I would add three things here.
One is simply more acclimation time. Two nights minimum at 8500 - 10,000, and as little time low in between as possible before the trailhead. In other words, from Horseshoe I would recommend first night at Whitney portal, to reconnoiter, maybe a very slow, relaxed day hike to LPL and second night at Horseshoe, with no trip into Lone Pine in between.
Two is to be better prepared to back off. If I am reading your account right, you began to develop pretty clear AMS symptoms well before that first vomit stop. Continuing was risky. Going on after the first vomit was a very high risk move. It's not easy, I know, to turn around a mile from a summit, but it is well to remember: you don't have to go up; you do have to come back down.
OK, three, on how to keep hydrated and avoid hyponatremia. Harvey can check me on this, but I use urine color as a gauge. I keep drinking until pee is very pale to colorless. In my first few days on the JMT last year, I didn't get into balance until day 4 or 5, and the color test coincided exactly with my overall improvement in endurance and feeling of well-being.
Last edited by saltydog; 07/29/14 12:52 PM.
