Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Leaving my hiking partner on the trail

My Friend and I, who I have known for the past 15 years, have wanted to climb Mt. Whitney since we met. Short of climbing the stairs to our second floor office, we have never hiked and we have never been higher than the I-5 pass over Frasier Park. Well, we have been higher than that but that was 15 years ago in College, don’t think that counts. So, we came across this web site six months ago and started to plan our trip. We had zero hiking equipment; we did not even know that hiking equipment even existed. Anyway, we took a trip to the local REI where they gladly almost sold us everything short of a down suit. Speaking of, what is a down suit? After spending close to $1,000 on stuff than we never used on the trip, we were of to go attempt the day hike.

We arrived at the parking lot area and the first thing we both noticed is that we were out of breath just walking around the parking lot. We should have stopped at this point but we were determined to try and climb this mountain. We both weighted our packs at some type of scale at the entrance and mine was 45lbs and his was 40lbs. Again, REI sold us everything. Then again, I was carrying two of some type of bladder thing that holds 100 ounces of water, which was close to 20 pounds of weight. I recall reading somewhere that it’s important to keep yourself hydrated. We were both very uncomfortable with trying to figure out some type of water filter system that REI sold us. It had two hoses with some type filter, looked too confusing. In fact it’s still in the box in my pack.

As we headed up the trail, we both felt our hearts pounding at our chest and we could never fully catch our breath. We were about 6 hours into the hike when my partner felt, as he described, the worst headache ever. He took a couple of Vicodin but the headache never stopped and worse he started to vomit. He wanted to stop and take a break but I wanted to push on. They whole summit fever was kicking in. We were near some lake with a bunch of trees around it. Unsure of the name. So, I left him. We was good with my decision. I kept going for another 4 hours until my head was pounding and started to have some major intestinal cramping. By the way, the Ranger gave us some type of bag the called a Wag Bag. Was that some type of inside joke? At this point, I had to head back down. My dream of making the summit was gone. However, the problem was, once I got back to where I left my partner he was nowhere in sight. I searched all around this lake but no luck. I headed back down the trail hoping that I would catch him but nothing. When I got back to the car he still was nowhere in sight. I got in my car and took a six hour nap. When I awoke, still my partner was nowhere around. So, I figured he must have caught a ride and I left. I was delirious. In my mind, I figured that somehow he managed to get down the mountain and somehow maybe Santa Clause took him home. By the way, during the whole 8 hours back home, not once did I try his cell phone or call his house. I got home and fell asleep for 8 hours when I’m awakened by my phone; it’s my hiking buddy, who is very upset. He was very sick and apparently, he fell asleep somewhere around that lake. Said he woke up sometime during the night because he was shivering uncontrollably. He, in his current state of mind, could not figure out how to unpack his high dollar sleeping bag. He does not recall but he was able to hike down from the lake back to the parking lot. He met a couple who just completed the hike and was able to get a ride back down to Lone Pine where he called me. So, now I had to drive back to Lone Pine and get him. Needless to say he is still upset with me. For the life of me, I can’t figure if it was wrong to leave him. I watched that Everest show last year and they had mentioned that sometimes you have to leave them. Was I wrong in doing so? I plan on doing this trip again maybe next spring and he won’t go with me. So, I’m looking for a partner for next spring or anytime that someone wants to go.

I can't stop laughing.

You're a funny dude. Let us know when you put your gear up for sale.

OH MY GRACIOUS... I don't know if I should laugh or cry... I hate to sound cynical... but is this for real?? And if so... did you REALLY read ANYTHING on this board????

Almost as good as Tom's story of the husband leaving his wife in Pearsonville...

Oh wait, that actually happened...

It is always important to determine where one went wrong. Was there a single mistake that doomed the adventure from the start? In this case, the answer was almost certainly "yes."

Any experienced hiker knows to never purchase water that dense. We can debate whether to carry 100 fluid ounces, but that much regular water only weighs a bit over 6 pounds. I can't imagine what had to be dissolved in that water to make it weigh 20 pounds! Or was the bladder made from depleted uranium (which can explain some of the rest of the story)?

I thought that was a Johnny Cash song.

excerpt from Saturday's hike and trip report to Muah - why I was late meeting my friends:

Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nice job on the pictures - sorry I was so late.
When you find a friend stranded - you have to help - and besides it gave us a good laughable story for the trip.

For those who were not there - when I stopped at the gas station north of Ridgecrest - I saw a friend looking in dire straights.
When they stopped to gas up at 1am - she got out to use the bathroom(unbeknowst to him) - when he got back in the dog was still sitting on the passenger seat and he assumed she was still asleep in the back seat. It was not until the next gas stop 3 hours away that he realized his(or hers) error. When I stopped in at 6am for coffee and ice - I must have looked a sight for sore eyes.
Let that be a lesson to ya gents. Don't think you are being polite by letting them sleep - poke em to make sure they are there.

Oh man.. there are tears now... I can't stop laughing... is he allowed back in bed yet or still sleeping in the dog house?

Hey, troll boy---
There is no way this is a real post. "Sometimes you have to leave them"----I don't think they were talking about leaving your hiking partner stranded in the parking lot without a way/drive home.

You are a dork, and there's no way someone is this stupid. Enjoy your next hike.

Troll - pure fiction. No one can be this screwed up and incompetent and live to adulthood.

Only someone who had actually spent time in the area hiking for real would come up with such a funny almost true sounding story.

I'll go with you. You seem like a good buddy to have on a climb. How does mid January sound ?

WARNING....Don't be drinking anything when you read this.I just shot a Starbucks Doubleshot on ice out my nose.I don't know if my head hurts from laughing or brain freeze.The 2 Vicodins got me first,6 hours to Lone Pine Lake is a winner too.And leaving your buddy there is priceless.Good times with good friends.I'm going back to my heavy water.

Thor

One of the best TRs I've ever read! Great way to end the day LMAO! The only other dude that has you beaten right now is the guy who fell 25 ft cause he was talking on his cell phone coming down Whitney in the dark.

Pls, go on another trip...

What can I say. It was our first time hiking. Troll? Come on. I'm a little bigger than a troll. For the person who said or who implied that I'm not that smart, I put myself through Junior College. Every newbie makes some type of mistake. Mine, well, it was a little off the deep end. Must have been the lack of air. To the invite to Whitney in Jan, sounds fun. My friend has a pair of yak-tracks that I can wear if there is any snow.

Scary thing is I am his hiking partner. I can assure you he would never do such a thing!

I see you were too smart for the folks at REI. After all, you were not carrying crampons and an ice axe...or your pack would have been 50 lbs.

Or am I mistaken?

There shouldnt be any snow in January. Global warming, lol

heyyojay let us know when you go back to Whitney so we can have A SAR team ready. and when you pick up your Wag Bags have them include a body bag