Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board First Trip Report: 8/2-8/3

Hi all,

Thanks to you all for answering questions before I and some friends did our first trip to the Whitney Summit.

8/1
4:00 PM - Drove from San Diego to Portal Motel in Lone Pine. $80/night. Picked up hike permit from Ranger Station drop box around 10:00 PM.

8/2
5:30 AM - Woke, showered, ate at High Sierra Cafe. Had an excellent bean and chili omelet.
7:30 AM - Drove to Portal Store, rented bear canisters (2 canisters for 4 people) and started climb.
1:00 PM - Got to Trail Camp and setup tents in rain. The clouds got thick fast and it was much colder than expected up there. It rained/hailed/snowed but cleared up by 5pm (thank you God!). Still, a very cold night!

8/3
5:30 AM - Woke up, took 1 pack with water and snacks to Summit. Water was frozen on the path but not dangerous.
9:30 AM - Arrived at summit on clear day. AWESOME! Should have packed gloves because the socks on my hands looked stupid.
12:00 PM - Arrived at Trail Camp, packed tent, started final descent.
3:30 PM - Back at Portal Store.

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Here are the links to some pictures (I'm the one in the red bandana):

8/2
Start (elevation 8,360 ft) –
http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/IM001467.JPG
Water Crossing –
http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/IM001477.JPG
Camp at Trail Camp –
http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/IM001506.JPG

8/3
Sunrise –
http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/IM001514.JPG
Trail Crest –
http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/IM001528.JPG
"Window" –
http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/IM001540.JPG
Whitney Summit (elevation 14,496 ft) –
http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/IM001550.JPG
Waterfall –
http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/IM001603.JPG
End –
http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/IM001609.JPG

All pictures:
http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/

Next year... one day!

Don

P.S. Hello to the Huntington Beach crew.

If interested, all 148 picutres can be found at:

http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/

Can someone tell me what these pheasant like birds were?

http://web.zatyko.net:8080/pics/2003aug/whitney/IM001474.JPG

That is a female blue grouse. They are only found at elevation and are solitary, rather secretive birds. But I see them frequently while hiking, sometimes (this time of year) with chicks. The males are bigger and dark blue and will display (puff up and make a low hooting noise and prance around) if you get near them.

In past years, I have frequently encountered birders at the portal trying to go up the trail to see the elusive blue grouse. Usually, they tucker out after 30 mins. and don't see the grouse. But I've been told by birders that it's very common for experienced birders to try and go up at least to Lone Pine Lake to see the grouse. Most of them don't make it, though.

This is probably way more info than you needed to know about the blue grouse!

just below clyde's meadow is a mama grouse and her three chickies - they were there in the morning and in the evening both.

Great pictures Thank you for sharing Especially of the windows Sounds like a great trip!!

Zatyko,

Amazing how fast the weather changed on your summit day compared to the trip up. Great pictures also! I saw some pictures from two days after I was on the summit and it was cloudy with some rain, but when I was on the summit it was the same as your time at the summit. Clear and beautiful.

Matt in socal