Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports Mt. Whitney Summit June 10th (First timer)

My group and I got the permit for June 9/10. We drove up on Wednesday night really late. I'm a vegetarian because I choose not to kill animals when I don't have to... and for about 100 miles of the 395, mice were running out in front of the car on suicide missions. Soooo we drove 40 mph for 100mi of the trip. It was a freakin nightmare.
Anyway... we slept at 8,000 that night and got on the trail around 9:30am. We put on crampons a lil while after Lone Pine Lake and as we found out on the way down we went straight up instead of using the trail to the right.


By joistix at 2011-06-12

We made our way to the toward Trail Camp and I started feeling the alt. My head was throbbing and as we reached Trail Camp I was feeling nauseous.

By joistix at 2011-06-12

Our neighbors saved me by giving me some of their good food. I learned to bring better food esp when I could run into a sick stomach. I threw up for a while. After I got rehydrated we went to sleep at 9. We woke up at 3:45 and started working the chute. I felt 100% better, but 2 of our other guys were still hurting so we took our time.


Here's sunrise from base of chute

By joistix at 2011-06-12


This is us working our way up at about half-way

By joistix at 2011-06-12


This is our group at the classic Trail Crest photo.

By joistix at 2011-06-12


These are 2 of the trail on the way up to the summit.

By joistix at 2011-06-12

This picture gives you a good idea of what still lies ahead after you make Trail Crest.

By joistix at 2011-06-12


My favorite Summit shot.

By joistix at 2011-06-12


These are our awesome neighbors doing Acro-Yoga. LOVE IT

By joistix at 2011-06-12


And the view headin back down

By joistix at 2011-06-12

The trip was amazing. Getting down was fast. We left Summit at 12 and broke down the tent and was at the portal store round 6. The Portal Store's Vege-burger was terrific. I learned a lot and I'm ready for the next climb (maybe mountaineer's route). The weather was superb and I have memories that will last a lifetime.

Eric

I don't think they were mice - probably a type of ground squirrel - but I know what you mean. It's no fun for me running over living things you have little chance of avoiding. For me, the worst are the kamikazi jackrabbits who sometimes dart out of the brush at night at a high rate of speed and literally bounce off your vehicle, dead as a doornail. Perhapss the saving grace is knowing that nothing is wasted, and so these dead animals will likely nourish something else. Still, it's unsettling.

Sounds like you guys had a great trip.

That's not a suicide mission - this is a suicide mission

The suicide kangaroo... amazing!

Joistix Eric:   Thanks so much for posting the report. I am amazed that your altitude problems went away overnight. Usually people affected at Trail Camp have to turn back. Glad you made it.

Those are great pictures.

I love the west side snow trail pic; it really shows how careful one has to be!

What did you bring for supper that night & what was the better food that your neighbors had?

(I am mostly a vegetarian with an occasional foray into meat, which makes the whole post hike portal store scene a bit challenging)

Eric,

Well done. Great story and pics.

KC

Great trip report and beautiful photos of the area, I felt like I was right there, 'right-now'.

Love the photo of your neighbors doing yoga too.

I'm a vegetarian too and I have to agree with you, the veggie burgers at the Portal Store are delicious.

Thank you for sharing.

Awesome post thanks for the recent info.