I noticed the switchbacks were littered with at least 20 pairs of expensive brand-named trekking poles.
On our first ascent of Whitney, we were coming down the switchbacks amid heavy cloud cover, graupel, and an occasional thunderclap. I heard a buzzing sound and noticed that the hair on my arm was standing on end. I thought about ditching my Leki Makalu's ($125), but decided that conditions weren't that bad yet.
