I got a chance to read through the whole report and gaze at all the pictures. You and that camera take some really beautiful shots.
Too bad about the tripod. You might try experimenting with tripod heads, and find a way to use your hiking poles as two legs of a tripod -- tied together along with a third stick (maybe a tent stay?), and you wouldn't need to carry a 3 lb tripod.
On the altitude sickness that dogged you for days: Next time you come to the Sierra for more than a day, bring along Diamox. It can help, even in low doses, like half a 125 mg tab twice a day.
I looked up your camera: Wow, now THAT's a camera!
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
