Mt Whitney Zone Forums The Chat Room WZ Acronyms

It has been a while since I have read the WZ. I find myself trying to dig deep into my brain to remember what some of the acronyms mean like HST. Then I wondered what it must be like for newbies on the WZ. If no one minds could we set up a glossary on the WZ for readers to use if they don't know what an acronym means or at least post the meaning in this thread. I even find myself trying to remember what HAPE & HACE stands for. These two I can look up on the internet but some of the jargon avid Whitney hikers use cannot be looked up on the internet.

Just a suggestion after a beer and a hard day's work.

RA5OTWZ = Relaxing After 5pm on the WZ

Lynn, the HST is the High Sierra Trail, which crosses the Sierra east-west. As opposed to the SHR, the Sierra High Route, which mirrors the John Muir Trail (JMT) north-south, only at higher elevations.

I believe most of the acronyms you'll see on this site and the WPS (Whitney Portal Store) are abbreviated landmarks along the MWMT (Mt. Whitney Main Trail, or MMWT for Main Mt. Whitney Trail). Like TC for Trail Camp (or sometimes Trail Crest - use context), LPL for Lone Pine Lake, OC for Outpost Camp, TM for Trailside Meadow, ML for Mirror Lake, CL for Consultation Lake, BHP or BP for Big Horn Park, JMT for the John Muir Trail junction.

Then there's the MR (Mountaineer's Route). NF for North Fork of Lone Pine Creek (LPC), EL for Ebersbacher Ledges, LBSL (Lower Boy Scout Lake), UBSL (Upper Boy Scout Lake), IL or IBL (Iceberg Lake), F400 (Final 400).

You'll also sometimes see other nearby trailheads along the eastern Sierra abbreviated: HM for Horseshoe Meadow, OV for Onion Valley, MF for Mosquito Flats.

And HAPE is High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (fluid in the lungs due to altitude). HACE is High Altitude Cerebral Edema (fluid/swelling of the brain for the same reason).

But that's only IMHO (in my humble opinion) and YMMV (your mileage may vary) . . .

Lynn, Your Wish Is My Command YWIMC.

TANSTAAFL - wagga's goin' all Heinlein on us!

Bulldog & Wagga,

Thank you for translating all the acronyms for the WZ readers.

Wagga, great minds think alike but your great mind addressed the issue a lot earlier.

One WZ jargon neither of you addressed is the 2.5 mile area. I encountered this term in the Missing Hiker thread about Mr. Likely.

Don't forget HAFE !

I think my daughter is the poster child for that condition . . .

Boys will be boys, have to talk about bodily functions (HAFE).

Ok, who is going to explain the 2.5 mile area.

Lynn,

I believe the "2.5 mile area" that was being referred to isn't necessarily WZ jargon... but rather a reference to the length of that section of trail, between Trail Camp and Mirror Lake, that was being searched.

Gary... does that lovely daughter of yours look at this board? You might be asking for trouble if she does! ;-)

~Chris

Chris, not since our trip up Whitney last year. You know how now-focused 14 YOs can be. We hope to get out there in September, so if she decides to prowl the boards at that time I'll take my chances. She's busted me for saying worse . . .

Let me know when in September.... I'm not making promises, but might try to jet up for a weekend and give hugs and loves!

It would be the third week of Sep if we can make it happen - she has a fall break at school that week, so that would be our only window. The ankle she broke in February is just not recovered well enough for us to be comfortable with her stability for our normal July trip. We should know in another month whether it's a go/no go.

Hmmm.... third weekend of September would answer my "What to do for my birthday weekend" for this year ;-)

Me too (20th)! I know what I WANT to do . . .

29th here!

I know what I'd like to do too.... don't know if its happening this year... but I love to catch a good sunrise from up high somewhere!

That was the area between TC and ML where MH was thought most probably to have gone 404.

Salty Dog,

404 is not on Wagga's list nor is MH. I think MH is missing hiker.

OK, I have quite a few more, so keep sending them in, I'll post a new full list this weekend.

NoBo and SoBo to denote directions on JMT/PCT. Assume you already have WP and WPS.

Wagga,

When I run across acronyms not on your list I will send them your way. Thank you for keeping a list for the WZ readers, this includes me.