Mt Whitney Zone Forums Thread Like Summary - Recovery Tips

Hi, my friend and I summited Whitney 8/17, hiking for 18.5 hours on a day permit. It was grueling and we were both wondering to ourselves why people would ever want to do this hike as we were crawling our way down.

Now, my body is very sore and bruised from a bad fall I had coming down from Trailside Meadows to Mirror Lake. I was just wondering if anyone has good advice on how to recover from this hike especially a long strenuous day hike. What did you find most effective for your body?

It was a wonderful and memorable adventure. I just wish I wasn't so sore and bruised.

Exertional rhabdomyolysis , AKA “march rhabdo” occurs in athletic “adventures” or in recruits ( hence the reference to marching”.

Eccentric muscle contraction , which you do on long downhills, overexertion, inadequate conditioning, heat, dehydration and more are factors. In most mild or moderate cases like on Whitney, Bob’s suggestions and time work well. I had it there on one occasion but not the others. But if severe, there are very serious medical complications . For more info, see Rhabdo