Hi Ok so catching up on the week Betsy not only did the East Face but in the rain and came out the same day .Kurt said it was one of his wettest climbs on Whitney. Jack and Doug made the summit about 20 minutes before but headed down just before Kurt and Betsy made the summit. Doug used the new "old people shoes" and almost fell all the way down, seems like very easy on the feet but no traction on wet surfaces.
The rain that was leaving last week will leave shortly maybe just before the snow starts .
Tom will do Rattlesnake a few more times this week since he refuses to buy a jacket and weather the upper elevations with Jack and Betsy, or maybe Thor from the east side where we found some guy yelling for help some years ago.
Season is peaking now so parking is down the road every day , bears hitting all the campgrounds now in the area.
Same problems with groups not staying together and no plan on what to do when they get down. Dark is about 8:30 and sunrise about 5:30 so you will spend some time on the trail in the dark. Best to do this on the way down since the trail below Outpost to the Portal is easy to follow in the dark .
Another fatal fall this week , this is always sad , so stay focused and do not take any short cuts or false trails .
Thanks Doug
