from your list, one thing I don't see is what was your food and drink intake in the 36 hours at 8500 ft before the hike (is it possible you were a bit dehydrated even before you started?). "Pre-hydrating" for 2-3 days, including electrolytes (cytomax or similar powder mix is an alternative to electrolyte tabs), is just as important as hydration during strenuous exercise.
Looks like I'll just miss you at Whitney - I'll be day-hiking it on Sept 1.
Plenty hydrated and feeling good...it was wifey who was taking tough on the way up. It all started on the summit after the first bite of food.
AMS is really hard to predict. I have had it as low as 7,500'...June Lake, and not have it on Mt. Whitney. After the experience on White, I went to Diamox and have not looked back.
