Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trip report for August 7, 2004

I was able to join a group who had someone drop out. We summited Mt. Whitney on 8/7. Six people, ages late twenties to 49 (that was me, the oldest). Had a huge meal at the 24 hour restaurant in Lone Pine at 12:15 AM. Then to the trailhead by 1:30 AM. Summited about 10:30 AM. And finished back at the Portal by 4:30 PM. The high temp was about 62 F - low temp about 29 F. Two people had altitude sickness - all in good shape - I was fine, though the speed of my pace was about halved by the lack of oxygen for the last 2 to 3 miles. I’m going again on 9/21.

There was a woman with a brand new backpack who sat on a boulder, got up to stretch, heard a noise, and turned around to see that a very large boulder moved and pinned her backpack to the boulder she had been sitting on. Her new backpack will now be a monument for many years. It’s just before that bit of a snow field near the summit on the main trail.

Talus

Sounds great Talus!

I went with my brother and the two of us summited one week after you on Saturday August 14. We may be younger (29 & 33), but we sure weren't faster!

We camped at the portal Thursday and Friday to help acclimate and started up the trail at 1am Saturday morning. We summited just before 11am and got back to our car at 5:15pm. My younger brother, although in much better shape compare to me, had quite a bit of difficulty with the altitude, especially from trail crest to the summit and back. Interestingly, once we made it back to Lone Pine it was me complaining about sore muscles and what not and he was completely fine. Up at altitude the situation was reversed.

All in all we had a great time. We have posted a ton of pictures here:

http://wiggin.rice.edu/~jeff/whitney/thetrip/page01.html

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