Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trip Report - July 28

This was my 3rd attempt and this is my first ever report. It's long - sorry.

Left for Mammoth on Thursday, July 24 and were welcomed to the Eastern Sierra with fierce thunderstorms that evening! Storms continued every afternoon as is to be expected in late July. Did a small, short hike on Friday to just above 9000 ft. and then rested Saturday (it’s not a trip to Mammoth without a side journey to our favorite spot – Bodie Historical State Park!). On Sunday, I left my husband and three sons together with my mom in Mammoth and my dad and I headed down to Lone Pine. Checked into the lovely Dow Villa and then headed up to Portal for lunch and some inspiration. I was really interested in hearing about the weather, as that is my main concern this time of year. Doug said rain and/or hail and lightening every day in the afternoon, occurring anytime between 1 – 3 p.m. I have a very ridgid turnaround time of 1:00 no matter what the weather is – so it was obvious we had to make tracks early.

Alarm goes off at 12:30/ quick, light breakfast at High Sierra at 1:00 a.m. and we hit the trail at 2:00 a.m. with headlamps – no moon – it was as dark as dark can get! But those stars – oh my! We made very good time (for me – I am usually slow up at 1 mi/hr) and made Trail Camp by 8:00 a.m. Had a shot of gu in preparation for the switchbacks.

This was the first trip for my dad (he’s 67) and my 3rd trip (I’m 40). My first trip last August I did not make it above Trail Camp. My second trip was 3 weeks ago (yes, call me crazy) and I only made it just above Trailside Meadows. I’ve had altitude problems in the past, so this time I broke down and took Diamox. It helped me tremendously. The previous trips were overnight backpacks – which I will not ever attempt again. Even though it’s a long day, one day is the way to go.

So, I had never experienced the switchbacks. Whoever says there are ONLY 97 or 98 is lying. There are at least 130! They just go on, and on, and on. But here’s the thing – since I had never been above Trail Camp, all I have ever seen has been the east side of the mountain. I knew the Owens Valley like the back of my hand. So, you are trudging up the switchbacks and you go around yet another (big surprise) switchback and lo and behold, there is Sequoia National Park in its’ entirety – and what a magnificent sight that is! We were at Trail Crest and it is amazing! I got a second wind here and after snapping some photos we were off again. My dad was lagging behind me, but I would stop every few moments, turn around and make sure I could see him, let him catch up a little and then go on.

Now I should say that I really did not want to go on this trip. It was just too close on the heels of my last failed attempt and I really did not have it in me. But as I was trudging along, the summit comes into view, oh so clearly, and I finally thought to myself, “Oh my God – I’m gonna make it this time! It’s going to happen!” I was so happy, that I forgot to turn around for about 15 minutes! When I finally did, my dad was not in view. It is now 12:00 noon. I am ½ mile from the summit. The clouds to the west are not white, or gray, they are BLACK. And you could tell rain was falling. That was very dark too. I sat down on a rock to wait. At 12:15, 2 women we met at Trail Camp came by to let me know that my dad’s back was bothering him and they advised him to drop his pack, take some water and a jacket and continue. I could then see him. So I waited where I was to make sure he was okay. Then nothing. At 12:30, a hiker walked up and said, “You must be Carrie. Your dad’s back is really hurting. He is not going any farther, but wants you to continue and he will wait for you.”

Not okay. I hike by a code – #1) 1:00 turnaround. It was 12:30. ½ mile at 14,000 is significantly different than ½ mile at sea level. It would be at least an hour to summit (1:30) and then another hour back (2:30) – read: danger. #2) Weather: the clouds were coming – rain was a given. I knew we’d get caught, but I’d much rather be lower than higher when that happens. #3) MOST IMPORTANT: I don’t continue without my partner. It would not be responsible. If something happened to me, I’m SOL. On a side note – I had also promised 3 little boys that if it looked like thunder and lightening, I’d scram.

So – ½ mile from the summit, at 14,000 ft. – the highest and farthest I’d ever gone, the goal of a lifetime – I turned around. I felt great about my decision. I had made it to Trail Crest – I made it to the other side. It was spectacular.

It took a long time to get down. My dad’s shoes kept slipping and sliding and he slipped and fell twice(he was wearing NB trail runners – I had Lowa low hikers), so he was taking baby steps down to below the treeline. We got off the trail at 8:30 p.m. It was a long day! Much to my chagrin, my family presented me with a “I climbed Mt. Whitney” shirt. I have put off making a congratulatory purchase at the store until I really climbed the mountain. I’m a stickler for detail and I still haven’t set foot on the summit! I was planning on taking next summer off, but I have discovered that climbing Mt. Whitney is kinda like childbirth. You forget the pain after awhile. I know my fingers will be itching next February.

I have to say – I love the people on the trail. Everyone is so friendly and helpful and they really help make the experience a great one (ha! I say that now!)

Thanks for this board. It is invaluable. Keep hiking – be safe! Love you all!

HikerMom,
You ROCK.

My 11-year-old nephew, you know the one with one eye, told me yesterday if I would mind if he turned around before we summit and I told him I've already been there, don't feel guilty about it.

It was great to hear him say that he would quit while he's ahead. I tried at that point to convince him to not go at all and he insisted that he's going for sure. He was more worried about whether or not I would summit!

So on it goes. Great report, glad you had your senses with you! I'll post again after our Aug. 12 attempt.

Way to go HikerMom,
You did the RIGHT thing! .. You'll be back. I feel your pain though .. I had a 5 day Whitney approach (via New Army Pass) planned for the past year, but had to turn around after day 2 to get a group member (new to backpacking) back down safely.

Despite minor setbacks, one thing we know is:
THE MOUNTAIN WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR!

Great to hear about good decisions ... well done,
...Todd Grace...

Carrie - I don't think I've ever gained as much respect for a person after reading a post on this board as I've just gained for you.

You were so close - you know, and we know, you could have made it to the summit.

But you made the absolutely correct call. There are a lot of people out there who could not resist the urge to surge ahead, summit, and hope for the best on the way down with your dad.

You didn't know the exact condition of your dad. You didn't even know if he could make it back down without assistance. No options here - you did the right thing.

Gotta hand it to your dad, a 67 year old gentleman getting as far as he did. I'm sure a part of him feels badly for slowing you down to the point where you didn't summit this time - but much more importantly I'm sure his chest is swelling with pride to have a daughter who is loving enough and mentally strong enough to make the right decision and head back down the mountain, given his condition, and the approaching storm.

You'll make it on your next attempt - GUARANTEED!!

The mountain isn't going anywhere......

You guys give me goose bumps! Thanks for the kind words!

Congrats, HikerMom! You did good, and your turn around was right. As far as there being at least 130 of those confounded switchbacks, you are right on. There are exactly 194 when you do them both ways. And you certainly did all of them two times over, with your dad. Hopefully, we'll see you up there next year! Keep up your hiking.

Great report HikerMom! I really admire your patience, perserverence, and loyalty to your father!

Here's the good part....you still can look forward to summitting Whitney next year! It took me a couple times to do it, I learned a lot from the first attempt and then just kept training right through to the next attempt. You can start now and think how much better prepared you'll be next time...not that your weren't this time!! Enjoy!

Hiker Mom, congratulations on having a brain. The mountain will always be there, we want you to be there to climb it. My first trip to the Tetons I got weathered off the Grand. It made it that much sweeter four years later when I made it

HikerMom and other posters,

I am the hiker that informed Carrie that her Dad was not continuing. As we were both so close to the summit, and the fact that I was alone and did not have the responsibility of a family member to consider, I have had moments where I questioned my decision to turn back. HikerMom's rationale for turning around, and the concurrance of you other posters have given me all the justification I need to be at peace with my decision to also turn back. Thanks Carrie and all the rest of you.

Harold Kent

Harold - I'm glad you feel that way. It's a hard pill to swallow, but you must remember - the mountain will outlive us all. Of course I'm thinking of next year and blasted attempt #4! Good hiking to you!

Great trip report. Our other father and son team also turned back this year just before the main mountain because his son was experiencing altitude sickness and gained so much of my respect.
You have already made it in my mind. To be able to make such a good judgment call at 14,000 ft. is truly amazing.
Good weather, next year, to you on the summit!!!