Didn't hike with Richard for Whitney on Sunday, although he did join us for a hike to Thor on Saturday.
Only 3 Whitney summits this year - brings total to 30. I am online to make 60 for 60 if I can keep up 2-3 summits a year.
All but 3 summits have been via Mountaineers Route and all have been dayhikes(except two that started at midnight so I could watch sunrise on the summit). One of my midnight hikes was via MT and one via MR.
My favorite way to top out the MR is the blocks on the left side of the gulley. When they had the pit toilet on the summit - this route topped out right at the unprotected side of the potty. More than one person was surprised as we "popped up" at an inopportune time.
I have not been counting my non-summit attemtps. If I was to guess, it would probably be somewhere around a dozen. There are a variety of reasons not to continue to the summit and I never really counted then as "failures". I guess that is the advantage to living nearby and being able to go anytime.
I have hiked on the mountain during all months of the year, although I have not summited during true winter months or conditions - I am just not geared up for winter camping. I have summited as early as March and as late as Novemer. I have many happy memories of the beautful hikes and the wonderful friends I have met along the way. I hope this continues for many more years to come.
Could certainly have a worse habit to be into than being a mountaineer.
Some people just don't get it - and that's ok.
