Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board To Mark and Steve from Iowa June 13.

I know of no other hikers to do what you did on Monday, June 13. Amazing.

I witnessed history in the making. You two are hiking legends! At first I thought you two were nuts and you couldn't be serious, but did you ever prove me wrong.

To reach the summit and return safely via the snow chute without the aid of crampons, ice axe, gaiters, trekking poles is truly a remarkable feat while dressed in denim, shorts and sweat pants, boots, wooden staffs, layered cotton clothing, and boots without acclimating! Incredible. You earned my respect.

And thank you for the update on my two friends. I am glad all of you returned safely.

It is indeed an honor to know people still do it the old-fashioned way. It is too bad your uncle couldn't join you. Imagine what a story that would be.

John Muir would have been proud.

To do something based on incredibly poor judgement and/or ignorance does not "Make history"... it merely makes you lucky this time. Sounds like idiocy to me.

Great job. Back to the good old days of mountaineering. Too many technical, snobby, pontificating REI greeters out there who spend too much time agonizing over gear selection to avoid grit and sweat on the mountain. Willi would be proud.

I had two buddies do the same thing a few years back.They were from Iowa.
must be something in the water there
They made it up & down in 12 hours.
Oh by the way some times you have to do some crazy stuff.
The thrill of victory ya know............