Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Whitney Death

I for one am glad that people have this person in their "thoughts and prayers". As far as "gossip or rumors", I haven't seen it. Speculation certainly and for good reason. Most of the posters on this board don't just hike Mt Whitney, they love Mt Whitney. The allure of this special mountain cannot be described by me, but has certainly been described by much better writers than myself. When someone dies on this mountain, it isn't a case morbid curiousity, but true empathy from people who have hiked the trails, crossed the creeks, scrambled up boulders and who have witnessed the passion Mt Whitney releases within us.

I for one did think about this young man, I did pray for him and his family and he is in my thoughts. Maybe I'm the only one, but I actually talked out loud to him, just like he was sitting in front of me. Mr Meining's death is a tragedy, not just to the hiking community, but to his family, his friends and his employer. His death did touch me, just as Wade Brunette's death last October touched me. After Wade died, I told myself that out of respect, I would think of him when I neared the summit last July. And I did that. I myself am in awe of what Mr Meining accomplished in his young life and I am appreciative of the respectful way this community has treated his death.