On Thursday, October 12, 2006 I left my warm home in southern California and headed North. Donning my brand new hiking boots and borrowed backpack, I was more excited than I had been in years. You see I had been planning and preparing to backpack for months and a chance to hike Whitney fell into my lap at the last minute. I was lucky because I got to hike with a 15 year veteran of Mt Whitney. He was able to answer all my questions about this particular route, as well as teach me tried and true techniques for being safe and preparing for the worst.
The first night we arrived late in the afternoon and camped at the Whitney portal. Getting a fairly early start on Friday, we were already hearing the weather conditions for the weekend. As we hiked up to the outpost, we passed a few hikers who had turned back in anticipation of wintry weather. By the time we reached the portal it was snowing and getting cold. We found a spot under a tree to pitch our tent.
The weather continued to decline and by the morning it had snowed about 6-8 inches. It was our intentionto hike on, but several things were turning points for us. First, I was a brand new backpacker with a borrowed pack that was ill fitting. I had to stop often to reposition my pack and adjust my straps. Second, the conditions were not getting any better. We talked with several day hikers who trekked pass our tent who were unable to summit that day. While my hiking partner would most likely have been able to reach 14,000 feet, he sacrificed his summit experience for a novice backpacker.
Consequently, because we turned back, I was able to view the most beauitful thing I believe I have ever seen. Lone Pine Lake was nestled between snow capped moutains and lightly snow dusted trees that smelled like heaven. I stopped in awe of the natural beauty that lay before me.
My main goal had been to summit, but when I viewed this marvelous landscape, I knew I had been lucky and seen something spectular that I would remember forever.
I will be back to summit Whitney at some point, but for now the memory of my adventure is fresh in my mind and a slideshow on my desk top reminds me daily of how amazing and peaceful this place truley is.
Special thanks to BM for making this trip possible and opening my eyes to a slice of heaven on earth.
