Mt. Whitney day hike 7/25/2013

Post by **tekewin** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 7:04 am

We got on the trail at 3:30 AM in complete darkness. There were several stream crossings early, one over logs. All the streams and lakes were high due to heavy rain early in the week. The forecast for hike day was a 30% chance of thunderstorms, and ominous clouds hovered throughout the day. The clouds broke and returned several times, but it never rained and lightning was never a danger.

At the top of the switchbacks is Trail Crest at 13600' where more of the large lakes come into view. The trail continues north along the east side of the ridge behind Muir Peak, the needles, and finally Mt. Whitney. Although the gain is only about 900' from Trail Crest to the summit, I think this is the most difficult two miles of the trail, far more so than the switchbacks. The trail gets more rough, there are many dangerous drops on the left side, but mostly because it is all done above 13600'. For many people, altitude sickness bites here. Most in our group had some symptoms of AMS. I had a headache that started at Trail Crest and didn't go away until I got back to 12000'. Lesson learned on getting acclimated. Everything about the Sierras is Big. Your typical Whitney day hike.

Full report:
http://ironhiker.blogspot.com/2013/07/m ... -hike.html

Sunrise on the Whitney trail

Trail Side Meadows

Whitney obscured by clouds from Trail Camp

The trail goes left here at Trail Crest

Hikers on the trail past Trail Crest

Whitney and needles come into view

Rod in front of the needles

Me standing on top of the lower 48

Wales Lake from the summit

Summit marmot!

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:11 am

Nice TR teke. Agree that the section from the crest to the summit is the most difficult part of that trail. When I went up, I saw some hikers along that stretch that I discovered didn't exist. LOL. Hope you got down to the Portal in time for burgers and beers.

Post by **tekewin** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 12:54 pm

Rico,
One of our group twisted a knee just below Trail Camp. We crawled of the mountain at 1 mph and got back well after dark and the portal store was closed. I'm trying to forget about the descent.

Post by **JeffH** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 10:12 am

I was at Whitney summit on Friday morning, started snowing around 0830, steady rain from Trail Camp to Portal. My route was from the west, ending a four-day excursion from Onion Valley.
Love Trailside Meadow.

Beantown · Post by **Beantown** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:15 pm

I completed the JMT on 7.22.13.

intense thunderstorms the night before at guitar lake. left for the summit at 3:00am from guitar lake and was on top at 5:30am. was not the sunrise I was hoping for, still a little stormy and some snow. crazy! only stayed 2 minutes.

mcphersonm80 · Post by **mcphersonm80** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:50 pm

Cool pics and congrats!

tpfishnfool · Post by **tpfishnfool** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:40 am

tekewin wrote: Rico,
One of our group twisted a knee just below Trail Camp. We crawled of the mountain at 1 mph and got back well after dark and the portal store was closed. I'm trying to forget about the descent.

No doubt, the desent is more taxing than the assent IMO. We too missed the burgers and beer at the store as we were late getting down... Hasd to settle for mc donalds !! Sucked....

Post by **tekewin** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:09 pm

Congrats beantown on the JMT.
Congrats Jeffh on the 4 day + summit.
Weather is always a big variable.

HikeItOrLoseIt · Post by **HikeItOrLoseIt** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 1:15 pm

Excellent job at getting that summit...looks like, now that you have tackled the highest in the lower 48, it is time to start training for the highest in the 50

HikeItOrLoseIt · Post by **HikeItOrLoseIt** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 1:22 pm

hey beantown...i probably just missed you on the jmt...i was heading north with my big straw hat doing 20's nobo to finish my section hike of the pct from the border to mammoth on the 29th... I got off at kearsarge the 20th and got back on the 22nd...did you just catch that T-storms at guitar lake? I was running up and over passes at noon to beat the lightning every day...it was unnerving to say the least