Day 55 – The Assault on Mt. Whitney

Alarms sounded way too early but the opportunity to ascend, (at least 2/3rds), the highest summit in the contiguous US was awaiting! The trail is described as non-technical (no ropes or climbing gear required) but strenuous trail thru Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park.

There were a few last minute tasks that were left until the AM. Theresa made the PB&J sandwiches on tortillas (for better transport), then applied mole skin (at least 20 years old) to her heals along with an ample coating of Vaseline before socks and hiking boots were put on. Zin then needed to be let out to do her business, as it would be a very long day for her in the AC of the RV. Meanwhile Kevin was assigned to get all the gear packed into the 2 backpacks and one fanny pack and load it and spare cloths and water for after the hike, all in the car.

At 4:30am the two hikers were finally in the CRV and making the 30 min drive to the Whitney Portal 13 miles up a dark & winding road 13 miles outside the one and only Lone Pine stop light.

The hikers began the trek in the dark at 5:11AM, an hour later than planned. The ascent began at 8200 ft elevation. With head lamp, flashlight and both team members in long sleeves the shuffling sounds generated by climbing boots and sticks began. The team encountered a sky filled with Billions and Billions of stars. It was a challenge to keep an eye on the trail with the distraction of the vast universe also demanding attention. Kevin began to chronicle the adventure by taking pictures all along the trail. He continued to chronicle the trip from sun rise to the last miles of the trip. The sunrise started to lighten the crests of the mountains and illuminate the trail for the hikers by 6:11AM. An estimated 1 mile had been completed, right on track. The first notable point on the trail was Lone Pine Lake about 2.6 miles from the trailhead. There was a trail leading to the lake, this would add more miles and give up the high ground. Never give up the High Ground.

Link to Slideshow Here  or see the slideshow to the right ---->

There were a number of small water crossings and many, many switchbacks leading up to a green meadow that housed the Outpost Camp (3.8 miles from trailhead). This was an area that allowed hikers to elect to make the ascent to the Trail Crest in 2 - 3 days using this area as a base camp for the night prior and after assent.

Up thru a boulder field and several more switchbacks was the appropriately named Mirror Lake. On a calm day Mirror Lake reflects the peak of Mt. Whitney an its surrounding neighbors. Reaching Mirror Lake was the minimum objective of the team. The unspoken goal was to push on to the base of the last set of switchbacks signaling the last phase to the summit of Mt. Whitney. A brief rest and some yummy snacks were consumed here to power the hikers for the next segment.

The next stretch would ascend beyond the tree line to about 11K feet. This would also challenge the hikers to a technically rougher trail with large steps over boulders, limited trail marking's, unstable footing, as well as steeper grades, and thinner air. It took the team longer than expected to get to the next mark of Trail Side Meadow marking 5 miles into the ascent. As the air thins speed becomes a surreal reality, but the clock stays constant in its measurement of 24 hours in a day.

The team pushed on past the Trail Side Meadow afraid to stop and pause in this new surreal world of thin air.

Up, Up, Up, nothing but Gray Boulders, Blue Sky, Bright Sun, and the sound of Deep Deep Breathing, the team pushed on.

On several occasions the team would glance up from their focus of the trail obstacles in anticipation of some definable point or destination up the trail. “Maybe it is just over or around this rock” Kevin would suggest as if it would encourage him and his teammate. “You OK”? He would ask. “Lets see what is there” Theresa would reply in response to Kevin's attempt at encouragement and optimism.

Another glance up the trail resulted in a short pause to inspect where the team had come from, and what might be a possible point of interest. As Kevin lifted his head to perform a 360 review he suddenly stopped, he may even have stopped breathing, as a crystal clear turquoise lake called Constitution Lake exposed itself just shy of the team's destination of Trail Camp.

After an appropriate pause and several pictures the team pushed on. In less than a mile the team rolled over the top of a grade to discover yet another small lake and the area known to all Mt. Whitney backpackers as Trail Head Camp Site.

Several backpackers were just breaking camp to head back down to the portal after a previous days ascent. Several others were preparing their day packs to accomplish the ascent and descent from the Trail head to the summit and back to Trail camp within the daylight hours that remained. It was just 11 AM so the destination of 6.5 – 7 miles and 12K ft had been made in under 6 hours for the Smitanic Team! Nice job! The descend would surely be faster, right? The mantra goes 2/3 rds of the time to ascent 1/3 to descend.

The pause at the top meant time for more nourishment, water, and rest for the now numbing legs and feet. Kevin took the time to take off his boots, remove all wrinkles from the socks, and then relace the boots for the trip down the mountain. At 11:51 the effort to descend back to the Portal began.

Gravity began as a friend, each hiker had 2 hiking sticks to lessen the impact on knees as each step and rock was traversed. Theresa's knees were bad to start with and refused to bend more than 30 degrees. To avoid the extreme strain she would take the steeper steps down sideways, and pray that her knees nor legs would not give out on her.



Kevin was pacing ahead anticipating that the 1/3 rule was in effect. He quickly learned that the rule did not apply to all hikers. Kevin began a green light red light technique as he waited for his group leader every 20 min or so. He leveraged each stop as a water break, video, or picture spot, or opportunity to visit with other hikers on the trail. With less than a mile to Whitney Portal Kevin elected to finish in an attempt to prepare for his team members arrival at the car.

At about 4pm Kevin was at the car, he unloaded the day pack, changed socks and shoes, and awaited Theresa's arrival. Theresa arrived 20 min later with her legs barely able to support her and her feet throbbing. The momentous 13 – 14 miles were completed in about 11 hours! 

Next time more preparation, mainly training and no dog waiting, will allow the crest to be reached.

The RV resort's jacuzzi was a slight relief to the weary hiker's lower extremities. Even better was a spaghetti dinner that Theresa concocted out of leftover burgers, sausage and veggies.

Plans were made to do laundry the next morning before pulling up stakes and heading to the penultimate stop of Lake Isabella, CA mere 105 miles south.