Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board First timers

Wayne
I actually had your map with me on the back of a topo of the route, so I KNEW how many there were from your data. It's just that most hikers I met on the switchbacks had their own opinion on the number and were determined to count them. As I said in my post, it really does not matter how many there are. There are more than enough to make a strong man cry. What matters, in my opinion, is that you find a way to deal with them effectively in both a mental a physical way. Having something to distract you from the relentlessness of climbing them really helped me. I actually heard one fellow say "47 -- just one more" as he moved from one switchback to the next. That would have killed me to be that focused on the numbers. According to my trail log, it took me a total of 3 hours to reach the summit from Trail Camp and approximately 1.5 hour to work through the switchbacks to Trail Crest from Trail Camp. So, I feel I made pretty good time on them and I feel some of that was due to finding a way to not focus on the fact that there were 97 of them.

Oh and thanks for your efforts to provide an accurate count using gps data.

quillansculpture, I experienced the same thing YosemiteSam experienced, hearing all kinds of differing counts. When hikers are stressed to the max climbing up the switchbacks, it is easy for them to lose track of the count. We all know our minds can play tricks on us. It was because of all the confusion, and I happen to be a numbers-guy, I wanted to know just how many switchbacks there really are. I heard counts from 95 to 105.

Another common counting problem is how hikers start and finish their count. For example, some breathlessly count Trail Crest as switchback #-whatever. Trail Crest is the end of switchback 97--not a switchback itself, if you see what I mean.

You have a good point on what the definition of a switchback is. You can see on my map that switchbacks 10-11, 41-42 and 89-90 have extra turns. I went by the rule that a switchback has to actually turn back; that is, the turn must be an "acute" angle less than 90 degrees (less than a right angle), which in some cases can be a composite of two turns to qualify as an "extended" switchback. A bit technical here, but your point, quillansculpture, is well taken. Happy counting!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What one man deemeth a switchback, another may argue the point. Wayne’s standard is that the inner angle be acute: The trail makes a turn greater than 90°.

Merriam-Webster says a switchback is "a zigzag road, trail, or section of railroad tracks for climbing a steep hill." Cambridge says, "a path, road or railway which bends sharply from one direction to almost the opposite direction as it goes up and down steep slopes." Random House: "a zigzag railroad track arrangement for climbing a steep grade."

First: In all citations there seems to be a strict requirement that the intent of the trail feature is to aid in ascending or descending the terrain. If you think about it, before the turn the upslope side is on the left (for example), and after the turn the upslope side is on the right.

Second is the inner angle. Implied in Merriam-Webster and Random House, and explicit in Cambridge, is that it be acute. Cambridge further suggests: very acute.

For the first criterion you need to be on scene to observe the terrain, or at least have photographs or a precision topo map. On Wayne's map, the turns between the cables and #89 are switchbacks because they’re necessary for climbing the slope and the angles are acute. The turn between #41 and #42 isn't a switchback: It's there because the trail goes around a rib, and the upslope side doesn't change as you round the turn.

Examining each of the other turns in detail, one has to conclude that Wayne has done a fantastic job. All of his numbered switchbacks satisfy both criteria, and there are none that he has left out.

Hi Now that we have established the correct elevation of 15,508 above the mean highlow tide on the 27 of April, 2007 using the latest L1-L2 handhelp GPS and a pickle. WOULD THE ELEVATION OF EACH SWITCHBACK INCREASE OR DECREASE? Would the older lower switchback then be in the same location or would one need to climb over the older lower ones to gain the new switcbacks? Hint drive to the beach and ponder why the mountain has changed by 11 feet and the water level looks about the same as it always has.Are you seeing water on the east side of Hwy 1? Very slow evening.Until that time .Doug

Two questions:

1) When you moved the peak above 15,000' did you need to re-aim the camera?

2) What kind of pickle? (Whitney first timers should be aware of what they need to carry.)

Slow morning,too.

Dale B. Dalrymple

The best pickles for this purpose are from Pickel Meadow.

First Timer trip report from July 27th.

The time seemed to fly from February when I dropped my application into the mail, hoping for a day permit this summer, until last Sunday (7-25) when we were on our way north from San Diego. I had trained as much as I possibly could, both in long distance flat "walks" around the beach/bay, as well as hiking in the local mountains of SD county. An attempt at San Gorgonio two weeks prior to Whitney resulted in one of our group of three bagging the summit, while my friend and I had to turn around at approximately mile 8 when pain from my hip bursitis became more than I could bear.

As we entered the Owens Valley, lightning flashed in the sky, and I hoped it would blow over by Tuesday the 27th. We moved our gear into the Portal Hostel (fabulous place to stay!) and hit the bunks! The next day, after speaking to another guest who had reached the summit on Sunday about the weather, we headed up to the portal for the day to acclimatize. All three of us gals (I am 50, another is 45, and the last is 57) were taking Diamox to hopefully prevent altitude issues. The day was beautiful, warm, and our hike to Lone Pine Lake was leisurely and relaxing. We ate lunch at the lake and chatted with others who had climbed Whitney previously, gathering more advice. My two friends had reached the summit on previous climbs, both more than 10 years prior: this was to be my first attempt. Pizza in Lone Pine completed the day and we went back to the hostel to try to get to sleep early.

The alarm went off at 2, and we were on the trail by 3:15. I was so glad we had done Lone Pine Lake the day before and had snapped numerous photos since we were hiking in the dark. Boulder hopping at the first crossing was a bit more challenging in the light of our headlamps, but we made it without getting too wet! The sunrise was beautiful with the moon setting in the west. We stopped at Trailside Meadow to filter water and I fell in love with this beautiful spot. Truly around every corner I found something beautiful to gaze upon. The flowers were still so abundant, and I found the continual flow of water to be enchanting.

Before I knew it we were at Trail Camp (I think it was 6 hours to this point). We were getting colder so we stopped to add some layers. What to wear/pack was one of my nagging questions and I finally settled on long hiking pants, a short sleeve top with a Capilene long sleeve over it. This was fine until Trail camp where I needed to add a fleece jacket and a knit cap. I was happy to don my fleece gloves as well. We stopped at SB 23 to filter water again (lots of it at this point). The cable section was not a problem at all, but easy to see how it could be treacherous with snow. We finally made it to Trail Crest and began the back side section. This was the most difficult part of the trip, for one because going downhill meant going uphill on our return, and two because of the large rocks in the trail. Every step requires careful placement of both feet and both poles! The thin air really was evident here as well. I found that if I walked really slowly, I could keep my heart rate down and didn't need to stop as often. If I walked too quickly, I had to stop as often as every 25 feet or so. This section of the trail seems to go on forever. I knew I was close, but certainly not close enough yet. As we began to turn uphill for the final ascent, my good friends allowed me to lead, to experience reaching the top in first position! I must say it was a very emotional experience for me to finally see the stone hut and realize I was actually at the top! It took 9 hours to get there. We did the usual photos at the top, signed the register, made some phone calls and ate our pb and jelly sandwiches.

Before we got too comfortable resting, we began to head down. While this immediate portion of the trail was difficult going up, it was even more difficult going down. I could feel the muscles and tendons and ligaments in my ankles straining with each placement of my boots. I found that my feet were beginning to hurt, and the fatigue to the hike was really becoming obvious. On we moved, faster than when going up, but not that fast. When we reached the dreaded uphill section before Trail Crest, it was really tough. Thank goodness for poles to really help push me up those steps! On the switchbacks I counted to keep my mind busy (coming up with 99, but I've since seen a map that shows 97). One of my girlfriends is really fast on the downhill, and she had galloped on ahead as soon as we began our descent. She waited at Trail Crest, then scampered on ahead on the switchbacks, waiting at Trail Camp. When we reached the bottom at TC, we told her to go on ahead and we'd see her at the portal. My good friend and I just kept on pushing on ahead, finally reaching the portal at just after 8PM. It was about 6 hours down. The relief upon seeing the wooden structure at the trailhead was palpable! We practically crawled to the store to enjoy a cold beer (however, Diamox makes carbonated beverages taste horrible!).

What an amazing experience this hike was. Never once did I feel the worry of not being able to make it to the top. The Gorgonio hike was completely different (and not nearly as beautiful). I loved every section of this trail; never once finding it ugly or boring or "made for mules". The people were friendly, the sound of the water invigorating. Meeting Doug was icing on the cake! What an amazing man. We headed back to the hostel, stopping for dinner across the street first. Showers and bed never felt so good!

I'm sure I made some mistakes in what I brought/forgot, or in how I hiked (pace etc.) but for a first timer I was pleased with the entire day. I carried 3L of water in a camelback, and we filtered and added probably 2L along the way. I had about a liter left at the bottom. We ate jerkey, trail mix, GU, crackers, and a few jolly rancher hard candies along the trail. PB and J at the top, followed by a candy bar completed the meal! We had backpacking eggs for breakfast in the car on the way up to the portal in the AM (nice to have a keycode to get into the kitchen at the hostel in the wee hours of the morn!) I was surprised by the numerous water crossings (but they are easy) and by two sections of snow (also easy).

I have to thank all the other posters here who provided such amazing insight prior to my hike. I hope this piece will help some other novice as he/she prepares to do "the big one in one day"! I'm sure I'll be back; it's too beautiful to stay away!

Great job, LoriW (is that for "Wand"?)! I was one of the fly-fishing guys up at Lone Pine Lake the day before your big hike who tried not to bother you too much with talk of our Oxy connections while you enjoyed your lunch. Sounds like you and your two fellow hikers had a great plan for a successful and safe day. Glad you were able to go at a comfortable pace and enjoy the beauty, too. Congratulations!!

BruinDave

You weren't a bother at all! Maureen (the Oxy gal) always runs into someone she knows or has a connection with! I appreciated your sage advice!
Lori (Wilcox)

What Oxy connection if you don't mind me asking? I might be yet another if we you referring to the college... I'm an alum, and I currently work there (here) =)

Hi Tif:

I sent you a PM. Thanks.

BruinDave

July 20 I climbed MT Whitney for the first time but not my first 14er as I've climbed 20+ in Colorado. Start time 230AM, Summit time 830AM, finish 2PM. Lots of people talk about having too much stuff. I carried 3L of water, 2L of Gatorade, food, first aid, extra clothes, emergency shelter, gloves, jacket, etc. If everything goes well I don't need any of this stuff beyond food and drink. If things go wrong and I don't have any of this stuff I'm a long way from my car. I think 11 hour 30 minutes which includes 30 minutes on the summit is an ok time. But couldn't imagine not having all of my gear if a storm came in or I was injured. I didn't count switchbacks. I didn't pay attention to times other than summit, start and finish. I made sure to eat and drink often. And I had an awesome time.

Made it to trail crest after a late start last Sunday, had to turn around as I had to be back in OC by ten that evening. Disappointed, but I will say that I had one awesome day. I had spent the previous week camping at South Lake above Bishop, spent two days cruising around Mammoth, did three day hikes of 5-10 miles each topping out at 10,000 - 12,000 feet, and did Whitney pretty much on a whim. I snagged a no-show permit on Saturday, grabbed the last campsite at the Portal campground that afternoon, and got going about 4:30 the next morning, making it more of a stroll than a hike.
Yes, there was considerable effort involved, but I was amazed at the beauty of this trail! Trailside Meadow, Consultation Lake popping up unexpectedly, the amphitheater and arcing waterfall of Outpost Camp... even the little things like swooping curves in the trail that went in between two sentinel evergreens above Lone Pine Lake, water that seemed to be flowing everywhere. I even thought the 97 switchbacks were sort of fun (had a good companion I hooked up with just below trail camp who helped pass the time on the way up). I had absolutely no hint of altitude sickness, just lots of energy, but unfortunately little time to use it. Probably just as well, as my last couple of miles going back into the Portal were accompanied by some pretty good rolling thunder and rain right as I finished up.
If nothing else, this is a great example of the value of spending some time up high even a day or two before your hike, and going your own pace. Eat well, stay hydrated, and appreciate your surroundings. I'm really looking forward to getting back and finishing up on top!

(This is a duplicate posting from the Whitney Zone board...not sure which board my new friends frequent).

This past weekend, (8/8-8/9), I had the wonderful experience of climbing Mt. Whitney with my 17 year old son Rob. We summitted via the Mountaineers Route on Monday morning at 10:15AM. This was our first trip to the Sierra, and we were both blown away. I really wanted to do a special trip with my son this summer before he goes into his senior year of high school. I thought the significance of hopefully getting to the top of the highest peak in the lower 48 would sort of set the tone that he was ready to handle any challenge that could come his way. That probably sounds a bit silly to some, but I would imagine many of you “get that”.

I only came up with the Whitney idea about 30 days ago, and as I started planning the trip I quickly stumbled across the Whitney Zone and Whitney Portal Store Boards. I created a long in, posted a question or two, but mainly just sat back and tried to learn from some of the helpful links and the knowledgeable people on this board. I soon discovered that especially due to the permitting issue, Whitney is a bit more complicated than just grabbing your pack and heading for the trailhead. I would like to thank Bob Rockwell, Bulldog, Steve, and a couple others who provided some very helpful advice on planning our trip.

As I started thinking about Whitney I was initially pulled toward the MR as several years ago I was a moderately active climber. I guess it is fortunate that I am semi retired from climbing and a bit rusty or I would have probably wanted to go for the East Buttress. After seeing the rock routes from Iceberg Lake I determined that trying to take my son up one of the technical routes would have likely been a mistake. As I researched Whitney and received advice from both Bob R. and Bulldog, I changed my mind on the MR and had decided to hike the main trail instead. They convinced me that the odds were significantly better for success on the MT than the MR especially considering we live in Florida, had never be to the Sierra before, and might not have the opportunity to come back any time soon. I started immediately calling for permit cancellations and pretty much did so every day with out luck. I would always ask for overnight MT permits, then inquire about day hike permits, and occasionally ask about North Fork permits just in case. I continued to get shut out on all fronts, but with the knowledge gained from this board went ahead and made airline reservations anyway hoping for two “no show permits” for the main trail once we got out there. I called one last time on Friday, 8/6, which was our day of departure, and went through my normal routine….nothing for overnight on the MT, no day hikes in the zone, and just by chance I asked him to check the North Fork…..bingo…they had two cancellations! I figured it was a sign, so quickly jumped on them. Unfortunately most of my route research and pre determined hiking plan had been for the MT and I was now flying out in 3 hours now with permits for the MR. Oh well, a little adventure is a good thing. I threw two helmets into my already packed gear and we were off to the airport.

We arrived in Lone Pine on Saturday morning, (8/7), picked up our permits, and headed for Horseshoe Meadows to start the process of getting our sea level bodies adjusted to altitude. We only could spare one day for acclimatization, which I knew would be cutting if very close, but it was all the time we had. Once we arrived at HM we took a nice and easy hike up to Trail Pass. We camped at HM that night, which I believed helped us a great deal. I was very worried about AMS as other than skiing in CO when he was 10; Rob had never been higher than the top of Mount Mitchell in NC, (a lofty 6,685’). Neither of us did any specific training for this trip other than what we normally do. (Rob plays lacrosse and basketball, we workout together, and I run quite a bit). It ended up that we were fortunate and neither of us had any trouble or got AMS other than I had a bit of a mild headache. After a night at HM we slept late and headed to the trailhead around 11:30. We ran into Doug Sr. on the road right before we got to the TH, which was great and gave me the chance to ask a couple of last minute questions. I set a purposely slow pace, so it took us about two hours to get to LBSL and another hour to get from LBSL to UBSL. The route finding was easy and we felt the E-ledges were straight forward and fun, (see notes at the end). The view from LBSL looking up the canyon was spectacular. We arrived at our camp at UBSL and had the place to ourselves except for two brothers, (Robert and Matt I believe from Louisville, KY & Concord, MA if I recall). Robert and Matt have made it a point to meet up regularly for backcountry trips for many years, which is pretty neat. The brothers were climbing Mt. Carillon the next day. We set up camp and found out first hand how quickly the Sierra weather can change. Our warm blue-sky afternoon quickly disappeared as the temps dropped and we were chased into the tent by light snow, hail, sleet, and rain. Nothing extreme, but it was a very quick and dramatic change. After the short storm passed, Rob and I ate dinner with Robert and Matt and enjoyed their company.

We left camp at 6:00AM on Saturday, as I wanted to avoid route finding via headlamp. Again the pace was purposely slow and steady hoping AMS would continue to stay away. The route finding on the hike from UBSL to Iceberg was again straight forward, but the trail was pretty steep. I believe it took us a 1:10 to get to Iceberg where we found a friendly family of four packing up camp who had summitted the day before. We rested and hydrated for about 40 minutes and headed up the 3rd class chute to the left of the main MR gully. I was surprised to see a fair amount of snow in the lower portion of the main gully, so going left seemed to be the way. As we made our way up the chute on the left we reached what appeared to be a bit of a dead end. I thought I remembered the route traversed right at some point to join the main chute, so I had Rob stay put while I scrambled right to check it out. I could tell this wasn’t correct so I starting traversing back left about the time “Jim F” came up to us moving fast. Jim quickly showed me the obvious line, which was just 5’ right of the dead end and straight up on some fun low angle rock ribs and cracks. The line was very obvious and I was not quite sure why I thought the route traversed all the way to the main gully at this point? As Jim passed us he said “you guys feel free to pass me if you want”. Rob and I chuckled Jim was moving pretty fast, so that clearly wasn’t going to happen. Since we were going to be directly behind Jim, I knew we should probably stay put for a while to stay out of any rock fall. However, as I watched Jim’s efficient style I could tell this wasn’t his first rodeo, so I had a feeling this guy knew what he was doing and we would be okay. We could see Jim up a ways in front of us the entire time, but the man never so much as dropped a pebble on us. Once we transitioned into the main chute/gully, we got our first taste of an old fashion Sierra scree beat down. We tried to hug the left wall as much as we could, but there is no way to completely avoid the scree and we found this part of the route to be the hardest and least enjoyable. We reached the notch to find Jim resting and looking somewhat concerned at the amount of ice on the final 400’. Jim explained that it looked to be a little worse than normal for this time of year due to the previous night’s snow/hail/sleet/rain. Jim had obviously done the route many times, so if this guy was a bit concerned, I certainly was with my 17-year-old son in tow. Jim walked over to the base of the chute to take a closer look and said he thought that ice could still be avoided. We agreed to all three go together. I told Rob that he and I were going to back off if at any time I didn’t feel good about the ice situation or the ability to down climb what we were coming up. Clearly Rob let me know that he wanted no part of bailing within 400’ of the summit, but I told him that was the way it was going to be if I felt it was the least bit sketchy at any point. His safety was far more important than the summit. As it turns out, we could pretty much avoid 99% of the ice and found that once we traversed right and got past the ice, it was just picking your way up the path of least resistance up the easy/enjoyable climbing on the right side of the chute. I am not a very emotional guy, but I have to say I was close to letting my emotions get the best of me as I topped out with my son on his first real mountain. Jim also understood the moment and turned and said something really eloquent and profound to Rob. I was a bit choked up and think I could only get out a short and bit mumbled, “I am proud of you son”. To see the young man who seemingly just yesterday was my little boy stand on top of Whitney and take in the sights was something I will never forget. Words can’t describe how proud I was to share that moment with him. I believe it was around 10:15 when we signed the register, took a couple of photos, and enjoyed the sun on top for about 45 minutes. We said good-bye to our new friend Jim as he was heading down the MT on a long day loop, while Rob and I went back and down climbed the final 400’. The down climbing was easy if you are accustomed to down climbing, though we did have to wander around just a bit to make sure we avoided the ice.

It seems like I often have some kind of mini-epic moment when I am in the mountains, and today was no exception. About ¼ down the scree gulley, Rob said “Dad, I have a hole in my shoe and I am getting rocks inside it”. I thought…yeah right; you don’t have a hole in your shoe. I then hear Rob slip a little and fall on his butt. I playfully asked him what his problem was and he immediately blamed the shoe. I turned around to notice that side of Rob’s left shoe, (actually an old pair of my approach shoes), had completely de-laminated and split down the entire length of his shoe revealing a 2” wide gap of exposed insole and sock. Just perfect….the shoe was toast and we had a long way to go! I grabbed my handy duct tape I always keep wrapped around my Advil container and did my best to repair the shoe trying to hold the thing together by sort of splinting it with the scree gaiter and duct tape. Since I had no idea how long this amateur repair job would hold, and how the duct tape might affect the friction properties of the shoe, I swapped shoes with Rob. We made it back to UBSL, packed up tent and bags, and arrived back at the TH about 5:00PM just about the time my left shoe complete disintegrated. As per numerous recommendations from the board, we finished the trip with two fantastic cheeseburgers, and a couple of cold beverages for Dad from the Portal Store. We also got to thank Doug Sr. for the route beta and great grub. The crux of the day was then the four-hour drive back to Vegas that night.
Again, thanks to all for their helpful advice, especially Jim F, Bob R, Bulldog, and Doug Sr. What a great father-son bonding experience for this 48 year old and his 17-year-old son! We had a great time and will be back, (with new shoes). I will probably lose my big toe nail on my left foot due to wearing the blown out shoes down the mountain, but it was well worth it.

Cautionary note to other first timers on the MR: As Doug warns in his book and many others do on the boards, the MR is not really “easy” or a beginner’s route. While we were clearly first timers on Whitney, back in “my day” I used to climb a bunch, lead trad, etc. Rob was never a serious climber, but has taken several weekend climbing trips with me over the years to Southeastern crags, so we were both comfortable with the exposure and the scrambling. There is nothing on the route that requires more than just proficient scrambling skills, but there are many places where a fall is just simply not an option. If the exposure on the ledges bothers you, I would strongly advise you to turn around as the exposure on the final 400’ and even in the 3rd class chute to the left of the main gully are both considerably greater on more difficult terrain. As most know, down climbing is always significantly harder than heading up, so don’t make a move you can’t reverse. This is especially important if you plan to come back down the final 400’ and the MR like we did. It is all easy, you just can’t blow it! We chose to wear helmets in the main gully and up the final 400’, as I read about a recent and fairly serious rock fall event on the MR. If you are comfortable with 3rd class scrambling on “no fall” and a bit exposed terrain, can handle off trail navigation, and don’t mind gaining the same 6,150’ of elevation in 1/3 the distance of the main trail, (read steep)….go for it! With the exception of the scree gully from hell with a buggered up shoe, it was a great route and experience!

I will never forget my boy’s first real mountain and the experience we shared together. He was strong, fit, solid as a rock, and the best climbing partner I could have asked for. I have attached a link to a few pitiful photos below, (I am apparently a better shoe fixer than photographer). Interesting….when we left for the trip, I am pretty sure I was about ½” taller than Rob. As you can see the photos seem to show that he is now over 6’1” and appears to be about a 1/4” taller than I am. I thought he must be standing on a rock, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. What the heck do you guys have in that Sierra water? I guess the trip turned my boy into even more of a man.

Kent Williams
Maitland, FL

(hopefully this link works)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53010181@N04/sets/72157624599411735/with/4891622922/

Kent, it was a pleasure corresponding with you before your trip, and I'm really happy you and Rob had such a successful, memorable climb. Obviously, the MR permit was meant to be for you guys! Crossing the country from the flattest of lands to summit the highest peak in the lower 48 by the MR, on short acclimation - dude, you both have a lot to be proud of!

Out of curiosity, did "Jim F" - who was obviously no stranger to the mountain and moved prettydamnquick - wear a blue cap with a particular reptile logo on it? You being an Auburn Tiger, I warned you in advance about certain Gators haunting the Sierra; this one sounds very familiar . . .

Congrats again on a great trip. You've now experienced the magic of the Eastern Sierra and I can promise you that you'll be back faster than you think. It gets in your blood, and soon your life becomes a 350-day bookend around those two weeks each year spent along 395. Give me a shout next biztrip to the ATL and we'll meet up for a brew - and discuss your woeful lack of photography on one of the best mountains around!

Hi Kent and Rob nice talking with you before and after the climb, I was sure when you started up that you had done enough research to make the trip . The trip will be the start of many more I hope. Thanks Doug

Kent and Rob,

Meeting you fellows on August 9 definitely enhanced my enjoyment of that day on the Mountain. It was a privilege to join forces with two fellows who had superbly researched and prepared for the outing, were in great physical condition, and were also gentlemen.

Surely, you will come back again to the High Sierras of California. Many of us out here are repeatedly drawn to the Whitney region, not only for the splendors and challenges of the area, but also by the nice owners of the Portal Store and by the many helpful contributors on the Message Board. All of these forces create positive energy and bring good vibes to the Mountain experience.

Your interesting account of using duct tape to rescue footware was not the first account of this type this year. As I recall, in the spring some fellow lost his boot on the final 400' chute. (The boot apparently ended up down at the lakes.)He then crafted a "shoe" out of aluminum foil and duct tape and then reportedly made it to the summit, signed in, and then made it out to the TH.


Bulldog34,

Sorry to disappoint. But like the Williams, I am also a Tiger, but from a different conference, the Princeton Tigers. I also favor strongly the UCLA Bruins (where I spent many wonderful years after Princeton).

Enjoy the remainder of the summer and good luck to Rob in his Senior year.

Jim

Congratulations, Kent and Rob! Thanks for the fantastic trip report. You've inspired me - I can't wait until I can take my son (only 4 months old now) on a Mt. Whitney trip!

Best wishes!

I completed my first Whitney ascent on August 2, 2010. I’d like to contribute a bit to the knowledge base that was so helpful in my own preparations.

About me: late thirties, long history of Sierra hiking and backpacking going back many years, but only 1-2 trips per year lately. I think I’m in OK shape, although I could afford to lose 10-15 lbs. I ride bikes quite a bit (road and mountain) and like to hike and fish. Not a health nut, but I love being outdoors.

Our group consisted of 11 people of various ages and backgrounds who had never hiked together before. I felt this dynamic was a bit of a wild card, but I was prepared to be self-sufficient, and knew that one is never truly alone on the Whitney Main Trail.

The trip structure was, I thought, ideal: one night at the portal, one night at Outpost Camp, and two nights at Trail Camp, with the summit day in between. I thought this allowed for maximum acclimatization time (within reason), as well as time to enjoy the Sierra atmosphere a bit.

The trip began with a bit of unwanted drama, as a transmission seal on my van failed about eight miles north of Bridgeport. A very generous couple gave us (4) a ride to Bridgeport, where I arranged to have the car towed to Gardnerville and we made contact with other members of our party to pick us up in Bridgeport. After several hours (and $225 for the tow, ouch!) we were eating pizza in Lone Pine and looking forward to a great weekend. I’d deal with the car after the trip.

We finally rolled into Whitney Portal at 2230, shooed the bears out of the way, and crashed out for the night. Saturday morning I had 1/8th of a ridiculous pancake and we were on the trail by about 0930.

I think that first day was a serious wake-up call for many in the group, some of which had never backpacked before. We immediately stratified on the trail, and by the cutoff to Lone Pine Lake we were somehow three hours apart between first and last hiker. I attribute that to typical first-day heavy feet, when the pack is heavy, the body is not yet conditioned, and it’s your first day working at elevation. I’m glad we only planned on camping at Outpost Camp, rather than pushing through to Trail Camp. As it was, we didn’t get into Outpost until after 3 PM.

I had a restful night at Outpost Camp, saddled up about 0830 the next morning, and was having lunch in Trail Camp by 1130. Trailside Meadow was a beautiful stop along the way, with wildflowers still in bloom. That afternoon I stayed busy by hiking up Wotan’s Throne from the back side, a fun and interesting scramble. I felt I got a good workout without becoming over-extended for the main event the next day.

The plan for summit day was for the main party to depart Trail Camp by 0600. My personal plan was to leave by 0700 since I had been hiking strong, and I expected to pass them on the switchbacks. Everyone was still pulling it together at about 0700, so I struck out on my own as planned and made Trail Crest by 0900. The topo maps had not prepared me for the view from Trail Crest. I almost shed a tear at the beauty looking out into Sequoia/King’s Canyon. It was really a nice pick-me-up after the switchbacks.

The traverse along the ridge was a highlight of the weekend. I found the trail quite interesting in terms of terrain, and the views through the ‘windows’ and off to the west were superb. I didn’t pause for many pictures because I knew I’d have time on the way back. Before long, the summit hut was in sight, and then there I was, signing the summit register.

I spent about an hour on the summit before I started feeling a bit nauseous, so I departed and felt better almost immediately. Four others of my party had arrived while I was there, and I passed six more on the way down. In all, 9 of our party (out of 11) made the summit. The two that turned back did not feel comfortable with the footing and exposure on the traverse north of Trail Crest.

The descent to trail camp was uneventful, but it felt damn good to soak my feet in the creek. One other guy and I decided to hike out and hit the road, since he had to be at work on Tuesday and I had to deal with my van. So we pounded out the six miles to portal in about 2.5 hours. My legs were cooked by the end. We wolfed down a burger and hit the road.

I feel there were some key areas that allowed me to summit as planned with no issues whatsoever. Here’s how I see it:

Gear: I’ve backpacked enough to know what I need on a short, 2-3 night trip, and I field-tested the new pieces I bought in the weeks leading up to the trip. The key acquisition was a new backpack, which I took up Mt. Tallac in Tahoe, decided I didn’t like it, and exchanged it for another which I then field-tested on Mt. Judah. In short, I thought carefully about my gear, and didn’t take the chance that a key piece of gear (such as a backpack) might leave me hurting or let me down. My pack was still way too heavy, though, at 45 lbs before water. Need to invest in lighter sleeping bag and tent.

Physical preparation: Besides two shakedown hikes at moderate elevations, I didn’t do any specific training for Mt. Whitney. I ride bikes a lot, and I think that cardiovascular base made the difference for me. The only other guy on the trip who looked strong the whole way was also a bike rider.

Acclimation to elevation: I think spending one full night at Portal, and two nights on the trail was ideal. I don’t know how the day-hikers do it all in one day.

Chemistry: Have you heard about the little miracle called Diamox? I took 250 mg daily in time-release form, and aside from very minor manifestations of the typical side effects it worked like a charm. Four other members of our party also took it. I'm definitely a fan.

Aside from having to part with another $1,200 and a return trip to Gardnerville to get my car fixed, I had a spectacular trip. And to the person who swiped a can of Fat Tire from my duct-taped and clearly labeled cooler in the portal bear box…you’re welcome!

Jim: Thanks for the kind words. We very much enjoyed your company and appreciate you "sharing the moment with us". I wish I could have bought you a beverage at the Portal store afterwards. Speaking of the store; Doug thanks and you are certainly one who makes the Whitney experience so special! TD Morgan: thank you and you might want to give you boy another few months, but I have no doubt you will share in this experience one day. Neil, congratulations to you too!