Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Main Trail report - July 18, 2008 - my experience

I apologize in advance - this is a long post, but I wanted to address as many of the issues I've read about.

I have read and learned so much on this site. I feel that w/o this info I could not have accomplished what I set out to do. Thank you to DougSr for making the site possible, VersatileFred for mucho currento info and each and every one of the contributing members for their input as well. All of you made my experience possible.

Perhaps my sharing my encounter with Mt Whitney will help the next person achieve their dream.

History / preparation

I’m 56 years old, and have been day hiking weekly for past three years. Between 8 and 22 miles r.t. w/3,000'+ elevation gain minimum. Have been up and down local fire road – 1,600’ in 2 miles – numerous times in addition to weekly hikes.

I live at 900’ and work at sea level.

Decided to summit Whitney in Jan/Feb 2008. Have used the stair stepper, treadmill and elliptical trainer at the gym an average three times a week for several years – increasing to 5 – 7 times per week since Feb '08 – with a 20# back pack. Also 5 x per week deep-knee bends, lunges, and toe raises holding hand-held weight to 25# each hand just before the trip.

Within the past three months have summited Mt. Baldy (10,064’) several times, San Gorgonio (11,499’) once, and San Jacinto (10,804’) once.

The trip

Arrived WP 7-18-2008, saw remnants of previous day’s / week’s rain. Slight on and off drizzle – questioned following day’s weather. After a burger and fries!! hiked almost to Lone Pine Lake – didn’t want drizzle to overly wet my socks. Slept in Lone Pine.

Friday July 18, 2008 – departed WP @ 0300 w / my hiking buddy and her daughter. Under a full moon illuminating the walls above, and zero clouds, we set a slow and steady pace.

WP -> Lone Pine Lake: 1:47
LPL - > Outpost Camp: 0:34
OP Camp -> Trailside Meadow: 1:09
TM -> Consultation Lake: 0:45
Con Lake -> Trail Camp: 0:24
TC -> Trail Crest: 2:25
Trail Crest - > Summit: 2:20

Summited @ 14:20.

Total ascent hiking time: 9:24
Total ascent elapsed time: 11:15 – numerous photo ops, lunches, breaks, and water gathering.

I developed a dull posterior headache about 12,500’ on the way up that persisted until reaching 10,300’ on the descent – advil eased it slightly. No dizziness, no visual disturbances, one episode of nausea that had it included vomiting, would have caused me to reverse direction, and obvious shortness of breath – expected, no? One foot in front of the other, enjoying the view.

Carried pack the whole way:

GoLite 24 hour pack – no longer made
Nalgene bottle – carried full from above Trail Camp to summit
GSI stainless cup
Petzyl head lamp w/ 4 spare ‘c’ batteries
Harrison map
Permit
Wag bag
3 L hydration bladder – filled in Lone Pine, above Trail Camp on ascent and at switchbacks on descent
cell phone – would leave behind next time
marmot rain jacket
icebreaker long-sleeve wool shirt
knit cap
gloves
extra pair socks
extra bandana
sunglasses case – have broken too many to leave this out
pair of prescription glasses
contact lens sol’n – 2 oz.
contact lens case
emergency (cheapo) poncho
heatsheets survival blanket for two
signal mirror
sm 1st aid w/meds – advil, benadryl, immodium
food – spam, spam, chips, plain m&ms, peanut butter m&ms, jelly beans, jerky, cashews, almonds
paper towel
toilet paper
handiwipes x 3
“Off” 9% deet packets x 3
sunscreen – 45 proof
lip balm – 15 proof
strapped and / or ‘binerd to pack – smokey bear, ziggy gnome, izzy gnome

My hiking buddies were stronger and hit the summit about 30 mins before me.

The previous day’s rain had cleared out the skies – few white puffy clouds, unlimited visibility, no wind at the summit, warm @ 60. It was perfect. Stayed for an hour. Met Ranger Roy from Crabtree. Had a nice chat w/him about “the last season” – tells the tale of Seasonal Ranger Randy Morgenson. You might check it out. The seasonals are vastly underappreciated, not to mention underpaid – I’m saying that, he didn’t.

Departed the summit @ 15:20 and arrived @ the portal @ 22:00.

My perceptions:

· In one day – it is a long day – but so very, very enjoyable.
· VersatileFred’s “ballpark” estimates of time in the “Times to Locations” post were extremely helpful and encouraging.
· Take your time. Think tortoise and hare. If I had hurried, summitting would have been questionable.
· Some places require constant attention to foot placement – distracts from the views!
· Enjoy the views – everything was fantastic – sure are a lot of rocks, and big ones too!
· while peering over the summit, Iceberg Lake was a wonderful surprise.
· BobR’s water sites were dead on – lots of water everywhere – the switchbacks above Trail Camp were actually flooded full of water on the return trip.
· Hiking buddies steri-penned, I drank and filled direct. Will inform if any dire outcomes.
· Mossies – only on the descent - ? – were not as thick as others have reported, and were repelled by my one application of a packet of ‘Off’ wipes – 9% deet.
· Worth that day’s headache and calf aches / stiffness two days later
· Hard to believe there may have been 100+ people on the trail that day. Sure didn’t seem that way – but didn’t count.

What I would do different:
· Believe BobR – not carry as much water – where I typically hike there are no reliable water sources, requiring I carry up to 6 litres for a full-day outing in 85 – 100 deg temps. Ok, so trust was an issue…
· Remember my age and the fact I am not a marathon runner.
· Be mindful of the altitude – I will acclimate more next time, if possible. But, for me, I realize it can be done w/o.
· I’m there for the experience and the views – not the speed – because as I understand the fastest time up is in the 3 hour range – and there’s no way I’d ever come close to that.

Thank you again to all of you.

Great detail!!!! Congrats on your summit! We're right behind you (next week)!!!

Great report! Congratulations.

A couple of comments:
> I have read and learned so much on this site. I feel that w/o this info I could not have accomplished what I set out to do.

And yet the SEKI officials have ridiculed Inyo NF people for referring hikers to this site!

> Some places require constant attention to foot placement – distracts from the views!

Man, I almost NEVER look at the views while hiking. ...well maybe a quick glance. Otherwise I would trip or twist an ankle or worse. You have to stop to really enjoy the views.

Thanks for all the deets on your successful summit and congratulations! While it sounds like you had a lot of training and experience leading up to your hike, you obviously learned even more when the 'real thing' came along. That's one of the things I love about all this craziness: every time out in the hills is an opportunity to learn and grow. One doesn't have to over-analyze, just savor the moments of work and happiness that comes with being able to get to places that not many people can.

Congrats again!

-L

i don't always look either, i find i have to pick the right time to be momentarily distracted. and the section from trail crest to the base of the summit was the absolute worst for paying attention - yet so spectacular. could almost see mt. fuji that day.

thank you for the encouragement and kind words.

on my office wall - but too long for my posting signature:

If you want to catch beasts you don't see every day,
You have to go places quite out of the way.
You have to go places no others can get to.
You have to get cold and you have to get wet, too.
- Dr. Seuss

These posts keep me motivated. While I doubt I will ever summit in a one-day hike, I find the information given in these posts to be invaluable and truly inspiring.

Great post! Congratulations!

bsmith, I didn't see if you mentioned if you used hiking poles.

One advantage I've found of them (of many), is that they are another pair of "legs" that I feel with, and it allows me to spend more time looking around, with safety to my gait.

congrats, we had 6 on the summit that day and probably conversed on the way up, as we started at 3:30 and group (split) summitted between 12 and 1:30. It was the best weather I can recall on Whitney after the rain on thursday. I agree that a lot of permits went unused.

Again, great work, see you out there. I am heading back on the full moon in August!

i have a 6' wax wood hiking staff, wrapped with 1/4" manila rope using a 'french whipping' wrap, a paracord wrap, a lace-on leather hand grip, 3/4" copper tip, with a pink flamingo on the top.

it works.

it's funny, ever since we decided to summit i have been visualizing a perfect day on the top. just like it was.

i'm not necessarily a believer in that, but it worked out that way for me. it was spectacular.

congrats to you too! and have a great trip in august - i'm envious.

Great post.

Also, thanks for pointing out the book, "The Last Season." I haven't heard it mentioned much here at I thought that it was a wonderful read.

hey, i did see you, I remember the pink flamingo. nice touch!

Hit on your post during a search for Morgenson...

Was the Ranger at Crabtree named Rob Pilewski by any chance? (not Roy?)

If so, I had a very nice conversation with him a few years back.