Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Not just another cook!!

We know he can cook double cheese burgers but he can still hike too.

On last Wednesday August 10 I attempted my town to summit hike and back. Leaving at midnight from 395 avery thing was going as planed until I accidentally missed the turn off to lone pine campground meaning i would have to keep going up the portal road. If it seems like it takes long time to drive up try walking it!! Got to the portals at 4am and summit at 10am. Back to the portal store by 2:30 and now comes the hard part. I wasn't sure it would be smart to continue, but after a food and water rest stop starting to feel better. Then to my surprise Doug said I will go with you if you want to finish the hike to town. So off we went down the Recreation trail fast for me but moderate for Doug. At one point Doug sad lets go this way witch meant straight down to the LP Campground. We got water and off to the new asphalt portal road. You can't walk as fast as you can drive the road but it's a great time for good conversation and a different view of the valley. We lucked out with the weather, warm with a nice breeze. We made it back to the Hostel for a cold drink and I always say NEVER AGAIN, but time will tell.

Thanks Doug for helping me complete my long day

Crazy Jack

Jack, thanks for sharing this story.

I have another "Not just another cook" story:

Some years ago I decided to attempt the Mountaineer's Route. I did some study and decided it wise to drop by the Whitney Portal Store the day before the attempt to try to fine tune what I had read and to get some tips.

So the day before the hike I walk into the Portal Store and approach a pleasant lady taking food orders. When I mention that I am looking for advice on the Mountaineer's Route, she calls out to the cook back in the kitchen. An enthusiastic and friendly fellow comes out from the kitchen. I immediately get the impression that he sincerely wants to field my questions. In fact he says, "Meet me on the Portal Store porch at 6 tomorrow morning and we will head up the Mountaineer's Route." I turn to the lady and say, "Is this guy for real?" She nods yes.

So that is how I first came to know Doug Sr and his wife Earlene.

The following day the weather was great and we went up the Mountaineer's Route to the Summit and then descended the same route with a few variations. Doug taught me a great deal about the Mountain and its history, route options, the key hand and foot holds,...

Doug might not appreciate it, but over the following years I have always felt I owed him big time. His family and the Portal Crew are really solid people.

Jim