MT. WHITNEY (14,495') 4X October 12, 2001

Arriving to the Whitney Portal day parking by 4:50 a.m, I stored my toothpaste in a bear locker, and, despite never having any food in there, worried a bit about damage to my brand new car. I thought hard about any "scented items," to be sure, said to cause animal break-ins.

Starting up the trail by flashlight at 5:37 a.m., I hoped to breeze the peak in maybe six hours ascent time. Not to be! I passed a couple other hikers, and dawn light arrived as I got to Lone Pine Lake.

I had some 20 pounds to carry, with three liters of water, and two 20 oz. bottles of diet soda. I had both my cameras, and regretted that it was too dim to record the colors in the willows and shrubs for the first couple miles. It didn't appear too spectacular, anyway. I kept times on my permit tag, and thought then I would strive to summit by 2 p.m., giving me five hours of daylight to descend.

Photographing the red and orange glow of the sunrise on granite walls across the canyon, I knew it would be a good day. Not a lot of hikers were going up, and the 150 day hiker quota seemed way far from being full. I saw maybe 30-40 backpackers camped enroute. I was glad I didn't have to carry any big loads up to the designated campsites.

It was chilly, so I didn't load my special batteries into my digital camera till I got to above Mirror Lake. Because it was cold, I had concerns about my camera batteries draining too quickly. They held up all day, and then all of the next day, as well. After pictures of Mt. McAdie and Consultation Lake, I came to Trail Camp at 10 a.m., and sought to rest a bit. It was a beautiful day, calm up to here, and with bright sun and clear blue skies. It was warm weather below for this time of year. I had the time, so resolved to go for the top.

The 96 or 97 switchbacks went on endlessly. I kept wishfully hoping I was near the top of this part, at Trail Crest, but the gap in the ridge above loomed far away as I looked. Some ice on the trail at the cables might deter hikers when it was worse. Finally coming to Trail Crest at 12:23 p.m., I knew I would allow maybe another 1.5 hours to the top. It became a bit windy, and I savored my likely success, and shot plenty of photos. Coming to the top at 2:15 p.m., I had to rush taking plenty of summit view photos. Descending hikers had warned that it was windy and cold, but with three layers on, out of five I carried, I was prepared. I thought I would be the last for the day, but two other groups came up.

After signing in the register, with my quick photo self-portraitures, I headed down at 2:44 p.m. I had two flashlights and a spare set of batteries, so knew I could return in the dark. I shot more photos along the scenic, top portion, the last 2.5 miles of the summit trail. The crags and pinnacles here are eye candy for me. I donned my parka, cap, and gloves, since the downhill hike from Trail Crest was to be all in shadow.

Rushing to hike as much as possible in the fading light, I made it down to Lone Pine Lake where I broke out my lights and enjoyed a good rest. I had to run through all my lights and batteries, but the trail is easy to follow here. Back to the Portal at 8:25 p.m., I organized my things, and thought to save expense by camping again. A motel would have been so nice, but I have car payments now.

Back to Lone Pine by about 9:15 p.m., I planned for a celebration meal which was spoiled by what looked like cooking oil for soup, and a bad tasting taco. But, I needed to lose weight, and took it all happily, considering my day's safe summit success.

I had camped only at about 4,000 feet elevation the previous two nights, and had no problem with altitude. Even on a bit of a diet, I felt well the entire way. I had no headaches or great fatigue, and the sole food item I brought, a small Cotlet bar, did me well as I snacked.

We avid Sierra mountaineers don't think too much of Mt. Whitney, with its trail and all. It is listed as 22 miles with 6,000' net gain round trip, which is a respectable hike. The dips in the trail are enough to be annoying, I'd estimate to add maybe 200' gain each way total. But, many people come here from a long way away, and I was proud and pleased to complete a day climb in mid-October, no less, and for my fourth ascent, previously done in the long distant, past summers of 1970, 1971, and 1984.

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