Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Any Interest In Thor Group Climb Again In October?

Weather was actually a blessing, rather than a curse today. The clouds spit at us a few times and it was raining pretty hard as we headed home, but it was a good day. .................Dug'll have more to say. There'll be plenty of photos later.

Here's what I do when I don't feel like climbing:




Near the start of the Mountaineer's Route:


Gary, ..........Dug, Brad, Brandon (I did remember in the middle of the night!) , Mike



On the Elephant Ear.



Heard one thumper in the afternoon down Langley way.



B-boy Mike on the summit of Thor Peak.



Gotta put in a photo of Whitney!


The rest of my photos are here.

I hope Doug and Earlene had a good time celebrating their anniversary!

It was a GREAT day to be in the Whitney Zone! A huge thanks to Richard for putting it together and leading it. There's no words I can say that will accurately describe to you much I appreciate it. THANK YOU.

Our trip started Saturday morning when Brad, my daughter’s boyfriend drove up from San Diego. This was the first chance to really "meet" him and being a young sailor I figured he was up to the challenge. He did not disappoint.

Also making the trip was Mike's good friend Jordan, one of our Scout Troop's strongest hikers. He had me a little concerned a few times, but I think he was sandbagging it since he hit the top with everyone else and did not complain all day.

Jordan has never been higher than San J's 10,800 summit and I don't think Brad get's higher than 80 feet much (he works the Nimitz’s flight deck).

Me and the birthday boy rounded out the group of Thor rookies.

Saturday at the suggestion of my friend Thor, we tried to pull fish out of Diaz Lake. Nothing was biting so Mike really wanted to pull something, anything out of the Portal pond. He has tried so many times and has had equipment problems or just bad luck. Saturday he pulled three which he proudly gave to Laura who was in the Zone with Jack and Betsy.

GigaMike was also in the area planning on going with us today, but Richard said he headed for home feeling under the weather. Hope you get well soon Mike!

When we did the MR earlier the E Ledges were all in the dark. I really wanted to see everything in the daylight so Richard set a 0700 start time.

We met up with Gary at the trailhead who hiked with us on the Candlelight hike. Great seeing him again. Just after 0700 we started up the trail with the birthday boy leading. After a 1/2 hour or so Gary dropped out saying he was having an off day. I hope we weren't setting too fast of a pace, we were racing the storm. Richard promised to hike Thor with him again next season.

We went a slightly different way (not that I could tell since it was dark last time) so we could try out the Elephant Ear. We passed through there with no problems and continued up making decent time for the rookie crew we had.

At Lower Boy Scout Lake Richard and Mike decided to switch our route from the Smiley Face to the Secret Route. If you ask me, they can keep it a secret. I didn't have much fun on that section and could tell that I have been scouting and doing other things except hiking ever since I went into Gambler's. It sure got my heart pumping.

Richard said that route would give us more bail out options in case the weather hit, but I think him and Mike really like to see a fat sailor working hard.

Jordon and Brad were feeling the altitude some so we took plenty of breathers. We were soon headed right at the peak with Richard leading Mike and Brad while I helped pace Jordon. The J-Dog got his second wind and the pacing soon helped him catch the group just as the snow started. It soon cleared for us as we hit the summit and touch the block. After signing in, taking pics and eating some all were ready to head for a burger.

I don't remember the name of the route we took down, but it doesn't mess around. It's straight down and dumps you off on the MT below LPL. Since it was raining/snowing we skipped the slabs variation but hit the old trail at the sign.

Doug and Earlean were off enjoying their special day, but those crazy climbing kids took great care of us at the store. After burgers (and Mike's double hotdog order) Richard brought out a birthday present. The boy received his first ice axe! I think that means Richard considers him a mountaineer now. With a little training I think he'll be fine in the snow...................................................DUG

My pics are here (Brad's are at the end):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30467211@N04/sets/72157625065518071/

Richard,

Congrats on leading a good trip and introducing others to the mountains. I hope you will do this trip again. All the Class 3 scrambling sounds like fun - especially when you're with somebody who knows what they're doing.

Hopefully I won't have a schedule conflict next time.

...iPlod

Richard I've seen allot of people, I mean allot of people over the years learning the skills from other mountaineers but very few actually give back. Kudos to you just this year alone I've seen you take allot of newbies up the mountain.....Stay healthy my little Whitney will be ready in another 8-10 years....

YetiDude.

Thanks.

There are three climbs on the schedule for next year (two without a fixed date yet, ask ..........Dug and Gary):

April Fool's Day, 2011 - The 2nd Annual Culling The Rookies MR Climb, as a day-climb, if conditions permit.

Gambler's Special Peak with Mike and .......Dug sometime in April or May.

Mt. Whitney MR with Gary sometime in the middle of summer.

So ...............Dug, are you going to change your opinion about heading out in the snow? That route you didn't like on Sunday is a WHOLE LOT EASIER when it's got a nice firm coating of snow on it. Maybe we can do a few days up the NF next Spring - Gambler's as a slog because of its south-facing aspect and the Secret Route as a snow climb.

Thanks Jeff. You know, I've heard rumors that you still haven't been up the MR to the top (I know I've seen you up there). Pick a date. It'a about time! (I need excuses to head up there since I've sworn off doing Whitney any more.)

Congratulations that you had a successful trip and "almost" missed the rain.
Even though I didn't climb to the peak in person, I was there in spirit.
Mike, again happy birthday, and if all young adults were like you and your friends, our country would have nothing to worry about.

Richard, I look forward to participating in many hikes next year...Thank you for being such a generous spirit.

gary
______________________________________________________________

It may be when we no longer know what to do,
we have come to our real work,
and that when we no longer know which way to go,
we have begun our real journey.

--Wendell Berry

Gary - Mike was very happy he got some snow and rain on his hike. The way it came at us near the top yet quit so we could enjoy the views and eat made me wonder if Richard had somehow planned it.

Richard - Mike has the axe (thank again) and is itching to use it. I might be talked into "trying" some snow stuff. I just need a few grand worth of gear for the two of us, right?

How much "easier" is Lone Pine Peak with snow?.

Oh and let's not forget that OV-WP hasn't been "day hiked" yet. I really need to make up for being a mileage slacker this year.................................................DUG

Wow, now I'm capable of predicting moment-by-moment weather? We did get lucky. If that weather was moving in just a bit faster, we would probably be drenched by the time we got down to the Portal.

Two sets of crampons, one more axe, two sets of poles, maybe two helmets (just kidding KW)... not outrageously (sp?) expensive. The Portal Store sells most of this stuff at really good prices. (That'll be another free burger for me.)

Lone Pine peak with snow is a heck of a lot easier than the slog it becomes in summer. (Speaking of the standard route via Meysan.)

I think we've beat the OV-WP trek to death. Any 24 hour period makes it a day, but we didn't finish it under 24, so I guess I'd have to go back if I really wanted to finish it in a day, but I don't think I want to.