BETH CONGRATULATIONS! WOW!!! Happy for you and husband!
I was at your webpage "Betty Beyond Boston" and loved your photos! Great descriptions of everything, but I still have questions...;) I hope you can answer some, because I've been taking the preparation very serious like you and I would love to succeed too.
FYI English is my 2nd language, so please forgive my basic writing.
Start at 4AM: Did you see any animals? Bears, snakes, etc? Did you only have a forehead light or a regular flashlight too? WE ONLY SAW SOME DEER AND A VERY SMALL SNAKE. THAT WAS IT! AND WE ONLY HAD OUR HEADLAMPS, BUT I ATTACHED GLOW STICKS TO OUR BACKPACKS SO WE WERE MORE VISIBLE.
12 pair of socks: How often did you have to change and did you use it all? I KNOW THE 12 PAIRS WERE A LOT! BUT SINCE MY SHOES WERE NOT WATERPROOF I WANTED TO BE PREPARED. WHEN I WEAR MY TRAIL RUNNERS I ALWAYS DOUBLE UP ON SOCKS BECAUSE ITS MORE COMFORTABLE FOR ME. I ACTUALLY ONLY CHANGED SOCKS ONCE WHILE ON THE HIKE.
Gators: Are they a MUST to have or not a real necessity? I don't have it now, but if it is a MUST; I will buy it ASAP. I ONLY HAD THEM BECAUSE MY SHOES WERE NOT WATERPROOF. THEY DIDNT MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE BUT THEY HELPED KEEP MY LEGS AND ANKLES DRY WHEN I WAS IN THE SNOW AND ON THE RIVER CROSSING.
Crossing overflowing river: I'm very concerned! 1 mile from Portal? Oh no! I'm very petite (opposite of Blake). Height 5,1 and 99 pounds! Should I take an extra pair of shoes/boots? Should I cross it barefoot? How I'll survive this river? Help please! ;( YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW MUCH WEIGHT YOU CARRY, SO YOU MOGHT NOT WANT TO BRING EXTRA SHOES. IF YOU ARE WEARING BOOTS THAT ARE WATERPROOF THEN YOU WILL BE FINE. I WOULD NOT GO BAREFOOT AS THE ROCKS COULD BE SLIPPERY.
Breaks: Correct me if I'm wrong. Your first stop was after 5 miles? How many stops going up? How long was the break? (average in minutes please). WE TOOK SHORT BREAKS TO TAKE PHOTOS AND THEN RESTED AT 2.5 MILES, THEN AT 5 MILES. PUR PLAN WAS TO REST FOR 10 MINS EVERY 2.5 BUT WE TOOK MORE FREQUEST BREAKS ONCE WE GOT INTO HIGHER ALTITUDE.
Food: Besides the energy bar from REI, what else you took? Food that doesn't attract bear after me! Super concerned about the overflowing river and bears in the morning! ;( DONT WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE BEARS IF YOU ARE DOING A DAY HIKE. IF YOU ARE CAMPING, YOU WILL NEED A BEAR CONTAINER. PEOPLE ARE TERRIFIED OF BLACK BEARS BUT THEY ONLY WANT YOUR FOOD. THEY ARE VERY SCARED OF HUMANS SO THEY WILL GENERALLY ONLY GO AFTER YOUR FOOD WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT AROUND (LIKE IN A BACKPACK THAT IS LEFT OUT OVER NIGHT WITH FOOD IN IT AND NO CONTAINER). I BROUGHT 2,000 CALORIES. I FIGURED I WOULD BURN ABOUT 3,000 CALORIES ON THE HIKE AND I HAD A BRING BREAKFAST BEFORE WE STARTED THE HIKE. I BROUGHTT TEO CLIFF BARS, TWO PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLLY SANDWICHES, 4 L OF WATER, PRETZELS, AND ENERGY GELS.
Dave, "Your Angel": What kind advices he gave to you? HE BASICALLY WAS JUST SOMEONE WHO WAS VERY EXPERIENCED AND COULD ANSWER ANY WUESTIONS WE HAD. HE ASSURED US THAT OUR TIMING AND PACE WAS ON POINT, AND HE TAUGHT US HOW TO GLISSADE DOWN THE CHUTE.
TRAIL CREST: What time you arrived at Trail Crest? Is it safe to drop off/leave your expensive backpack and gears there? WE GOT THERE AROUND 11:30AM. LOST OF HIKERS LEAVE THEIR BELONGINGS BUT ITS UP TO YOU.
Medication: Did you take any supplements/medication before starting the trail? Did you take any medication while hiking or after feeling dizzy/migraines near to the Summit? If yes, which one please? I TOOK IBUPROFEN FOR MOST OF THE HIKE BUT CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE AS I AM NOT A DOCTOR.
My husband and I are training a lot. 12 to 16 miles hiking 3 x a week. Doing Stairmaster 3 x week 1 hrs. Where else in exercise to help with the hike? THAT SOUNDS GREAT!
Sorry for soooooooo many questions!
I'm just the type of person who likes to do things right and I would like to cross Mount Whitney out of my 'BUCKET LIST" SAFE! FYI, I will turned around if I see myself OUT of my comfortable zone! So, please answer what you can!
a lot!
Nayara Jones
