Congratulations to Team Bruin on their successful summit of Mt. Whitney.The following is a trip report:
Sorry for the long post, but it was an amazing day and we had a blast. 9 1/2 hours up and 5 down, with almost an hour and a half on the summit. Yeah, that's WAY too long up top, but we were feeling great.
After all was said and done, we experienced no nausea, no headaches, and no significant aches or pains. The day before the hike, I was fortunate to speak with Doug Thompson about the current trail conditions, recommended departure times, recent rescues, etc. What a valuable source of information that guy is ... hello and thanks again for your time, Doug.
The one bit of advice Doug offered was to start no earlier than 2:00 a.m., in light of the recent winds and cold temps up there. BruinJane and I had planned to start earlier than that, but opted for 2:30 a.m.
Acclimation: Arrived at the Portal on Tuesday, 8/8 for 2 1/2 days of pre-hike acclimatizing. On 8/9, we met up with Gary and his crew of seven for a quick trip up and over to the 10,000' Horseshoe Meadows. I absolutely believe that these pre-hike days at altitude were keys to our successful summit.
The Hike: Conditions at 2:30 a.m. couldn't have been better -- about 50F and slightly breezy. At the ends of their hikes the day before, RunRJoe and Gary reported very cold and windy trail conditions (thanks again for stopping by, Danu), so additional fleeces went into our packs. Just goes to show you that each day up there can be very, very different. Headlamps illuminated our path and the 92% full-moon illuminated the surroundings. The outer layers were shed by about Lone Pine Lake. By Trailside Meadow, they were back on. Better to stay warm than to try to get warm once cold.
We hit Trail Camp about daybreak and were surprised to run into Two-In-One-Day-Jack Northup (WHTNY N1) for THE SECOND TIME that day -- earlier Jack had passed us around Lone Pine Lake while on his first descent. (Enjoyed meeting and talking with you, Jack -- good luck to your ball team this year.) A short rest and many pictures of the alpenglow later, we pushed up the Switchbacks and reached Trail Crest about 10:00 a.m.
Without wind to worry about, the Windows are actually great photo ops. The trail is level and comfortably wide at those spots, and first-timers shouldn't be concerned -- BruinJane and I both thought that some other portions of the Whitney trail, as well as portions of Baldy's Devil's Backbone, provided tighter and more precipitous encounters which warranted greater attention.
Ran into Jack again at this point. Descent #2 for him. Darn that guy.
Signed the register about noon, with a special nod to Danu (couldn't have done it without you, Sherp) and to 67Brickie (thanks for the push, Brick). Up top we were feeling surprisingly good.
Took lots of pictures. Met and visited with Ranger Mark from Sequoia (thanks for taking some pics, Mark -- yours are on their way). Had a bite to eat. Called our respective fathers (yes, Verizon came through). It was a great experience.
The descent was safe and uneventful -- exactly what we were hoping for. No knee pain, whatsoever. We were shocked. Met up with our good friends Jimbo and Adele at the Portal Store for the best burgers, fries, and beers imaginable.
Food/Drink: We each started with full 100 oz. insulated bladders, and two empty Nalgenes. Just to be safe, I filled my Nalgenes on the way up the Switchbacks at the top of the "spring", which to me appears more like a melting snow bank. Despite having a filter in my pack, I took BobR's and others' advice and filled up unfiltered, straight from the source. Almost a week later, we're not experiencing any ill effects. We didn't hit these Nalgenes until the Switchbacks on our way down. Jane's two Nalgenes remained empty throughout the hike. As for food, on the trail we snacked periodically on GU, mini-Snickers pieces, PowerBars, and different trail mixes. At the summit, Jane ate her PB&J bagel.
Training: Started in March, and included several weekend hikes to altitude up Southern California peaks (Mt. Wilson, Mt. Lowe, Baldy via Village, Gorgonio via Vivian Creek, San Jacinto), many with Gary providing the necessary leadership, motivation, and descriptions of previous Whitney summits. Mid-week, we did countless 5-milers up to our local Henninger Flats and Echo Mountain. As has been stated by others many times, there's no better prep than hitting the trails, if for no other reason than getting used to the "down."
Observations/First-Timer Tips: Trail conditions. I was very impressed with how well maintained and clean it was, considering the pressure. Hat's off to those responsible for its maintenance and repair. Forest service members and volunteers (like GregF) should be commended. Cudos, big time.
Footwear: Despite a lot of recent discussion on the Board about this issue, I couldn't decide between using my trailrunners or traditional hiking boots. I decided to go with my mid-height Merrells instead of my Zamberlans. When I go again, I'm going with the Zamberlans. While the trailrunner-type Merrells worked just fine going up, the mid-trail rocks could be felt through the soles coming down -- no big deal, but an unwanted nuisance. Perhaps sole inserts would've helped.
Light gloves: Add 'em to your pack. With even the slightest early morning breeze up there, you'll be glad to have them.
Binoculars: Leave 'em campside. Unused added weight.
The Switchbacks: There are 99 and not 97. Those two near the bottom have enough of a change of direction where they should count. Just my opinion.
WAG bags: Are no big deal. 'Nuf said.
Backpacks: Our new Osprey Packs were incredibly comfortable and our backs stayed cool. Glad we had them. The waist belt pockets made for easy access to our food, lip balm, etc. And, no, I'm not affiliated with Osprey.
One last comment of appreciation to Doug, Earlene, and the Portal crew for their welcoming nature and obvious dedication to making the Whitney experience the best possible, especially for us first-timers. Thanks again.
