Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board fatalities and injuries

Just being my cranky self:

"A 3rd and 4th point of BALANCE" is a croc of...

Trekking poles ARE used (designed) to aid in the ascent of a trail, and to relieve pressure on the knees during a descent.

I enjoy poles for the help ascending and for my knees descending (although, there must be another trick to it, cause my knees really hurt after yesterday's hike!) and they've sure helped me get out of a few good falls I would've had.

Here's a word of advice. If you are on the summit during a lightning storm do not go into the summit cabin. There is a sign there saying not to, but people have been known to do it. Then lightning hits the metal roof and everyone inside is electrocuted.

sparky, i thought i read the house on the summit is safer, now-that it got grounded or something?

It is not true that everyone inside the hut will be electrocuted if lightning strikes. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with a metal roof, and the one on the hut was grounded sometime after the 1990 death.

The subject has been discussed here recently:

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002102

In that thread, Bob R reminded us of an earlier, more thorough discussion here:

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000974

seems wierd that they would they leave the sign up if it is safe.

It seems weird indeed that one is shooed away from such a well wired place.

But this is a litigious society -- one takes a big chance declaring any place safe.