On Thursday, September 2, my big brother Dave and I completed our annual hike of Mt. Whitney. During it we reminisced about how we’ve been doing this every year for at least 25 years, sometimes more than once per year. We have hiked it from every direction, and in every season. There have been occasions when we probably had no business being there, but given good weather, and good fortune, we’ve never gotten into any trouble. Our times for one day trips used to be consistently about ten hours, but are now beginning to slip, so that this last trip was completed in 10 hours 50 minutes.
Now I recognize that these endeavors are small potatoes, given the accomplishments of many on this board. But, it’s become a nice tradition, and time well spent together, for a couple of low-landers without aspirations.
Consequently, over the years Dave has developed a superstition that says “ as long as I summit Whitney I’m assured of living another year”. Notice he gives himself quite a bit of wiggle room in that he says nothing about the consequences of failing to summit, but that’s another matter.
Last year I was introduced to hiking rim, to rim, to rim, in the Grand Canyon, and did it in the spring and fall. This year Dave accompanied me in May, and so enjoyed the trip he said, “the hell with Whitney, instead, we should do this every year ”. You could imagine my surprise, given his well entrenched superstition that has so far served him quite nicely. We’re scheduled to hike the Grand Canyon again next week, and I’m sure I’ll be lobbied again to change traditions. Personally, given the fact we’re not getting any younger, I think he’s tempting fate and throwing caution to the wind, wiggle room or not.
