Rise and Shine...
We start our hike for Outpost Camp (3.8 miles; 1,995 feet elevation gain) at 7:00 a.m. At the trailhead there is a scale to weigh your packs. Brian weighed his. Forty-pounds. Eusebio weighed his. Forty-five pounds. Mine weighed a whopping 65 pounds. Enough frivolities. Let’s go kick some Whitney ass!
I am the lead. Brian is in the "rocking chair" and Eusebio is the red lantern. I am going at a slow pace. At least I thought I was. Several times we had to stop. I was fine, but Brian and Eusebio were having some difficulty with the altitude no thanks to the weight of their packs. So, I slowed down some more by taking smaller steps.
There are three stream crossings along the trail while going up Lone Pine Lake. Carillon Drainage, North Fork Lone Pine Creek and Lone Pine Creek. Carillon Drainage is just a small hop. North Fork requires a little balance to cross while hopping on rocks. One false step and you get a bath. Lone Pine Creek is a log crossing. If you are lucky, you may be able to see trout swimming in its waters.
On the way up we heard this strange sound coming from the trees to our right. I told them it definitely wasn't a bear. It was probably a marmot because of the three successive "woofing" sounds.
We reach the Lone Pine Lake (2.8 miles; 9,420 feet) and Whitney Zone around 10:00 a.m. I tell Brian and Eusebio we will rest here for 40 minutes so they can go down to see Lone Pine Lake as I assess the trail conditions up ahead.
There is nothing but snow pack to the rocks. This isn't Kansas. I have heard reports of other hikers going left to get up to Outpost Camp only to turn around. I can see why. The trail to OC is to the right, not the left.
We put on our crampons and hiked until I could see the trail. The snow pack was slushy due to the morning sun and the crampons were of great help. No postholingI could see the trail off to the right, but getting there was still an obstacle. Once we reached the trail, we took off our crampons and headed up the switchbacks to Bighorn Park. We still had to cross some snow pack in the shade, but we had no problem keeping an eye on the trail.
Enter Bighorn Park (3.5 miles). Also known as Bighorn Sheep Park or Ibex Flat. Brian and Eusebio were taken aback by the enormity of the view. The view is a wake-up call. No coffee required. One word: Serenity. If you are into meditation, this would be the ideal place!
I remember on my one-day trek last year, I didn't get to see this magnificent place on the way up due to the early morning hike in total darkness except for the aid of a headlamp. After my return from the summit and coming down the trail to Outpost Camp, I couldn't help but marvel at the enormity of this place and how beautiful it was.
After a few photo shots we proceeded along the edges of the park. There was still more snow pack to traverse but nothing of any concern.
We reach Outpost Camp (10,360; 3.8 miles) around 11:15 a.m. We decided it would be best to camp here and get plenty of rest and make our push to the summit tomorrow.
I set up camp between a huge rock and a log, while Brian and Eusebio set up camp in the shade of three pine trees. It was exceptionally warm. It felt like I was down in Lone Pine.
Now it was time for lunch. It was time to put my Jetboil personal cooking system to the test, to dine on Mountain House chicken a la king (makes two 10-ounce servings) and see what happens. Let's see the toilet is approximately 50 yards from me across the creek. Got my WAG bags at the ready just in case I don't make it that far.
To cook this meal, you pour 2 cups of water into the Jetboil and turn on the heat. The flame on the JB is like an acetylene torch and brings to water to a boil in no time flat especially in high altitudes. You open up the MH meal and remove the oxygen pouch before adding the boiling water while stirring the contents. You then seal up the pouch and let sit for about 8-10 minutes and voila! You got yourself a great meal and you can eat right out of the pouch. My hat is off to Oregon Freeze Dry and Mountain House.
The meal was delicious. Gourmet delight. I wonder if they have a military contract, because I remember C-Rats and MREs never tasted this good. If I only had a small bottle of soy sauce, some rice and some Tabasco I would be in heaven.
After gorging myself, it was time for a little afternoon siesta. As I lay on my mattress pad, I can see why shade was essential for survival. The sun was intense and my tent had become a sauna. I opened up my tent fly to let the air circulate. Ah. That's much better! I was in and out of consciousness for about an hour. I don't know if it was the thin air and apnea, but I got a nap in.
Supper time. I pull out of my bear vault another Mountain Home meal. This time it was chili mac. Wow! Talk about spicy! A little powerful for my sensitive GI tract, but man was it good. My face was on fire! Again, I wish I had some soy sauce, rice and Tabasco. Yummy!
While I was eating, I noticed we got new neighbors. I decided to finish my meal while they set up their tents. I went over to introduce myself. Steve and Mark. Brothers. From Iowa. Their uncle was also with them. I told them I was from Missouri and the conversations took off from there.
They asked me about me about Whitney and I provided them with as many answers as I could. They were so impressed with my knowledge they thought I was a guide and so they asked me how many times did I summit. I told them just one time last August. They just looked at each other.
I invited Steve and Mark and their uncle to join us on the hike tomorrow. They obliged. Their uncle reached the summit a couple of years ago as a 73-year-old man! Steve and Mark were a little younger than me. They had never been to the summit.
We all decided we will leave for Whitney at 5:00 a.m. to take advantage of the twilight and early morning calm. I was to be the point man. Me? Why me? Why always me? Because, I know the route and they were relying on me to get them to the Promised Land. I took that responsibility seriously. I know what it is like to stand on top of that 14,497.61 feet of 60-million-year-old piece of granite.
It was time to get some rest. Big day tomorrow. Summit day. Confidence is high. We are ready.
