Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Missing friend

Hi All,

A friend (JJ Stewart) of a friend is part of a party of five that's about 24 hours overdue for returning from an attempt on Whitney. According to what we've been able to determine from the sheriff's office, one of them (not JJ) was airlifted off the mountain yesterday for altitude sickness; we don't have any info on the other four. (In particular, we don't know if they were headed up or down.) Has anyone run into them? Does anyone have any beta on what's going on with this group?

Thanks,
Bill

I do not have any data but will try to keep the discussion going.

From your description, any number of things could have happened. It might help if you could describe their intentions. When did the group start their hike? Could they have stayed an extra day at lower elevations because of the weather? Did they take winter mountaineering gear (ice axe and crampons) with them? In other words, what data are you using to base the 24 hours overdue on (since they could have been still going up)?

Hi The group walked out about an hour ago . they have called home and will head out shortly. Thanks Doug

Great news! Doug, your insight to set up the WPS web-site many years ago was ingenious. To be able to ease a friend or family member's mind is one of the many great assets of the WPSMB. You're the best, Doug!

MC

Thanks everyone for the updates!! We received word late Friday night that they made it down safe and sound.

Great. Is there any chance we could get a trip report from one of them when things get settled down? I am sure that some of us us would like to learn more what happened.

Isn't this a TR from one of them?

Yes it is. I did not read down that far in the new posts. Thanks for adding the link to this thread.

I'm glad everyone made it down.

The old caveat that "illness at altitude is altitude illness until proven otherwise" may need evaluation in this case.

I read the TR. Some of us here like to understand medical events on the mountain. Anyone please clarify. This will help others learn from these experiences. Thanks. Harvey


(A) "sweating, shaking, and unresponsive" - the first of these two do not sound like AMS (which of course could have occurred with only one night of acclimatization at the Portal), and the third symptom would not have been simple AMS but rapidly progressive HACE. Seems very unlikely. An alternative diagnosis of hypothermia might explain shaking and unresponsiveness, but not sweating. What was the diagnosis or diagnoses?

(B) was Adam helicoptered out, or walked out with SAR? Did any of his party accompany him? And how low an altitude was he taken to before he recovered?

(C) if Adam met you at Portal, then it sounds like he recovered quickly. This can happen with descent and AMS, even HACE, and of course other transient diagnoses. Did he receive medical examination after his rescue? If so, what was the diagnosis?

Hey whats up? This is Adam from the group. Just thought i would put in an update on my condition on the mountain. The whole day up to Iceberg lake I was feeling great. It wasn't till after we set up our tents that a small head ache set in. I decided to climb into the tent and lay down and rest. It had been a long 10 and a half hour hike up to that point. I figured i was just exhausted and dehydrated at that point and some rest would do me good. About and hour or so later, i woke up and the headache was intense. Any time i moved i felt like it was going to vomit and any sounds made my head pound even worse. I wish i could have been able to get up and start heading down to a lower elevation but it was just impossible to do anything. The next morning when SAR arrived the headache was gone, and i was feeling somewhat better, it then just felt more like some flu symptoms, except when i walked to get some water from the lake, that little 15 minute trip and i was out of breathe and my legs were like had no strength. After flying out i was checked out at Lone Pine Airport, and all was fine. I returned to the portal to wait for my friends to return.

Thanks to Doug and everyone at the portal store for their warm hospitality and stories while i waited for everyone. Although it was a failed attempt at the summit for me, everyone at the portal made it still an enjoyable time. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon.

Thanks,
Adam

Special thanks to the Inyo SAR members Tim and Aaron, and Corporal Terry Waterbury.

Hey Adam,

I am happy to hear that you are feeling well. My friends and I met you at the portal on Friday morning (we were in the really big white truck (3 women and one man)). You mentioned taking a day hike to Lone Pine Lake since you were feeling better.

We didn't see you up there and I was just curious if you hung out at the van and rested. I hope so....

Take Care,
Sandyann