My last training hike before my Whitney summit attempt was yesterday (9/11). Summited San Grorgonio using the South Fork trail. It was a beautiful day, hit the summit a little before 1pm. Clear blue sky, cool temps, and breezy. Found a summit register (notebook) left by Jeff Schofield earlier in the day. (Jeff posts on the WPS board) The register is dedicated to 9/11 and all those in the military. I thought that was a very nice gesture.
For those that are not familiar with the South Fork trail, it splits a little over 4 miles up. It goes towards the west to a cut-off for Dollar Lake or east towards Dry Lake. Both trails meet again about .5 mile from the summit. I decided to take the Dollar Lake trail up and the Dry Lake trail down, to make a loop. I knew the day was going to be long, as the loop is 23.7 miles. And it was a very long day. About 13 hrs car to car.
If I can find the cable to my camera to download the pictures I will post a few. There's a couple that I hope look good. There was an avalanche over the winter that downed a grove of trees that had to cover the trail at least 20' accross and 6' deep. Looking at the debris field, you can really understand the power of a avalanche. I have to give high praise to the folks that cleared the trail.
The other is a few shots of a military plane crash from 1956. I had read about it, but reading and seeing the photos really doesn't do it justice. The wreckage must have covered the trail at some point. I was really amazed at how much was still intact over 50+ winters/summers. There's a plaque as a memorial and it lists all the people that lost their lives. Almost all USMC. It really moved me, especially considering the date, 9/11. I'm not expecting my photos to capture the site the way it should, but I'm hoping it will be enough for me to remember the moment.
Anyway, there is a lookout point about 2.5 miles from the trailhead, Poop Out Hill. On the way up I found it amusing and was thinking of all the ways that could be interpreted. On the way back, as dusk is setting, my feet are aching, my left hip/knee is on fire with pain (IT band flare up which made the downhill very slow), I passed the sign and I have know idea why, but the old 'Vitametavegamin' skit from I Love Lucy came to mind. In particular the part of the skit that has Lucy saying 'Do you poop out at parties'. I started busting up.
Made it back to the car as it was just getting dark and while taking the boots off was treatd to a moon rise of one of the biggest cresent moon I've seen in awhile. Along with Mars close by. (at least I think it was Mars, I should check to make sure)
A little over a week to rest and recover and treat the IT band and then off to Lone Pine.
