Meadow and I was so tired… I remember crying, and my Dad was so patient. Dad let me rest, but kept encouraging me on; we had been getting the typical afternoon thunderstorms and I’m sure he was concerned about getting up and over. I don’t cry on the switchbacks any more, but I always think of him

Hi Rosie, Our dads give us one more thing in common! I have mental pictures all over the Sierras from the trips he took my siblings and me on. Usually these make me smile, but sometimes I cry. And that is okay. It is all good. These memories and the skills and lessons learned in the Sierras are one of the most treasured gifts I received from my dad. For us and the switchbacks, he set a goal of 2 switchbacks before we could stop to huff and puff! I remember his patience as well!
I enjoyed meeting you after hearing from Laura about your solo JMT trip this summer. Hope to see you in the mountains again!
Blessings, Betsy

Speaking of fathers who inspired us to love the mountains - mine would have celebrated the Big Nine-Oh yesterday.

Much the same as Rosie, Betsy, & Richard,plus many others I am
sure that post on this forum, my introduction to the Sierras
started with my Father in 1948. He would have been 100 last
Labor Day weekend & I celebrated his LIFE with a Colorado Climb
of Pikes Peak, the best I could do since the Sierras are quite
a drive for me now. Also, my Mother, her Father and Family
were all Colorado Springs natives, way back to the early 1870s. She never climbed Pikes Peak, but rode a burro to the summit !!
My Father too enjoyed climbing in this Pikes Peak area, but he
once confided to me that he preferred the Sierras as they were
#1 in his estimation.

Betsy I recently sent you a PM about knees, arthritis etc

as I have had similar problems and experiences with some

encouraging results.

CMC aka Ernie Cunliffe e mail:

ernie_cunliffe@hotmail.com which I prefer to PM

My Dad was just a couple months short of his 90th birthday when he passed away in March 2008. I’m sorry for your loss Richard.

Maybe some time this winter when the board slows down a bit, it might be an interesting thread to start, describing our first experiences in the Sierra, and whether it was with our fathers, siblings, friends, or a serendipitous experience where one found themselves in the mountains.

I don't know how to do the two-quotes-in-one-post, but, Ernie, what a wonderful way to celebrate the life of your Dad! I know what he means about the Sierra being #1 - we've got beautiful mountains up here in the Pacific Northwest, but the Sierra will always be "home" to me.