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Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
#40149 09/08/14 11:52 PM
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Sam Das Offline OP
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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.











Last edited by Sam Das; 09/09/14 11:31 AM.
Re: Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
Sam Das #40150 09/09/14 07:39 AM
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Originally Posted By: Sam Das
...I did it. It was not pretty.


Yes, you did it, and judging from the pictures, it was pretty.

Bravo Zulu on your summit.

One thing, you should have had a burger and fries at the Portal.

Lee Vining is a great place to crash. We prefer Bridgeport, but what the heck.


Journey well...
Re: Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
+ @ti2d #40159 09/09/14 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted By: Sam Das
...I did it. It was not pretty.


Actually, you did quite well. Your hiking times were very good (IMO), and your pictures very nice. Well done! This in spite of symptoms of altitude sickness, and lingering effects of your cold/illness.

Imagine how you would have done with a little more time at altitude prior to departure, and without the residual effects of your cold/illness. Now you have a reason to come back for another hike. Perhaps via the Mountaineers route.

Congratulations.

Re: Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
+ @ti2d #40165 09/09/14 11:34 AM
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Sam Das Offline OP
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I did had the burgers and fries at WPS the 1st day. It was really good. There was a thought in me do stop at Mammoth and do a hike there the next day.

Re: Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
Sam Das #40168 09/09/14 12:48 PM
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Ah, good. Not having a burger and fries at the Portal Store is like sacrilege!


Journey well...
Re: Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
Sam Das #40177 09/09/14 04:53 PM
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Sam, I'm with John - your pace was really quite good. A little over 3 hours to Trail Camp is almost 2 mph, which is really moving at that elevation. Given your illness, even more so. Throw in the AMS and fatigue, and a RT of less than 12 hours is still better than most. I guarantee there were still folks heading for the summit at their 12-hour mark.

Congrats!

Re: Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
Bulldog34 #40180 09/09/14 05:49 PM
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Congratulations. Great TR and wonderful pics.

ah yes, that acclimatization issue + other factors ...you toughed it out. Come back and do it again the easy way. Here is what a week up high can really do. This is not an exaggeration:

The campsites at twelve thousand feet later seemed like sea level.
Andrew Harvard, & Todd Thompson, page 77
Mountain of Storms. The American Expeditions to Dhaulagiri, 1969 & 1973.

Re: Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
Harvey Lankford #40187 09/09/14 07:44 PM
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My doctor, who has climbed Mount Whitney, always emphasizes acclimatization. She has also prescribed acetazolamide (Diamox) for several years. This year I had an opportunity to hike Mt. Whitney after a week of acclimatization and so didn't use any Diamox. I found the hike pleasant and the easiest for me in years. I have another opportunity to hike Whitney later this month (to celebrate my 67th birthday) but only have 3 or 4 days to acclimatize so I may use the Diamox this time.

P.S. Thanks TR for the great photos!

Re: Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
Marty #40205 09/10/14 01:56 PM
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Congrats! Nice photos. Your ascent time of 6.5hrs is very good, despite how you felt.

Re: Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
Marty #40206 09/10/14 09:20 PM
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Sam Das Offline OP
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Marty,

It was the 1st time I ever got altitude sickness, and I did not start getting it until above 12500 ft. My 1st attempt of Whitney, I got only to trail camp and had to turn back due to the storm. That was only 12,000k and I didn't have any issues that 1st time.

I guess, relative to how much time I had to acclimate, not having issues until past 12,500k isn't too bad?

I posted the detailed TR so that folks who try to do it without proper acclimatization will know how it feels.

Re: Whitney Main Trail - Successful Solo Day Hike August 2014
Sam Das #40227 09/12/14 05:02 AM
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Sam, 3 hours to Trail and 12 hours total is really moving; congrats on a great hike.


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