9th visit, 4th summit
It was a great weekend to get high in the Sierras. My permit was for Sunday so I took an extra day off and visited Horseshoe Meadows on Friday and Lamarck Lake on Saturday for some acclimization. Picked up a backpacker on the way back from North Lake and gave him a ride back to his car at Taboose Pass trailhead, then met my brother-in-law for pasta dinner at the Pizza Factory in Lone Pine. The full moon mostly ruined the Perseid meteor showers, but I saw a few streaks acrosss the early morning skies.
Set my alarm for 3:15 Sunday morning, but somehow took 45 minutes to eat and pack up my campsite in the Alabama Hills. I finally got on the trail at 4:45 after deciding the BIL wasn't going to make the early start. He caught up with me as I took a break at Trailside Meadow. We had lunch (breakfast?) at Trail Camp and then hit the switchbacks at about 9:30. About halfway up we were stopped by a Ranger asking to see our WAG bags, which I was warned about while at the Visitor Center picking up the permit. Three guys ahead of us had been turned back, apparently because they weren't carrying. Don't know if there was any additional penalty, but that's a long way to go with that result.
Got to the JMT junction in about two hours from TC, where I really needed my Snickers Almond bar break. There is a snowfield on the southwest flank of Whitney, only about 75 yards long and knee-deep. It was slushy when we passed through but fortunately no post-holing. Reached the summit at about 1:00, and spent 45 minutes enjoying the 50-degree weather and great views. We were also buzzed by a glider a few times, this guy was just shooting straight up the North side! I really wanted to get back by 7:30 so I could get a burger, so we tried to make some time going down. After short breaks at Trail Camp and just below Outpost, we walked through the wood structure at 7:35. The BIL had to leave so he could work on Monday, but I really enjoyed the burger, fries and Sierra Nevada. I met a couple that had been out for 12 days from Kennedy Meadows so gave them a ride back to the Dow. Briefly debated more food at McD but chose to get some sleep instead.
I frequently debate with myself if I want to come back again, but after this trip I'm already thinking about another one. Maybe next time I'll come in from the West - gotta see what permits are available and schedule a week off!
Unfortunately my freshly-charged camera battery gave up before reaching the top so I was stuck with the iPhone for a few summit pics but couldn't take any on the way down. A few shots from the weekend are below.
Saw this cool display of color on the Lamarck Lakes trail.
Sunset over Whitney on Friday night.
A little alpenglow in the morning.
Trailside Meadow, my favorite place to hang out on the trail. Flowers blooming too!
Clear day looking to the West.
The snowfield near the summit, easily negotiated now.
