Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Friday the 15th, MMWT

Last weeks weather induced failure has not set well with me over the last week, and I'm not going to sit around and stew about it. I just spoke with the permit office and booked myself a day hike permit for Friday. They said that there were two more day permits available as of right now, as well as three over nighters for Thursday night. Just thought I'd throw that out there for anyone else who has an itch.

After my initial "failed" attempt at the summit of Whitney, I went less than a month later and summited. You'll be fine. Looks like the weather is great.
Good luck........

Lot'sa hard followed by failure doesn't sit well with most anyone. Wifey got really depressed after her feet failed her at Trail Crest. She's never been back but it has been for a lot of different reasons, almost all not associated with hiking.

I've tried to convince her that backpacking from Horseshoe Meadow would be a lot easier but she is skeptical.

The good thing about failing is you learn what it takes to be successful...or should.

Yea, I did learn, once again, how to avoid failure on any mountain last week. Avoid the darned thunderstorms. I'm dying to get out of here this afternoon. Hopefully I can catch an hour or two of sleep before I hit the trail.

Ya can't fight T-storms but people do on this mountain.

You also can't fight AMS apparently. Had a little fun with that yesterday, when I decided to give Whitney a go after driving up from 1000 ft. where I live late Thursday and sleeping for four hours at the hostel in Lone Pine. Got on the MMWT at 2am, and had a blast. Got to Trail Camp at 6am, and got on the switchbacks to head up at 6:30. Hit the big ole wall of AMS at right around 7:30, at around 12,800 ft. I had been dealing with the slight headache, but it got real bad, real quick, and suddenly I couldn't walk right anymore.

I was alone, so I didn't have much time for fun with experimentation with my body in such a state. So I headed back down to Trail Camp to see if my body would adjust with a little nap, and it did not.

It was a pretty darned fun hike though. I really enjoyed myself, and made friends with a group of Hungarians who were on the trail with me most of the way. Had I spent a night or two at the Portals before, I think I'd have been just fine, but I didn't have that kind of time. So apparently, it's Mt. Whitney 2, GandC 0. To be continued...

GandC, sorry about the AMS.

Have you tried using Diamox yet? It could help some.

Sleeping in Lone Pine, while comfortable, doesn't help.

No, I haven't, but I'm going to get in with my doc to give it a shot later this week. I definitely don't want the same thing happening in September when I'm back up there, as it will probably be my last chance of the year to hit the summit. For that trip, though, I'll have three days at the Portal ahead of time to get a little altitude in me.

It was a very valuable lesson, to say the least. I'm glad that I learned it.

GandC, I have the same record. Making my 3rd attempt at the end of August. I'm counting on "3rd times the charm".

wazzu.......you'll be fine. Now just to find you a partner. Hopefully I'll be fine on Wednesday. I haven't hiked since the MR two weeks ago, but have been going to the gym. I did a really short run/walk today. Knee's feeling pretty good, about 85%.

GandC..... you'll be fine. You may want to consider a two day'er as your first one, acclimate at the portal for a day, hike to Consultation Lake and stay there, then up to the summit. I've never had full on AMS, but when I get a headache, it starts around 12,000 feet.

Okay.... no more lessons for you. Acclimate, hydrate and take your time. We'll be watching :-) Best of all, there's still a good 2/12 months of dry trail.