backpacking
We decided to be up at 11pm Saturday night to make it to Whitney Portal (20+ miles away on mountain roads) by 12 midnight. We just made the time and by 12:37 we were hiking.
On May 13, 2011 Trevor and Chris attempted to climb Mount Whitney with no experience. Both were lucky to make it safely down with a story to tell and hope their experience can help others to take their time and be better prepared.
It’s the question on the tip of everyone’s tongue each time I conjure the courage to spit out the idea for my latest sufferfest. Why climb over 10,000 vertical feet in a day? Why push for a summit in 70mph winds? Why waste a perfectly good Saturday waking up at five in the morning to bloody my fingers on sharp granite crystals?
After a long day of trudging up and down switchbacks and mountain passes under the blazing sun, cool evening alpine air prompts me to search out an ideal spot to camp. Worn and weathered, I set up, wash up, and eat dinner while watching alpenglow fade off surrounding granite walls.