At the Whitney Zone. Garv on the left and Joe on the right. I think that is Jonathan between the two. Cisco is behind Joe out of flash range.
Sunrise on the 99s around 6:00 a.m. That dark spot in the center is where Trail Camp is located. I am approximately 800 feet above. The White Mountains are in the far background. The sun is just barely rising above the crest.
8 down, 3 to go! I am approximately less than a half mile from Trail Crest. I happened to spot this by accident as I was looking down. I was having a hard time finding this rock in my viewer so I laid down my trekking poles as a reference and voila!
The summit register:
08/05/05 1 Day x 3 I did it again, again, again.
Mr. and Mrs. Beasley in the capsule. The lucky penny from Brian. My word is my honor. Mission accomplished. Wishes fulfilled.
Jonathan Stouffer at the sign on the summit. Due to the gathering storm, he was only allowed to stay almost 5 minutes at the summit. I think his smile says it all.
Waterfall sculpture. Darth Vader in white?
Trailside Meadow looking west.
Above timberline
Mirror Lake
Timberline
Big Horn Sheep Park and Outpost Camp.
Doe...A deer...female deer...at Outpost Camp.
The Four Summitteers: Me (3rd summit), Cisco (1st summit 1st try), Jonathan (1st summit 1st try), Joe (3rd summit a day after his 59th birthday)
12:00 a.m.
Start. Me, Jonathan S., Francisco R., Joe M., Mark G.
12:19 a.m.
We reach the John Muir Wilderness sign.
1:27 a.m.
We reach the log crossing. Footing is tricky. Depth perception and peripheral vision lacking due to the headlamps that light the logs at our feet. One false move and splash. Swimming with the fishes.
1:32 a.m.
We reach the Whitney Zone. We stop and take a 5 minute rest before proceeding.
2:09 a.m.
We reach Outpost Camp. Two stream crossings before campsite. One crossing after the campsite.
4:30 a.m.
We reach Trailside Meadows. It got too quiet. We missed our water replenishing mark. We doubled back. I take Garv's 1-liter Nalgene bottle to fill up as he proceeds to Trail Camp. I top off my 100 ounce Camelbak bladder and fill up a Nalgene bottle. I have a problem with the water filter seal. Gasket sealing problems. Readjust the water purifier. All okay.
5:02 a.m.
We reach Trail Camp. I contemplate taking a nap. I am yawning all the way from Outpost Camp to Trail Camp. Not good. The group decides it wants to push on. I lead the way with Cisco behind me, followed by Jonathan, then Joe, then Garv. It is here we decided that everyone for themselves. We will not wait for each other. Go at your own pace. Good luck. Once at the 99s, I tell Cisco to go ahead. Same to Jonathan and Joe. I will see you at the top.
6:00 a.m.
I stop to take a picture of the sunrise while on the switchbacks. I look back. No sign of Garv.
7:00 a.m.
I reach Trail Crest. Cisco, Jonathan, and Joe are there. From here we proceed on. Cisco, Joe, me, Jonathan. There is a point in the trail where a rock blocks the trail. We gingerly descend down and around. I decide to glissade. Loose dirt and scree. One wrong step or slip and say hello to the bottom of the slide.
8:07 a.m.
Ennui. The last mile. Every 200 steps I stop and rest. I force air through my mouth as if I were playing a trumpet. Expand the lungs. Pace. Hydrate. I see Cisco and Joe up ahead. Cisco doing well. Joe is laboring, but he keeps pushing on. I lose sight of Jonathan behind me. I notice clouds rolling in from the east. I see clouds forming at the summit. Not a good sign.
8:44 a.m.
I see the hut. I am almost there. All systems are go.
8:48 a.m.
I summit. Cisco and Joe are already there. Jonathan later summits. Garv does not. I sign in at the register near the hut. It is difficult to concentrate on writing. I am cold. Altitude playing tricks with my thought processess. Cisco asking about the pit toilet at the top. Joe and I pose for a photo with his camera. I manage to take photos of the summit register and Jonathan. Pandemonium rules at the summit. Joe wants to leave the summit immediately. I concur with that assessment.
8:57 a.m.
Begin descent. Clouds thick at the summit. This is no place to be during a storm. Death is certain if struck by lightning.
10:00 a.m.
We reach that treacherous part of the trail where that rock is. Scrambling up. No foothold. Rocks falling beneath my feet. Traction minimal. I point out to Jonathan about the loose rocks and footing. He in turn does the same to Joe.
10:12 a.m.
We reach Trail Crest. Cisco proceeded on. Then me. Jonathan and Joe stay back for a little to catch their breaths.
10:13 a.m.
The 99s and heading down. A lot of hikers heading up. Traffic jam. Watching my footing on the way down. No slips.
11:29 a.m.
I reach Trail Camp. I sit down on a rock outcropping and open up a GU energy gel packet. It tastes awful, but I down it with my water. Need to replenish my electrolytes. I remember the last time I felt like when I was up here in July. Jonathan and Joe arrive just moments after me. We push on.
11:45 a.m.
I slip and fall on my backside. Boom! Thank goodness for the pack. No harm. Systems A-OK.
12:12 p.m.
Trailside Meadows. Heaven. Joe and Jonathan stop to replenish water supplies. I have an ample supply left in my bladder.
1:06 p.m.
We reach Outpost Camp. A doe takes an interest in our presence. We stop for one final time so that Joe can take his jacket off.
1:26 p.m.
We reach the Whitney Zone. I mention to Jonathan that this will be the LONGEST 2.8 miles. We hike at a brisk pace. Recon shuffle.
2:11 p.m.
We FINALLY reach the junction of the stock trail and the Mt. Whitney Trail. Three-quarters of a mile to go. It is just a matter of time.
2:27 p.m.
End hike. Total time 14 hours and 27 minutes.
We see Garv and Cisco outside by the Whitney Portal Store. We head down to our vehicles to drop off our gear and return to the store. Cisco dining on burgers and fries. Looks tempting. We buy our memorabilia at the Whitney Portal Store. I buy patches and stickers. Joe buys a Heineken. I am anxious to get off this mountain. I have seen enough. I am fidgety. Let's go. We need a shower and then we can celebrate!
We head back to Lone Pine for photo opportunities, to open up some barley pop, and to get showered up. Cisco leaves for home and bids us farewell.
The rest of us celebrate at Seasons. I have a steak. That was a very good steak!
We retire for the night around 6:30 p.m. The Angels game is on at 7:00 p.m. As soon as I my head hit my pillow...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
12:00 a.m.
Start. Me, Jonathan S., Francisco R., Joe M., Mark G.
12:19 a.m.
We reach the John Muir Wilderness sign.
1:27 a.m.
We reach the log crossing. Footing is tricky. Depth perception and peripheral vision lacking due to the headlamps that light the logs at our feet. One false move and splash. Swimming with the fishes.
1:32 a.m.
We reach the Whitney Zone. We stop and take a 5 minute rest before proceeding.
2:09 a.m.
We reach Outpost Camp. Two stream crossings before campsite. One crossing after the campsite.
4:30 a.m.
We reach Trailside Meadows. It got too quiet. We missed our water replenishing mark. We doubled back. I take Garv's 1-liter Nalgene bottle to fill up as he proceeds to Trail Camp. I top off my 100 ounce Camelbak bladder and fill up a Nalgene bottle. I have a problem with the water filter seal. Gasket sealing problems. Readjust the water purifier. All okay.
5:02 a.m.
We reach Trail Camp. I contemplate taking a nap. I am yawning all the way from Outpost Camp to Trail Camp. Not good. The group decides it wants to push on. I lead the way with Cisco behind me, followed by Jonathan, then Joe, then Garv. It is here we decided that everyone for themselves. We will not wait for each other. Go at your own pace. Good luck. Once at the 99s, I tell Cisco to go ahead. Same to Jonathan and Joe. I will see you at the top.
6:00 a.m.
I stop to take a picture of the sunrise while on the switchbacks. I look back. No sign of Garv.
7:00 a.m.
I reach Trail Crest. Cisco, Jonathan, and Joe are there. From here we proceed on. Cisco, Joe, me, Jonathan. There is a point in the trail where a rock blocks the trail. We gingerly descend down and around. I decide to glissade. Loose dirt and scree. One wrong step or slip and say hello to the bottom of the slide.
8:07 a.m.
Ennui. The last mile. Every 200 steps I stop and rest. I force air through my mouth as if I were playing a trumpet. Expand the lungs. Pace. Hydrate. I see Cisco and Joe up ahead. Cisco doing well. Joe is laboring, but he keeps pushing on. I lose sight of Jonathan behind me. I notice clouds rolling in from the east. I see clouds forming at the summit. Not a good sign.
8:44 a.m.
I see the hut. I am almost there. All systems are go.
8:48 a.m.
I summit. Cisco and Joe are already there. Jonathan later summits. Garv does not. I sign in at the register near the hut. It is difficult to concentrate on writing. I am cold. Altitude playing tricks with my thought processess. Cisco asking about the pit toilet at the top. Joe and I pose for a photo with his camera. I manage to take photos of the summit register and Jonathan. Pandemonium rules at the summit. Joe wants to leave the summit immediately. I concur with that assessment.
8:57 a.m.
Begin descent. Clouds thick at the summit. This is no place to be during a storm. Death is certain if struck by lightning.
10:00 a.m.
We reach that treacherous part of the trail where that rock is. Scrambling up. No foothold. Rocks falling beneath my feet. Traction minimal. I point out to Jonathan about the loose rocks and footing. He in turn does the same to Joe.
10:12 a.m.
We reach Trail Crest. Cisco proceeded on. Then me. Jonathan and Joe stay back for a little to catch their breaths.
10:13 a.m.
The 99s and heading down. A lot of hikers heading up. Traffic jam. Watching my footing on the way down. No slips.
11:29 a.m.
I reach Trail Camp. I sit down on a rock outcropping and open up a GU energy gel packet. It tastes awful, but I down it with my water. Need to replenish my electrolytes. I remember the last time I felt like when I was up here in July. Jonathan and Joe arrive just moments after me. We push on.
11:45 a.m.
I slip and fall on my backside. Boom! Thank goodness for the pack. No harm. Systems A-OK.
12:12 p.m.
Trailside Meadows. Heaven. Joe and Jonathan stop to replenish water supplies. I have an ample supply left in my bladder.
1:06 p.m.
We reach Outpost Camp. A doe takes an interest in our presence. We stop for one final time so that Joe can take his jacket off.
1:26 p.m.
We reach the Whitney Zone. I mention to Jonathan that this will be the LONGEST 2.8 miles. We hike at a brisk pace. Recon shuffle.
2:11 p.m.
We FINALLY reach the junction of the stock trail and the Mt. Whitney Trail. Three-quarters of a mile to go. It is just a matter of time.
2:27 p.m.
End hike. Total time 14 hours and 27 minutes.
We see Garv and Cisco outside by the Whitney Portal Store. We head down to our vehicles to drop off our gear and return to the store. Cisco dining on burgers and fries. Looks tempting. We buy our memorabilia at the Whitney Portal Store. I buy patches and stickers. Joe buys a Heineken. I am anxious to get off this mountain. I have seen enough. I am fidgety. Let's go. We need a shower and then we can celebrate!
We head back to Lone Pine for photo opportunities, to open up some barley pop, and to get showered up. Cisco leaves for home and bids us farewell.
The rest of us celebrate at Seasons. I have a steak. That was a very good steak!
We retire for the night around 6:30 p.m. The Angels game is on at 7:00 p.m. As soon as I my head hit my pillow...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
