Day 17: Mount Whitney

It was pretty cold when we got up this morning, and it seemed as though the sun was not likely to hit camp for a long time. We wanted to get an early start on Mount Whitney today, so we filtered as much water as we could the night before. This turned out to be a very good thing, because the filter had frozen overnight.

We got started around 8:10. This is the view back towards Guitar Lake and our campsite. The area where we camped is in sunlight when this picture was taken; the sun probably rose there around 8:30 or so.

Views of Mount Hitchcock from the trail as we ascend

We were hiking in the shade almost all of the way up

We made it to the trail junction by 9:40, which amazed all of us, I think. We were moving very quickly because we were cold, and I was super excited to get to the top. I had expected to stop at the junction for food, but I was so motivated to keep going that I only stopped long enough to inhale a granola bar and remove the fanny pack part of my backpack to lighten my load. Between the poles, my much lighter pack and my dose of adrenaline, I made great time to the top. Ian & I were at the summit by 10:38, just 48 minutes after leaving the junction.

It was very cold and windy at the summit, but we managed to tolerate it for almost 40 minutes before we started back down.

This is a view towards the east from between two of the "needles" to the south of Whitney.

On the 99 switchbacks between Trail Crest and Trail Camp

This section of the switchbacks is shaded by a large rock overhang, and even in mid-September there is a lot of ice along the wall and on the trail. Hence the need for a wire railing along the edge.

Looking down on Mirror Lake from above

These were taken above Outpost Camp

This deer was walking particularly close to the trail and seemed completely unperturbed by our presence.

Done! We finished the trail around 4:30. We immediately found our car and started driving back to Lone Pine.

We took showers at the backpacker's hostel in Lone Pine (possibly the best shower I've ever had) and then crossed the street to eat at the Pizza Factory. The pizza was not the best I've ever eaten, but it was awfully tasty that night!
We started the drive back by 6:30 and were back in Pasadena by 10pm. I immediately threw all of my clothing into the washing machine, but even then there was a lingering smell. The bear canisters needed to be aired out on the porch overnight, and my rain jacket also had to be carefully washed.

Final Tally:
16 miles
3000 ft up, 6100 ft down
1 deer

Back to Day 16