Overdue TR: Whitney, June 12th, 2009

He219 · Post by **He219** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 12:58 pm

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!

Ze Hiker · Post by **Ze Hiker** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:01 pm

He219 wrote: Others were exhaused, some were wearing Teva's.
Don't wear Teva's. It's quite rocky, pebbly and everything else.

tevas up mountains in the Sierra? wtf is wrong with people?!

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)

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:24 pm

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

lilbitmo · Post by **lilbitmo** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:34 pm

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.

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:46 am

Nice photos! What camera were you using? These look like they're 16:9.

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:20 am

Zé wrote:
He219 wrote: Others were exhaused, some were wearing Teva's.
Don't wear Teva's. It's quite rocky, pebbly and everything else.
tevas up mountains in the Sierra? wtf is wrong with people?!

But my crampons clip on to them so well!

Post by **Taco** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:14 am

HEY! No jumping on the summit! It's UNSAFE!

edenooch · Post by **edenooch** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:00 pm

nice pics. the trail look alot more maintained than Langley's

He219 · Post by **He219** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:08 pm

mattmaxon wrote: Thanks for the tr and photos, I doing Whitney from Crabtree Meadows on 8/14!

Matt

Nice; via Horseshoe?
How many days and about much weight are you packing?

Happy Trails, matt!

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

Definately stay at trail camp and brace for wind!
Lots of water everywhere.

Enjoy your climb!

Tim wrote:Nice photos! What camera were you using? These look like they're 16:9.

Thanks; cybershot W170
I like that particular aspect ratio for viewing.

Hires

edenooch wrote:nice pics. the trail look alot more maintained than Langley's

Thanks, the trail condition is absolutely remarkable.
Most climbed trail in the nation .. even more than Icehouse canyon ;]
Kudos to the keepers!

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:22 pm

He219 wrote: Nice; via Horseshoe?
How many days and about much weight are you packing?

we're doing Horseshoe to Onion Valley with the side trip to Whitney in 5 days 8/12 thru 8/16

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

He219 · Post by **He219** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:44 pm

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

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 ..

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:25 pm

xxxxxx

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:34 pm

He219 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 ..

I have a Tarptent Contrail this is 1½lbs

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