Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trip report from 3 hens and 2 hot chicks

Our party consisted of three 60 year old plus ladies, and two who were 37 and 44. Last year we were playing golf in Lone Pine with our husbands and were inspired by the view of the mountains. None of our group had much backpacking experience. Our husbands "raised their eyebrows" at the idea of our climbing Mt. Whitney. But,the more we talked about it, the more determined we became. Four of the five of us are teachers. And, as teachers will, we began researching and planning. We discovered this site and began following it on a daily basis. In early May, we took a practice walk to Lone Pine Lake. On the trail, we hit the jackpot. We ran into Moosetracks! Thank you, Laura, for the encouragement and important tips. We began training. We applied for and received our permits for 7/21 thru 7/23. Our husbands were becoming believers. Our attempt began at 7AM on the 21st. A few miles into the trip, we kept asking each other "what were we thinking". I won't bore the users of this site with the details of our struggles. I will tell you that it took us 12 hours to get to our camp site at Consultation Lake. The altitude, the 35 pound packs, and steepness of the trail took its toll on the 3 of us who have either qualified for Medicare or are close to it. Our younger companions could have gone much faster, but stayed close and offered encouragement. A fitful night's sleep on hard ground and we were back on the trail at 7:30AM. Without the heavy packs, we felt better and made good time at first. The altitude and steepness began to take charge and we slowed with lots of rest stops. We were now moving in slow motion, but at no time did any of us feel we were in jeopardy, health wise. Relief and total elation came to us at 2:30PM. We all made it to the top of Mt. Whitney.

A few observations:

Standing on the top of the 48 states and taking in the view on a perfect day is something none of us will ever forget.

Conditioning and preparing for the effects of altitude is of prime importance, especially if you have enjoyed 60 plus years of living.

People who make this attempt are of the highest quality as human beings. Everyone we encountered was delightful in every way. I think we might have been the oldest group on the mountain and it was encouraging to encounter the steady stream of polite and committed young people. Thanks to those who gave us congratulations as we passed Trail Camp on the way down.

One really neat scene were of the climbers coming up the mountain on the other side of the summit. We marveled at the ropes and pulleys they used to get to the top...and we thought what we did took guts!!!! More wonderful people who took the time to talk to us when they reached the top.

We all agreed that the climb was the most physically, emotionally, and mentally challenging thing we have ever done. Will we ever do it again? Maybe it's like having a baby....we need time to forget how hard this was before we could answer that question!

I thank my sister climbers, Vernie, Lenore, Heidi and Shirley for making this the experience of a lifetime.

Darlene

now that's a lot to cluck about!

congratulations to all of you!

Now this is a well deserved big time congratulations!!! I enjoyed the part where you were viewing the mountains from the Lone Pine golf course and a light bulb went off! I hope you will post some photos or direct us to a site for viewing. Well done ladies!

MC

Congratulations, ladies! Now that you've hit the top of the 48 conterminous states, how about working on the other 47? Look up the Highpointers Club WWW site or read some of the reports under "highpointing" on my WWW site.

I was 50 when Nathan and I did Whitney in 2001 (do the math) and I'm still at it. We'll be down in AZ come September to hike up to the top of Humphreys Peak, the AZ highpoint. I even managed to follow along with a crew of 16-19-year-olds for 100 miles out at Philmont Scout Ranch in NM last summer, so I may be able to keep up the craziness for at least a few more years.

Again, congrats, and I hope now you're hooked on the mountains!

O.K. MC, Picture this. You're teeing off on #3/12 at the course. You hit a huge snap hook that wraps around that tree on the left. The ball picks up velosity and clears 395 by a mile. Your husband laughs at you and you jog across the highway and find the ball in an open flat of sand. As you line up the shot, you are so inspired by the view of Mt. Whitney that you launch a perfect 3 wood over 395 to the green. (yes, I know it was OB, but I couldn't help myself) We were also inspired by the view from the Visitor's Center.

Congratulations !!! What a great story. Where there is a will there is a way. I love the part about being teachers who immediately set upon researching and then training. It must have been your destiny evidenced by running into Laura AKA Moosetracks. That is the motherlode of "female can do".

Thank you for the trip report and I do hope you post pix! I'm currently in "training mode". I told my cousin about this post and he said that the last time he was up at the Whitney summit, there was also a 94 y/o man. Just goes to show that age doesn't have to keep you from achieving your dreams.

LOVE IT!

Darlene and all! CONGRATULATIONS!! Of course I remember running into you all a few months ago (5-2-08 to be exact!):



I am so proud of all of you for pursuing your dream, and it sounds like you hit the jackpot: you LOVED every minute of it! The summit is just the cherry on top. I'm glad if I was able to offer some encouragement and maybe a tip or two, but it was each of you that put it all together for yourselves. Own two feet and all, you know...

This is just another example of how heading up is more than just a hike. Congratulations again!!

-Laura

Darlene, you ladies are inspiring! I'm sure your experience will help many others. 14,497-plus congratulations!

I spend most of my time lurking, but just had to pipe in on this one. Thanks for an inspiring report! Congratulations on your accomplishment!

We now know Laura's secret: She has moved on to much more vigorous training. Note in the picture: she does her climbing in a squat, with those really cute short hiking poles. That's REALLY got to work the legs!

Damn! Now we can never say that Ken doesn't know squat.

Rimshot!

Sometimes I just get tired of standing in the back row with all the tall folks...

Note the quads, people. The girl is nuthin' but quads.

Congrats again, ladies! Y'all ROCK!!

-L

From another old "hen": Darlene, I'm sorry I didn't have the privilege of meeting you, or the 2 (daughter/daughter-in-law) chicks. But my husband & I have been totally impressed with the 2 "hens" living in our area, who kept us company on many a training run as we headed up & over the local hills nearly every evening with our backpacks. Vernie & Leanor...your enthusiasm & determination have been greatly appreciated, & you really made all those long walks & local hikes actually seem like fun. We're just sorry our permits didn't coincide, so we could have done the mountain together. We had no doubt in our minds that you would all be successful. And, to those 2 chicks: you have no idea how much your help & support meant to your mother hens!

Although this ole' hen just chalked up her 16th summit on July 11, in time for her 64th birthday, you need to know...it's folks like you & your enthusiastic group who keep us coming back year after year.

Congratulations to all of you!! Hope to see ya next year! (Yeah, like having babies, you'll be ready to do it again one of these days!)

Thank you for sharing this! Very enjoyable to read & congratulations to you all. Nice to read about other ladies enjoying themselvs out in the wilds.
Thank you again

I'm really inspired by what you ladies have done. I know you had to be "struggling" up the Mountain, but you persevered. My brother and I (60yo) are still in training and hope to set a date soon to make our attempt. When I start to feel the exhaustion from the hike I will think of you guys and how you overcame .....I know the inspiration will push me to the top ! Thanks for posting and see you on the trail ....

Great to hear that you did your research. Over the years, I have run into a number of "hot chicks" (using your terminology) who have "always wanted to hike to the top of Whitney" (like they were on some sort of crusade). My first three day hikes were with some of them, and each trip somebody had trouble coming down (after pushing themselves). My third trip was my first trip down in daylight. Of course, I try to discourage people who do not hike uphill regularly from doing Whitney as a day hike and point to those past experiences.

If you are like most people, you probably will want to go back next year and try something different. The first time up you have to deal with a lot of information, and, as educators, you know that not everything will stick in your brain (though reading this message board will help). Just beware of any crusaders who come in out of the woodwork (I guess I am on a countercrusade myself ).