After spending a few years dealing with my health, I decided to go back up Mt Whitney as a day hike. I arrived in Lone Pine on Saturday 8/22.
For my first day of acclimatization, I went to Horseshoe meadow on Sunday 8/23. My plan was to hike to Cirque Peak via New Army Pass and come back the same way. I was not able to make it to the top of Cirque Peak. When I reached New Army Pass, I started having a very bad headache. The works, really: blinding pain, blurred vision...I was struggling to talk. It's a bummer. I was only 4 miles away from the top of Cirque Peak but at that elevation, four miles can last forever. Tried to tough it out and had a snack at the pass. After 30 minutes, no change. I felt like my skull was being squeezed like a soda can. Headed back down. It's true what mountaineers say: most accidents happen on the way down. Worn out soles got me to slide 5 yards in a switchback...and stop on my elbow. I thought it was broken but no, it just hurts like hell. Still does.
When I went to the Ranger station to pick up my permit, I had a rather negative experience dealing with a volunteer there. There was a line so I waited for my turn. The volunteer (white male, 50s with a gut, hair slicked back) looked at me and went 'what do you want?', I replied 'I am here to pick up my permit'. I hand him my confirmation letter and my id and he snaps back with 'what don't you read me your reservation number, i have bad eyesight'....while he had his glasses on! I read the info to him and he goes 'what language do you speak?'. I was speechless. I took a very deep breath and politely told him that I needed to go back to my hotel so can we please speed this up? He grumbled something, highlighted the boxes for me to initial on the form and give me my wag bag.
For the second of acclimatization, I went back up to New Army Pass around 4am on Monday 8/24. No headaches. Phenomenal amount of energy. I chose not to go to Cirque Peak as clouds were around the top and the ridge. Scrambling in white-out condition did not feel safe at all. Instead, I chose to stay at the pass for as long as I could bear it.
Looking at Mt Langley...
Looking at Horseshoe meadow...
I was expecting to be bored. I had an audiobook to listen to, at least. Within 15 minutes, three groups of hikers showed up at the pass. Two young couples and an older one. We exchanged greetings and within minutes, started passing around snacks and treats. Next thing I knew, two hours had passed!! I ran down the pass back to Golden Trout, to see if I could. I ran approximately 6 miles between 12,000 and 10,000 feet. I never felt any discomfort at any time.
Then I headed to Whitney Portal to check on the fires and smoke condition. Several people reported smoke at the summit. This pic was taken from the portal road, looking north east
On my way up, I was stopped on the road by two young men in desert fatigue. They were riding (desert camo-ed) dirt bikes outfitted with wide tires, like this one
These guys had a full pack on with what looked like short wave radios and antennas attached to their pack. Both had very big binoculars around their necks too. One asked me 'can you please wait a moment, sir?' without explanation. Overhead were two jets doing like strafing runs over the road to the portal and back, in a loop. Then he said thank you and they both took off down the road. I kept driving and around the first turn came a desert camo-ed ATV like vehicle with 4 guys on it, all wearing desert gear and what look like M14 or AR-15s. No idea what was that about!!
On Tuesday 8/25, I started at the portal at midnight. I could not really sleep so I figured it was as a good time as any. Reached trail crest a little bit before 5am. I was blessed to see the sunrise there while having a snack. It was stunning! Summited at 6:08am. Wind and cold at the top nearly made pass out. I only had a windbreaker with me...and it did not break much. Back at my car at 1:15pm. As usual, I could not call it a day without the portal famed burger. As big as a cat. Did you know you can ask for bacon?
A great time was had. A car accident put me out of commission for a while. Thankfully, my health has greatly improved. I started running and I am better shape now than when I was in my 20s. I don't think I could have done what I did otherwise.
Thank you for reading.
