Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney Again?

I'm not sure why I keep coming back for more. I think it must be the Whitney fever. The Whitney death march double (44 miles) is not for everybody but I enjoy the challenge. I would like to do my 7th double this summer. After 86 summits since turning 50, coming back for more sure sounds crazy. But that's why they call me crazy Jack.
See you on the mountain!
WTNY N1

And the rules are that it has to be between sunrise and sunset or it doesn't count.

Jack, that is just unbelievable. Hats off to you brother. Someday, if you have the time to write it, I'd love to read more about these doubles and how you manage them.

Okay, just so I'm clear on this: If you do a leisurely 6-hour jog of the main trail would that be a "Death Run" ? Or, better yet, if you did a fun 9-hour dayhike with your pre-teen kids, would that be child abuse?

Just trying to figure out how the doom & gloom figures in...

When you reach the summit, you look around, and there lying before you are mountains for as far as you can see...

Expand your horizons, gentlemen. At least climb Muir along the way.

More amazing is the fact that almost ALL of Jack's ascents are sub-four hours... I think I heard him mention five-something when there was a lot of snow on the trail.

Jack, you are just awesome. Hope to maybe join you on a double sometime this summer. We met briefly on the Thor memorial weekend last fall, and I was impressed then, and even more now.

It seems like there a more than a few of us turning 55 this year ( Whitney_Mike, Berne, etc). I will also (obviously, with a handle like melville1955). Maybe we should get together on TOP!

I'm still flabbergasted. I did the "death march" at age 51 last year and swore never again. A minimum one nighter, or preferably two, going forward. I can't even begin to visualize how you do 44 miles and 12,500 feet of elevation gain/loss in a single day, especially at altitude. And to start this hobby at age 50?!

All I can say is I hope to meet you some day Jack and shake your hand. You are one tough cookie.

Just curious, do most people acclimate themselves?
Last year was my first time and I think I could have summitted without acclimating but it definetly would have been more difficult.

Most people acclimate. My buddy and I didn't have the time so we didn't acclimate at all. Sea level to Outpost 10K then summit and back to 10K with no AMS problems. Some people must acclimate and some can get away without it.One really never knows unless they have experience at altitude.

[quote=bulldog34
Jack, that is just unbelievable... I'd love to read more about these doubles and how you manage them. [/quote]

He has magic red shoes

On all 4 of my trips up to 14K so far, I have not been able to acclimate. Up until my first trip I was very concerned about this. On my first trip (Langley: ESE Ridge, June 08) I felt no adverse affects besides heavy breathing. 2nd trip (Whitney: East Face, August 08) I was unable to sleep much at all. After summiting, on the way down I started coughing up a lot of foamy flem (probably pulmonary edema). This continued throughout most of the night, but was gone by morning...scary. I have had no other adverse affects since then.

I do my very best to stay "over" hydrated and "over" fed during my HA trips and I think that the reason I failed to do so on my first Whitney climb was the gut wrenching nerves I was dealing with at the time.

So, u ask how people acclimate? I think that most people don't. Almost every person I have met above 10,000' got there that day or the day before, and they aren't staying. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have a job, wife and kids to take care of. I'll be dammed if I'm going to spend a week of my vacation to climb one silly mountain (of course that depends on the mountain, and no Whitney is not really a "silly" mountain).

I would like to try climbing acclimated though. Probably much more enjoyable! Of course I could lose 60 lbs...that might help

Many different approaches- it all depends on your physiology, available time, etc. With two small kids at home I'm well aware of the time pressures- but at least my job gives me a good amount of time off.

For those who consider it too self-indulgent to spend several days acclimating while the family is back in the city- consider a family vacation. A few days staying in Mammoth, with some family day hikes in the Lakes Basin, near Tioga Pass and/or Little Lakes Valley on Rock Creek will be a good family time AND provide valuable acclimation.

Then the family spends a day in Lone Pine while you climb the mountain. Call it educational- they can visit Manzanar, the Film Museum, etc.

I think that's way better than putting up with pulmonary edema on a day hike.

Personally though the three times I've hiked Whitney involved 4, 6, and 14 day approach hikes- 14,000 feet didn't seem bad after that much acclimation.

Hi Blooty,
I'll be glad to tell you about my doubles if you give me a ride in your fancy blue car!! Hope to see you at the Whitney Clinic 3 coming in the first week of May.
Jack and Betsy

Tracie's new ride... More in tune with the mountaineer's image...

Hi Jack, you and Betsy can take the blue car for a spin anytime the weather's fine

Richard - I'm still learning how to drive the 4wd
T