On Saturday 8/9/14, I successful completed a solo day hike of Mt. Whitney via the main trail. I didn't really train enough, I didn't have enough time to acclimate, and I had a fever the day of.
I had many things going against me: - I slept 3 hours the night of the hike and 5 hrs each of the 2 nights leading into.
- I was on nightquil the night of the hike.
- I didn't acclimatize and went from San Francisco to Whitney with only 1 night sleeping 5 hours at 9k by Yosemite east entrance.
- I got injured 3 weeks before the hike and didn't or work out last 3 wks leading into the hike.
My training:-Run 3-6 miles 3 times per week for 2.5 months.
-Did Cloudrest in Yosemite 1.5 month prior
-Hike up to Whitney trail camp on my initial failed attempt due to a storm.
-As mentioned above, I didn't train or workout last 3 wks.
How it went down:1:20AM: I started the hike. I didn't feel so great as I was on nightquil and have a little fever. It wasn't too bad, but like trying to workout when you have a little fever. It is full moon, so I can almost walk without using my headlamp.
2:35AM: Arrived at Lone Pines Lake. So the 1hr 15 minutes of workout sorta rid my fever away. I feel great at this point. So far, I have passed about 9 people infront of me between Trailhead and Lone Pines Lake. I took a 5 minutes rest to try doing some night sky photo.
3:06AM: Arrived at Out Post Camp, completely empty
3:20AM: Passed by Mirror Lake. The next 1 hour is really my favorite part. This is when you are at 11k and above tree line. You are completely exposed and you see only the moon and the granite around you. I was feeling like I am enjoying a great workout. I passed 1 more person around Trail Meadows. About 20 minutes before trail camp, I started to feel the shortness of breath (due to altitude), and I started to fade since I have been pushing non stop for 3 hours.
4:38AM: Arrived at Trail Camp and rested for 15 minutes. I needed to eat something quick to regain my energy back. Folks at Trail Camp were just packing or leaving for the switchback at this point and I saw 8 people hitting the switchback right infront of me. I tried to use the downtime to take some night sky photo (see below).
4:54AM: I left Trail Camp and hit the switchbacks. About 25% up the switchbacks, the sun started to rise and I spend lots of time here taking photos. It was just beautiful. I felt great after my rest and I was hitting the switchbacks at fast pace, passing the 8 folks who started infront of me at Trail Camp. After passing the cables (around 12,800 ft), I started to get altitude sickness and felt nausea. About 75% up the switchbacks, my pace slowed down dramatically. My energy faded and I was feeling nausea. I pushed hard and made it to Trail Crest.
6:45AM: Arrived at Trail Crest and needed a big rest and time to enjoy the view. It is the most beautiful sight of the trip, with Kings Canyon on the left side and the Lone Pine side of Whitney on the right. I may have spend 15 minutes here eating my breakfast, taking photos, and enjoying the view. I was nausea, but I fought hard to force food down to make sure I have enough energy to continue. I met a mid age man at Trail Crest who said the next relatively flat 2 miles is the hardest part (because of altitude). I didn't quite believe him.
7:05AM: I left Trail Crest and started making my ways toward the Summit. I was feeling better and was making good progress. I can feel the heavy breath and the thin air. About 1.5 miles from the Summit, I started to fade again. Due to altitude and thin air, I was walking 50 yards, paused, another 50 yards, paused. During the last mile, I had many doubts of whether I was going to make it. At this point, my heart and lungs has been pushing its limits for the past 6-7 hours. Who knows, may be my heart will stop in the next 30 seconds? My chest, my head, my stomach, my legs, were all feeling the pain. The altitude sickness was also kicking in big time and I just felt nausea. I kept doing my 50 yards and paused strategy and eventually I saw the hut. That final 100 meter was a blur. All the pain went away.
9:00AM: I signed my name at the register at the hut and made it to the top of Whitney. I spend 45 minutes here, taking photos and enjoying the views. I felt great at this point and was able to eat with no problem.
9:45AM: I started my descent. Although I was walking down hill, the switchback seems so long. The sun and heat was also killing me. My altitude sickness came back and I was not feeling well toward the bottom of the switchbacks.
12:00PM: I reached trail camp, very tired. I rested for about 15-20 minutes and continued to force food and water down my throat. I left trail camp about 12:20pm, filtered some water along trail meadows, and kept on pushing myself down the mountain as fast as I can. I rested 3-4 times for 5 minutes each along the way down.
3:10PM: I arrived at Trail Head, 13hrs and 50 minutes after I started. I spend a lot of time taking photos so perhaps 13.5 hrs rounded is likely more accurate.
I went straight to Whitney Portal Hostel to shower and ate a frozen cone at McDonalds. I was not hungry at all and was actually full of energy. I was wired and wide awake. I started driving back toward San Francisco and thought I was so wired that I may be able to drive all the way back. I stop to eat dinner at Lee Vining, and my eyes started closing after that. I checked into a hotel and called it a day.
I did it. It was not pretty. The view is very pretty though. It was an awesome/gruelsome experience. Trying to do it in 1 day is really too much. I would do this again in 2 days and try the Mountaineer route.
See Photos below:
Above: Night Sky by Trail Camp
Above: Sunrise at 12,500 ft, from 25% up the switchbacks
Above: Sunrise and Alpine Glow at 12,500ft. The reward for the 1:20am start
Above: Sunrise and Alpine Glow at 12500ft
Above: Alpine Glow by the Cables.
Above:At trail crest 13,600ft, looking over into Kings Canyon National Park
Above: A view of Guitar lake about 1.5 miles from the Whitney summit.
Above: Trail Crest
Above: Seeing the Summit
Above: The final 100 Meters to the Summit Hut.
Above: Looking West to Kings Canyon from Summit of Whitney
Above: Looking East toward Lone Pine
Above: Looking north toward Mt. Russell
Above: View from Trail Camp on the trip down
Above: Look closely and you can still see folks making their way up the switchbacks.
Above: Last look back, near trail meadows.
