More from California! - Mt. Whitney - 14,505ft

[Eric Holden]

Mt. Whitney - 14,505ft

This has been a while in the making. I have had my eyes on climbing Mt. Whitney for many years now. Just some quick back story information, about 13 months ago, i was this.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/625451_10151367084453155_1757223758_n.jpg


299.8lbs, I was still hiking and climbing, but man was it hard. I decided enough is enough. Started hiking, climbing and canyoneering more and eating less. 13 months later I am this
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040272.jpg


223lbs before heading up to Lone Pine, I figured carrying a pack weighing 20 pounds was better then a 93 pound pack. So to the trip!


I "won" 3 permits to day hike the main trail up Whitney on 8/25. Got my buddy Josh, and my regular hiking/climbing partner "Patrick the Swede" to join me. We got to Horseshoe meadows two days before our scheduled day hike. Spent the first day reading and did a 6 mile hike to the New Army Pass/Cottonwood Lakes junction.
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/TwodaysbeforeclimbingMtWhitney/p1040243.jpg


The next day we drove to the Portal for breakfast. YUMMY CARBS!
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/TwodaysbeforeclimbingMtWhitney/p1040264.jpg


After picking up some supplies in Lone Pine we headed back to the campground for more acclimatization. Soon smoke started rolling in and then it started raining ash. This was from both the Yosemite fire and the "Fish" fire in Kern County. Many people left due to the smoke, we just shut the tents and enjoyed the browned skies. The smoke ended up clearing out about 7pm, bed time was at 8pm
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/TwodaysbeforeclimbingMtWhitney/p1040271.jpg


Woke up at 2am to hit the trail early. Ended up actually starting at 3:30am. Began a nice steady pace up the trail.
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040282.jpg


We hit Trail Camp about sunrise and got to see some nice alpine glow.
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040287.jpg


Started up the 97 switchbacks... For the record I counted 100 going up, and 94 coming down.... Go figure...
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040301.jpg


Unfortunatly my buddy Josh started feeling the effects of the switchback and on #92 (Out of my 100) had to turn back. We tried to convince him to at least hit trail crest but the mountain won. We made sure he was ok, and watched him head back.
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040308.jpg


After my 100 switchbacks we hit Trail Crest, view was beautiful and you could see the smoke from the Fish fire. The smoke was not hurting our view any, but the winds were beginning to pick up
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040314.jpg


Starting the last push we could see the shelter way off in the distance.
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040319.jpg


Guitar Lake
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040320.jpg


Then at 11:15am we reached the summit. This would be Patrick's 5th summit, and my 1st.
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040335.jpg


Fat marmots trying to steal my bourbon :evil:
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040338.jpg


We started back down at 12:00 and got to see all the things we missed in the dark. Beautiful area, simply breathtaking.
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040352.jpg


http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/p1040350.jpg


We made it off the trail right at 5:00pm and rejoined with Josh for some burgers and a beer at the Portal store. 13.5 hours total round trip. Great times had by all!




More pictures can be found on my personal website.
http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/TwodaysbeforeclimbingMtWhitney/index.html


http://www.drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/MtWhitney14505ft/index.html

[accadacca]

Damn dude! Congrats on the transformation! Awesome. :2thumbs:

[jman]

Damn dude! Congrats on the transformation! Awesome. :2thumbs:

X2 like Acca said!! you owe it to yourself and you did. Even when you where near 300 - great discipline and motivation on staying active. That's hard!

Good job on the climb - great pics. Look forward to more!

[ststephen]

Congratulations! I love the New Army Pass area too. Some great destinations accessible from there.

[JONBOYLEMON]

Dang buddy! You are awesome!!!! Great work on all counts! Some day I want to stand atop the same peak!

[kiwi_outdoors]

Excellent work on all counts, and your buddy was wise to turn back. When I summited years ago one hike continued to the top, hacking up blood as he went.

[Sombeech]

Great job on the hard work!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[dougr]

So awesome. I have the highest admiration for you. Not only is it physically hard at 300 to do what it takes, but it takes tremendous courage to overcome the embarrassment of exercising amongst fit people in sports like these.

Just excellent.

[Eric Holden]

it takes tremendous courage to overcome the embarrassment of exercising amongst fit people in sports like these.
Just excellent.

One thing I have never been is embarrassed :). I like to take of my shirt at the climbing crags next to these 18 year old 6 pack ab boys climbing the same thing I am.

[Bob]

Congratulations, great place to hike. Next time around try and get a permit for June out of the portal. The trail from trail camp to trail crest will be closed, covered by late spring snow usually. So you end up making your own trail up the snow field for a couple of hours. I have great memories of climbing the snow, hiking on to Whitney, the rest of the trail is in the sun and pretty passable, then sliding back down from crest to camp in early afternoon. Best ice wegie ever. Nothing like trail camp, exhaustion, and stars...

[dougr]

My recommendation is to go the Mountaineer's Route next time, the way Muir did. Much less traffic, much wilder, and much more exciting.

[Glenn]

Awesome trip report, Eric. I'm not a "peak bagger" but you really got me thinking that I should attempt Whitney someday. Congratulations on your achievement.

[Eric Holden]

Excellent work on all counts, and your buddy was wise to turn back. When I summited years ago one hike continued to the top, hacking up blood as he went.
Yikes! I would have forced that guy to head back down. HAPE not good.

[Slot Machine]

77 lbs loss??? AWESOME! :2thumbs: Congrats! AND, nice TR!

It's time for some skinny canyons, methinks. :hmm2: