Overdue TR: Whitney, June 12th, 2009
Was helping my buddy train for altitude on Rainier, he's climbing it today ..
Headed to Lone Pine for a Langley session, then upgraded to Whitney because an overnight permit made itself available on standby.
A recent snow kept the crowd at bay with a hint of ice on the trail ..
Heading up the Portal
Mirror Lake
Heading to Trail Camp @ 12k
Trail Camp has some nice gusts throughout the day and into the night
At dawn we hit the switchbacks
A girl in tennis shoes made her way down complaining about the ice ..
Careful, don't grap the cable. The strands are frayed and cut like a knife!
Local Marmot looking for a score
View to the West (Hitchcock Lakes) at Trail Crest & John Muir Trail
It was cool and windy on the JMT
Last patch of snow and ice and we're on the summit table ..
And down again ..
Trail going down to Guitar Lake ..
Lone Pine Lake
We left the Portal on Saturday the 11th of July at about 3pm carrying 50# packs (there's a nice scale at the trailhead) and made Trail Camp by 7pm.
We hit the trail starting with the switchbacks on Sunday the 12th of July at 6:30, Trail Crest at 8:30 and summited by 9:30.
Some poor bastard was lying on the side of the trail by one of the windows with AMS. Others were exhaused, some were wearing Teva's.
Don't wear Teva's. It's quite rocky, pebbly and everything else.
We were back at Trail Camp by noon ready to get back to the Portal, arriving around 3-4pm.
Many folks did the one-day trip, leaving the Portal at 1-2am. I don't recommend this because of lack in acclimatization.
Those folks were spent by the time they made the summit.
All in all a good trip, no problems and I wish my bro the best in his bid to make Rainier today.
Cheers!
Headed to Lone Pine for a Langley session, then upgraded to Whitney because an overnight permit made itself available on standby.
A recent snow kept the crowd at bay with a hint of ice on the trail ..
Heading up the Portal
Mirror Lake
Heading to Trail Camp @ 12k
Trail Camp has some nice gusts throughout the day and into the night
At dawn we hit the switchbacks
A girl in tennis shoes made her way down complaining about the ice ..
Careful, don't grap the cable. The strands are frayed and cut like a knife!
Local Marmot looking for a score
View to the West (Hitchcock Lakes) at Trail Crest & John Muir Trail
It was cool and windy on the JMT
Last patch of snow and ice and we're on the summit table ..
And down again ..
Trail going down to Guitar Lake ..
Lone Pine Lake
We left the Portal on Saturday the 11th of July at about 3pm carrying 50# packs (there's a nice scale at the trailhead) and made Trail Camp by 7pm.
We hit the trail starting with the switchbacks on Sunday the 12th of July at 6:30, Trail Crest at 8:30 and summited by 9:30.
Some poor bastard was lying on the side of the trail by one of the windows with AMS. Others were exhaused, some were wearing Teva's.
Don't wear Teva's. It's quite rocky, pebbly and everything else.
We were back at Trail Camp by noon ready to get back to the Portal, arriving around 3-4pm.
Many folks did the one-day trip, leaving the Portal at 1-2am. I don't recommend this because of lack in acclimatization.
Those folks were spent by the time they made the summit.
All in all a good trip, no problems and I wish my bro the best in his bid to make Rainier today.
Cheers!
tevas up mountains in the Sierra? wtf is wrong with people?!He219 wrote: Others were exhaused, some were wearing Teva's.
Don't wear Teva's. It's quite rocky, pebbly and everything else.
you are certainly right, you did it the better way in acclimatizing a bit at trailcamp the night before. i'm sure it made for a much better summit experience 8)
The one time I hiked Whitney, I did it as a day trip, 9½hrs round trip... hooked up with 2 guys who turned out to be a NPS ranger from the Santa Monica's and a BLM surveyor who was doing it in dime store flip flops said he had done all the colorado fourteeners in similar footwear
I think he's a bit loopy
Thanks for the tr and photos, I doing Whitney from Crabtree Meadows on 8/14!
Matt
I think he's a bit loopy
Thanks for the tr and photos, I doing Whitney from Crabtree Meadows on 8/14!
Matt
Nice "Air" on the jumps, who wouldn't want to get air after making the big summit. Great pictures, perfect sunny day. Nice Ice and Snow on the cables but not too bad.
Heading up on the 14th of August, doing the summit on the 15th, will more than likely get some altitude at Horseshoe meadow to acclimate, surprised more folks don't do that, it's close enough to get to without getting crazy and it's 10,500 - great place to grab some sleep the day before a big climb.
Thanks for the report.
Heading up on the 14th of August, doing the summit on the 15th, will more than likely get some altitude at Horseshoe meadow to acclimate, surprised more folks don't do that, it's close enough to get to without getting crazy and it's 10,500 - great place to grab some sleep the day before a big climb.
Thanks for the report.
Nice; via Horseshoe?
How many days and about much weight are you packing?
Happy Trails, matt!
Definately stay at trail camp and brace for wind!lilbitmo wrote:Heading up on the 14th of August, doing the summit on the 15th, will more than likely get some altitude at Horseshoe meadow to acclimate, surprised more folks don't do that
Lots of water everywhere.
Enjoy your climb!
Thanks; cybershot W170Tim wrote:Nice photos! What camera were you using? These look like they're 16:9.
I like that particular aspect ratio for viewing.
Hires
Thanks, the trail condition is absolutely remarkable.edenooch wrote:nice pics. the trail look alot more maintained than Langley's
Most climbed trail in the nation .. even more than Icehouse canyon ;]
Kudos to the keepers!
we're doing Horseshoe to Onion Valley with the side trip to Whitney in 5 days 8/12 thru 8/16He219 wrote: Nice; via Horseshoe?
How many days and about much weight are you packing?
My pack is in the 30-35lb range with the fluids (absolutely positively no more than 35lbs!)
I estimate total mileage at 62-ish
Cheers
Matt
Nice, Matt! Good mileage there ..mattmaxon wrote: we're doing Horseshoe to Onion Valley with the side trip to Whitney in 5 days 8/12 thru 8/16
30-35lb range with the fluids ..
I estimate total mileage at 62-ish
No tent, how do you keep it that light with fluids?
somebody's going to hump the the Bear Canister ..
I have a Tarptent Contrail this is 1½lbsHe219 wrote: Nice, Matt! Good mileage there ..
No tent, how do you keep it that light with fluids?
somebody's going to hump the the Bear Canister ..
My pad is a thermarest prolite plus, small @ 1lb 1oz
Sleeping Bag is an REI Nooksack UL +35 1lb 12oz
I have a Bearikade weekender 1lb 15 oz
titanium pot, cup, spork, stove
Ray Jardine's "PCT hikers handbook" has many useful concepts and suggestions
Petzl E-lite
Lithium batteries
If there is a lightweight alternative to something I have it...
More importantly if I can do without, that weighs nothing!
Matt