I stopped for some water at North Fork Lone Pine Creek just before
finishing the trail. When I got back down to the parking lot,
my ride was waiting for me (thank goodness!). I collapsed into
the truck and almost immediately began to feel extremely
terrible like I did at 12,000' again!
It was a massive amount of over energy consumption.
I had dipped below my energy conservation levels twice between
Monday and Wednesday and had still somehow made it back to the truck. I was still feeling terrible!
I was however proud of myself for making it to Trail Camp with
all that weight. If I had friends with me and this happened,
I would have been able to self-sustain at Trail Camp for
another day or two without being a burden while they summit.
I am happy with myself for this.


Those famous Hamburgers at the Whitney Portal stand are
as much of a serious thing as the Whitney trail.
Highly recommended. This thing returned my energy to
my body within a half hour. However, it did not
fix the soreness I am encountering the next day.


I can barely, and I mean BARELY walk right now. That knee that
made a popping noise is black and blue and I have lots of
blisters. I even had a small bout of sickness like up on the hill
this morning at home the next day while well down at 1600' elevation.

This hike is no joke at all. It's all straight up.
There is maybe 1/4 mile total of flat area and the rest is all
climbing, just as my friends and favorite sites have all told
me it was going to be. I didn't make it this time, but I am
glad that I went (now that the sickness has gone lol).
Something is telling me I have to come back and try again one
day with a bit less in my pack, take a bit more time, move a bit slower and enjoy it a little more.
It was kind-of intense and a rush, this first time around.
A smack in the face of reality, if you will!

Luckily I enjoyed it, had a good time, and the worst injury
I received was a bite from the fish, some sore legs and an AMS hangover.
I'll be back again someday next year to try again, muh deery!




That was surely the hardest thing I have ever tried to do in my life.

-Casey, out.