I am heading (driving) up to Lone Pine InterAgency Visitors Center this evening and at this point, I am only 160 miles away. I would like to hike with someone. Friday is the day I want to hike. I will leave at 4 am sharp. I need that much time. I am not too fast. I have only hiked the mountain once before. It was really rough for me. Lots of stops and starts. I did make it to the summit last year at 3:30 pm on October 3rd. The funny thing is that there were very few or actually no government workers or administrators of any kind on the mountain or at the visitor center during those days, only a few freaked rangers and a few angry maintenance workers at the portal to do the trash and put up signs telling people that the mountain was not staffed and people must leave. Hikers were not complying, they wad come to far, to be turned back, me as well, We disobeyed the pigs, at least those of us who felt experienced, confident, and those who were determined to hike it and hike it safely. It was difficult but I made it to the top. I left the portal at 6:30 pm October 2nd. I actually slept a little at the waterfalls on the way up and on the way back, I has ski pants, a tarp and a blanket, so sleeping was minimally possible given the weather. My solo success lasted less than 2 days, a total of 42 hours from leaving Whitney Portal, to returning to Whitney Portal. I would like to do it again. I will park at the Lone Pine Interagency Visitor Center tonight and wait till the morning, to see if I can get lucky, and receive a day pass. If I receive one, I will promptly drive up and make prepartations, possibly take a 4 hour nap up at 8 thousand feet, to acclimate. I am 50 and Native American. I have been climbing mountains nonstop for about 5 years now. If anyone sees this and is also seeking a partner, please contact me immediately at 415-828-3335 Zak Flying Around.
