Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports TR for July 20-22 - A Family Affair

ahhhhhh......Bri looked so sad at the turnaround point.

Hey QS,

Where's the video of your dance moves on the summit???


Bulldog, great photos. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks all.

Bob, work ate me alive for about 10 days after we got back. It never pays to disappear from e-mail for two weeks. The shoulder's good - better than 90% at this point. I'll probably head for the climbing gym in a couple of weeks to test it out.

Tom, Bri was definitely disappointed at the turnaround, but after we had re-crossed the snow chute, which was the only point on the trail that she exhibited real fear, I asked her how she would have liked to cross it later in the day as it was icing up and becoming more dangerous. I think at that point she got the reasoning for the turnaround.

Wazzu....no one was there to video me. I've never seen the summit so empty. You should have seen me though, I left a hole in one of the boulders I was dancing so hard.

And SoCal Girl...... I wore those shorts I told you about. Guess you missed it. And thanks for coming by and "special delivering" the hiking poles from Doug.....that was great.

did somebody say "Whitney Dance Party"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU5yrU-IszM

Never get enough of that one Tom :-)

Gary,

Great TR and pics!

In looking at the pics posted here, after identifying who you were in those pics, I'm 99% certain you and I said a passing "hi" to each other just outside the Portal Store by the first picnic table, and may have done the same another time during the first day or so. Unbelievable!

I can't believe I was up there at the same time as so many of you, and not knowing who any of you were by sight (except the Moose, who I had the pleasure of FINALLY meeting in person, and for Richard P., who I hiked with in ~2003), I probably walked right by you without knowing who I was walking by. Also, Gary, I forgot to mention in our e-mails today, that I was also staying at the Hostel for the entire 6 nights I was there. The first night, Sat, 7/23, I was in Room 11 with 3 other guys. I converted to a private room for the remaining 5 nights, and had Room 10 those nights.

Gotta do those Zoner shirts!!

Joe, if you summitted on Thursday, 7/28 (I think I read that), congrats! That was to have been my summit attempt day, but I bowed out of it late the evening before (having intended to begin at midnight to avoid the heat), because the smoke from the fire appeared to be significantly impacting not only the valley, but more so, the mountains, and having mild controlled asthma, I didn't really need to aggravate my lungs with all that bad stuff. By the way, Joe, when I summitted in 2007, there were only 4 of us on the summit also -- 2 rock climbers who were getting their gear organized, a very sleepy looking guy, and me. The other guy left shortly after I arrived, which left me and the climbers, who I talked into taking my picture (Steve C. - yeah, that's "the picture" displayed on your laptop in our lost camera story).

Congrats to all for a wonderful hike!

Bri, I know very well what it's like to get within a mile of this summit and have to turn around, which is what I had to do in either 2005 or 2006. I came back in 2007 and finally did made the summit for the first time. It felt really good! Well worth the wait. If you were emotional at having to quit that close, wait until you try it again, but this time, you're finally on that final approach on the summit plateau, and the realization spills over you that you KNOW you're going to make it this time!! Quite a magical moment when that happens.

By the way, I'm sure I not only saw Bri in the store, but probably also talked to her, since she was helping out, again without having a clue who she was. D'oh!!

SoCalGirl - Can't believe I missed you also. Ditto for wazzu, Doc Rod, akichow, and I probably missed someone else that Gary mentioned. Did I say ... D'OH?!!!

CaT

I see only one solution to the persistent boats-passing-in-the-night problem.

MWHA-sponsored conga line next year at the summit!!!

Who's gonna arrange permits and coordinate the date?

Hey.. .no pictures no proof.. guess you'll just have to wear 'em again!!! HA!



Seriously??? OH man.. I was at the hostel for the 22-25... and at the Portal almost everyday that weekend. We really have to work on this whole coordinated meeting thing... lol

I was at the Hostel 7/23 - 7/27 (departed the morning of 7/28, a day early). What room were you in, out of curiosity? I was at the Portal the afternoon of 7/23, in and out on 7/24, and in and out on 7/27. I did other non-Whitney hikes on 7/25 and 7/26.

CaT

Chris and her daughter were in Room 5 (nice room, right down the breezeway from us) and my family and I (and Joe Friday night) were in Room 8, so we were on the other side of the building from you. I've stayed at the Hostel 4 times, and every single time I've been in Room 8. Strange. We were all there Friday and Saturday nights, the 22nd and 23rd, leaving Sunday.

I want Room 5 next time.