Mount Whitney - July 25, 2013 - Member Trip Report
| Hike Name: | Mount Whitney |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | California |
| Trip Rating: |  |
| Trip Date: | July 25, 2013 |
| Duration: | 1 day |
| Trail Conditions: | Good |
| Trail Traffic: | Moderate |
| Trip Weather: | Partly Sunny, Partly Cloudy, Fog |
| Trip Winds: | Heavy |
| Trip Precipitation: | None |
| Trip Temperature: | High: 81-90, Low: 31-40 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Trip Report: | There were no early morning shenanigans this year from the boys, so the Colonel and I were able to get an extra hour or so of sleep. Nonetheless, we still got up pretty early, and set out right away. The 97 switchbacks were challenging to say the least, but our adrenaline fueled us to the top. The hike along the ridge crest was mild compared to the switchbacks, and before we knew it, we were at the summit. The top was shrouded in heavy fog, and it was fairly windy and cold. Visibility was next to nil so we snapped a few close-up celebratory photos, and one dance video, signed the register, and turned to make our way back down to Trail Camp. We still had 11 miles ahead of us. We thoroughly enjoyed our hike back down as the fog lifted and the sun decided to poke through the scattered clouds. The previous hike had done a good job of acclimating us to the elevation, and everyone was feeling fairly spirited. Reached Trail Camp under the banner of an early morning sun, packed up our gear, hoisted our packs once again, and made quick work of the remaining six miles. Celebrated with a couple tasty barley pops at the Whitney Portal Store, and my buddy, The Colonel, bought me a mock USGS benchmark paperweight, which ironically, lists the elevation as 14,497.61. Ha Ha, go figure, yet another take on the elevation. Thanks Colonel, I love it, it reminds me every day of our awesome hike! |
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