Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Doug's Trail Guide

For those preparing for a hike, or just wanting a new "Mount Whitney fix," consider Doug's trail guide, Mount Whitney: Mountain Lore from the Whitney Store

Available (you can read customer reviews here) at:
http://www.amazon.com/Mount-Whitney-Mountain-Lore-Store/dp/0965359611

Here is another review:

http://www.sierradescents.com/books/reviews/thompson-newbold/mount-whitney-store-lore.php

I just got my copy in the mail yesterday. I really appreciate the detail from Doug and Elisabeth. I am glad Doug laid it down to say doing Whitney in a day is VERY strenuous. Didnt sugar coat it.....and this makes me glad......I am going to bump my preparation up quite a few notches. I like the emphasis he places on other things BESIDES CONDITIONING.....like proper mental attitude,genetics, etc.....page 92 of 2nd edition!

Thank you Doug Sr. and I hope I can meet you someday (maybe this summer) and share some more lore!!

In Dougs book, he says that one of the questions that he asks people (to determine whether or not they will be successful in summitting)is if they diet. Basically, he wants to know if they have eaten alot in the days leading up to their big hike......."do they have enough energy stored for the big hike?

I am just wondering what some of you guys have done in terms of nutrition a few days leading up to the hike........are you believers in carb loading??

Steak and wine the night before exercise at altitude is a very bad idea.

Yes, moderate carbo loading but not overeating. Look into the "glycogen window"- for about an hour after finishing exercise your body is very efficient at converting carbs to muscular glycogen. Do a moderate hike the day before and load up right afterward.

Know where your anaerobic threshold "AT" is. "Feel the burn" means your muscles are going anaerobic, or burning pure glycogen instead of oxygen, a little glucose, and fat. A heart rate monitor is useful but not required for this. Learn your body. Then make sure you never hit your AT on the climb.

Keep the pace gentle enough that your body is using carbs as "kindling" to burn fat. At some elevation the air is thin and your body will start to burn only carbs- that's where you're likely to bonk. Until then do all you can to preserve your muscular glycogen reserves.

Adrenaline will make you want to go way to fast at first. Go super slow for the first few hours. Treat it like a stroll through the woods. Time "wasted" by going slow at the beginning will be more than made up if you can maintain a good pace at the top.