Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports Michael and Holger Sept 26-28

Hello,
It has been three weeks since our trip; finally, I had some time to post little rapport.

Here is a video from our trip
http://vimeo.com/15614275

I have planned this trip for over a month. Both of us never really hiked, except that I did some hiking in Grand Canyon and Zion (half a day) years back. Together with my friend, we took our chances for standby/cancellation permits. (We had couple of days to spare just in case)

Few days before planned hike, I was able to get one permit for the day we want it (Sep 26), and my partner got one for the 27th. We figured we would be able to get something out of that situation....and we did.

We flew from Florida to Long beach on Saturday. Spend a night in LA and left for Lone Pine next day.
We got there late afternoon. To our surprise, we were able to switch my friend's reservation to the same day as mine without any problems.

I am not sure in which restaurant we eat, but food was not too good. Later found out that Portal Store have decent food.

My friend wanted to start the same day, and sleep in at Outpost camp, but it was late, and I did not want to walk in the dark. We decided to see how it would go. We could always go back down, and that would be our little practice hike. Final decision to stay at the Portal camp was made after my friend realized that, he forgot extra battery for camera.

Next day we left after breakfast around 7Am (by the way, Mountain house meals are pretty good, but eggs...terrible)

Our Backpacks were heavy (47 and 49lb). We made it to Trail camp around 6 PM. My friend decided to take 2-hour nap in Outpost camp:(

Next day, same drill, left for the summit around seven, and came back to the camp around 4.30.

Weather was perfect. No wind, Sunny, almost no clouds. At the camp, I would say it was around 45/32.

Regarding effects of high altitude on my body, beside fatigue, I notice dizziness at trail Crest when I stand up after tying my boots. That was all, and I guess night at the portal and Trail camps really helped as acclimatize.

We came down next day, eat nice burger in the store, took shower at the hostel, and started heading back to LA (we had plane at 9Pm)

Overall, I have to say that for me, even though we were prepared and we are in good shape, the whole hiking was a little bit harder than I expected to be. It was not easy; you have to earn every step to get to the summit, nobody will do it for you.

Whole trip I think, was the best one I ever took, and if I could, I would do it again today

Unfortunately, I live in Florida, which I cannot stand. I love outdoors, mountains, etc... I know, Florida is beautiful, beaches... but how much time can you spend on the beach with 90 degrees and humid.

i wish one day I could move somewhere west, where one can virtually go different place every weekend, just few hours away.

Our biggest mistake was- to much food. Since I eat a lot any way, I figured out I will eat much more on Whitney, but second and third day, I was not hungry at all. I eat some bars, nuts, and Mountain House for lunch, but that was not even close to what I was prepared for.

My equipment did great. I had Kelty Coyote 4750, Termarest from Gander mount. , and Eureka Backcountry tent.

Can't wait to do it again!

Michael

Congratulations and thanks for the report.Loved the vimeo with the side trip to Hollywood and the music. Spirit in the Sky and Highway to hell.

Congratulations on your successful trip, Mike! And thanks for posting the report.

I enjoyed the video -- takes time to put something nice like that together! And it is cool to see the trip from a first-timer's viewpoint. I hope your friends in Florida enjoy it.

Your heavy packs sound like my first backpacking trips. If you continue with the adventures, your quest will be to see what you can leave out each trip.

...I once carried one of those aluminum/fabric beach sand chairs on a backpack trip! And someday I'll have to post a picture of my first Svea stove -- weighed about 4 lbs, all steel and brass! Sure could cook, though!

Was that one of those models where you just dumped fuel on it to prime it & lit it up like a torch until it settled in to a nice flame??

> Was that one of those models where you just dumped fuel on it to prime it & lit it up like a torch until it settled in to a nice flame??

Well, sort of. You pumped it up, then opened the valve to allow a teaspoon of fuel squirt out and settle into the bowl below. Then CLOSE the valve! Then light, watch it slowly heat. When the flame is almost out, open the valve, and it's ready to cook.

Similar to many MSR stoves... Let a friend light one once. He missed the valve closing part. When I realized what he'd done, he had a massive foot-high bonfire billowing out of the stove.

The MSR is still my stove of choice in a snowy camp out.

"I once carried one of those aluminum/fabric beach sand chairs on a backpack trip!"

Outside of the intended use, this is one of the reasons that carrying a bear cannister has never bothered me. It makes a nice little stool/food prep area.

But I agree, even at 35lbs I want to reduce my pack weight next year. First thing that is going is the tent. Looking at going with a ground cover and then if it rains, a Gatewood Cape/shelter (or equivalent).

Hello,
I know 47 is a lot, but I was thinking- what could I take out.
Remember that it was almost October; there could be snow, low temp, etc... (Actually first snow came 2 days after our trip) , and since we are first timers, we didn't want take our chances and go unprepared.
Anyway, here is what I took (lb):
6 Backpack
4 Tent
2 Termarest
3 Sleeping bag
3 Bear Canister
6 Water
1 Filter
4 Food (Mount .House, Bars, nuts, jerky, +(whiskey-just a little bit :)))
4 Cloths (Fleece, windbreaker, hat, gloves, extra
pants, socks, t-shirts, underwear, etc..)
3-4 Rest of stuff (propane, headlight, first kit, cup, silverware, and other little things I don't remember now)

36-37 Total

I do not know where is that extra 10lb, I do not think cloths weights more then I wrote.
What would you guys cut out for the next time?
Mike

water

I just did my first summit using two overnights, 2 full days & an evening headstart. My pack weighed 21 lbs (Bob R used his scale, so he can back me up) In all fairness to Bob, he did carry the small bear can (I carried my own food during the day) so you can add 2 lbs and say that my pack would be 23lbs.

What did I carry in my Osprey Talon?

1. sleepy bag
2. Bivvy sack (add a few oz for tarp if there was chance of snow)
3. Z-rest pad
4. Patagonia rain shell
5. North Face down jacket (slept on summit)
6. Silk Thermals
7.Glad Bag ground cloth
8. Down Mittens
9. Minnesota winter hat
10. Drugs (Ibuprofin, etc)
11. Down pants (slept on summit)
12. Water: 1/2 litre until Trail Camp: 4 litre to summit for overnight
13. Food
a. first night Supper: cold chicken, bisquit,
b. first breakfast: yogurt, busquit, chicken
c. snacks til lunch: Cheetoes, Cheetoes, M&Ms, fruit rolls
d. first lunch: Cheetoes,fruit roll, M&Ms,Danish, chicken
e. snacks til dinner: Cheetoes, fruit rolls
f. Second Supper (summit): Chicken, busquit, cheetoes
g. second breakfast: Yogurt, danish, granola, fruit roll
h. snacks & second lunch: cheetoes, M&Ms, fruit rolls, jerky
i. Final day:dumped all but 1/2 litre of water at Trail Camp & filled up as needed.

Note that all food was cold prepared, thus, no need for stove,pots,fuel, etc. The trip was on 29-30 sept, and there was no snow yet, however, it would still not be likely that all water sources would have frozen up suddenly, thus, still no need to stove-melt for water sources.

How much of that weight was Cheetos?

I saw some random person try to bum some Cheetos from Bee. She was kind enough to pass the bag, ...but the body language was downright hostile!!!

Yeah, that's a lot of water. Also, the backpack seems too heavy for the need - you could probably shave 3 pounds or more with a lighter nylon overnight pack.

Hey Steve, Is that why there were orange fingerprints all over the rocks and snow?

Seriously though. 6 pounds of water AND a filter! Bulldog showed me how great filters are. I think your tent is a bit heavy. Mine is under 3 pounds. Food can be a big weight problem and I'm sure you probably brought a lot back. Use a scale at home before you go next time.......though I believe things weigh a lot more in Florida than the Sierras :-)

There are lots of posts on this site about what to bring and weight. Some people have it down to a science.

Hmmm..I would say that half of my food weight was Cheetos! (they are the 5th food group)

I was willing to give up the Fruit Rolls & M&Ms, but bumming Cheetos was really pushing the envelope (there is actually a picture on record of me changing body language and facing my back to the moocher!)

Ye, less water could do, but only to Trail camp, and If I would put less water to my camel back, I would have to refill few times.

From Trail Camp to the summit there is no water at all, so I had to have all 3 liters, which was exactly what I've used, but I had only day bag so didn't really matter in that part of the hike. (little day pack from the top of my kelty)