Whitney is far from being REMOTE unless you go between November 1 and May 1...there will be plenty of people on the trail.
If your hiking partner doesn't like your "trail philosophy" then I would find another partner. I thought training partners were supposed to assist each other and push the envelope.
If your training partner is the MWT trip leader, maybe that person needs a lesson in accountability...no one gets left behind on the mountain.
I make special exceptions when my party is on the ascent and one member of my party cannot make it and decides to turn back. I ask them to leave a note or something on my windshield/wipers to let me know they got off the trail. Even a voicemail or text message suffices.
Now, if we have reached the summit and we are descending, and since I am the trip leader, it is my "responsibility" to be "sweep" making sure everyone is off that trail. I make no exceptions to this.
I have been on one hike where the trip leader finished ahead of the others. My group had to assist a hiker of his party because her knees were giving her discomfort and she was having difficulty waking.
All of us made it down, and when I went to look for the trip leader, he as asleep in his car. His door was unlocked and he got a rude awakening and I had to be restrained by the members of our party. I was pissed.
See this portion of Orientation Notes by VersatileFred
Orientation Notice for Whitney first timers.
In closing, MWT hikers are a rare breed unlike anywhere in the world...we are willing to step up and step in to assist. We value living and value human life.
I got my $15.00 worth just be getting selected to hike...I want others to get their $15.00 worth.
