Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Nutrition, Hydration, and Sports Performance

Hi I was driving back last night and heard of the rescue for the Marines,Thankful everyone is safe.
Last time I talked with Laura I told her of the reason I bought a very strong tent and something I could standup in, Doug and I got stuck on the side of Baden Powell in a storm in a very small tube type tent for a day and a half. This was the last place I thought you could have a problem, you could see the cars on 138 before the storm but when the wind and snow hit you could not see 5 ' unsafe to move , got Doug in the tent, tried to secure and crawled in thinking the storm would last about an hour, pushed snow off the tent all day and night , The local Mountains are serious they take lives each year, Thankful this group is safe. Doug





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I'm now given to understand that Ellen has a tib-fib fracture, which is a serious, unstable fracture in both bones of the lower leg. This is a very serious injury. She apparently crawled for three miles to get to the hut on San Jacinto....apparently in snow conditions that could have benefited from crampons.

Yikes! That is one tough lady!

Doug, you are not kidding about Baden-Powell, and the San Gabriels in general. A good friend of mine, Gary Embrey, took a slip while crossing a steep chute, in spite of huge experience on crampons, on BP a couple years back, and could not get his axe to stop him, and did not survive the fall. I still think of him often.
notice about Gary
John Muir said of the San Gabriels:
"Not even in the Sierra have I ever made the acquaintance of mountains more rigidly inaccessible. The slopes are exceptionally steep and insecure to the foot of the explorer, however great his strength or skill may be ..."

It has been a tragic winter so far in the San Gabriels. This past weekend a 32 year old woman lost her footing and fell into an icy chute near Mt. Wilson.

I live just below Mt. Wilson and in the 27 years I have been here I can't remember more deaths being attributable to winter outdoor activities.

Ken, I was up the Tram today and it is crusty as can be. I don't think or snowshoes sunk more than 6" all day. Crampons and an axe would have helped anyone traveling off trail up there...we changed our plans since we had neither.

Ellen-

Good post about keeping the carbs going on long hikes/climbs. You didn't mention electrolytes (potassium and other trace elements in addition to sodium), which I've found to be equally important for endurance and recovery. Personally, I like Edurolytes, but there are many other choices out there as well as some of the sports drinks and gels containing electrolytes.