Mt. Whitney…Success!
My Mt. Whitney run / hike was a success! Six hours up, four hours back.
Everyone I met on the trail was extremely courteous, allowing me to pass them without my having to ask, and even yelling the occasional encouraging word at me. On the way down I returned the favor to the hikers still ascending, giving them the right of way, telling them, “You’re just about there, man!”
At 13,000 feet I began to experience quite a bit of altitude sickness. It began with a headache, then pins and needles in the hands, then I developed a drunken stupor. I began to have trouble placing my feet where I wanted them, and fell once because of it, stumbling over a large boulder. Luckily I fell to my right. If I had fallen to my left I would have fallen off trail and straight down the mountain. *whew* Needless to say, this slowed me down quite a bit.
All told, I was on the trail at 5am, on the summit at 11am, and back at the car at 3pm.
On the descent it began to snow, which turned into rain at lower altitudes. To add to this misery I ran out of water seven miles short of the trailhead. I saved my final swig of water to choke down a handful of Tylenol and Motrin. Out of water, I was forced to slow down and adopt the “survival trot” that’s familiar to distance runners in trouble. Luckily, Karin met me on the trail a quarter of a mile from the finish with a nice cold Gatorade. That was an amazing (and much welcome) surprise!
If I had to do it over again, I think I’d bring along a long sleeve shirt, more sun screen (can you say sunburn?), Chapstick, and definitely more water.
I hope you enjoy the following pictures. As always, feel free to click on them to enlarge. They’re well worth a closer look.
On the way to picking up my permit
A portion of the Eastern Sierra Mountain Range model located in the Visitor's Center
Woot! Day pass acquisition a success!
Wag bags are given out to every hiker
Back at the hotel, the Camelbak is primed and ready
Taking a dry run up to Whitney Portal to get my bearings the day before the run
On the trail at 5am, there's not much of a view this early in the morning
John Muir Wilderness trail sign
I had to navigate several of the river rock passes in the dark
Random hiker notices
Two miles into the run, Lone Pine Lake sign
Finally able to put my flashlight away and capture my first day shot
Looking back to capture the sunrise over Lone Pine Lake and Owens Valley
Another stone crossing. There was still snow on the mountain, and at lower altitudes I could hear waterfalls crashing all around me.
Early morning shot, nearing Outpost Camp
Early morning at Mirror Lake
Running deep in the mountains, still enjoying the sunrise
Running along side Trailside Meadow, just before breaking out of shadow and into the rising sun.
Entering Trail Camp. Notice the tent in the foreground. Lucky guy was the only hiker camped here.
Ascending the brutal 99 Switchbacks. It's difficult to appreciate how long these switchbacks last. The hikers at the top disappear from view. It's here at 12,000ft that I started to feel a bit knackered and sick.
September, and there's still snow on the ground
A short stretch of cable rail follows a portion of the 99 Switchbacks
Nearing the end of the switchbacks
The Trail Crest sign just past the end of the switchbacks
Looking down at the Hitchcock Lakes
Entering Sequoia National Park
The danger of lightning strikes is very real on Mt. Whitney
A portion of the trail a few miles from the summit, showing how easy it would be to fall over the side
The final two miles of the trail is a jumble of rocks and talus piles. It was here that I really began to feel the effects of altitude sickness, and very nearly went tumbling over the edge
The final push towards the top. Just out of view, the stone hut resides on the furthest peak, which is much further away than you think it is. You won't be able to see the hut until you're right on top of it, and it will signal the end of the trail.
Hikers tend to leave their packs behind for the final push up the mountain
The summit! It was here that I very nearly broke down into tears. Raising my hands in the air, pushing my hat off my head, I let a loud "Woo!" escape. A few hikers resting at the top clapped and congratulated me. One even offered me a few bites of salami and crackers after she kindly took my picture. If I had to describe my feelings here, it could best be summed up as an amalgamation of my fondest childhood Christmas morning, a silky morphine high, and a profound religious experience.
The plaque on the shack
The shack door, warning of lightning strikes
The rock plaque
Standing at 14,496 feet, on top of the highest mountain in the continental United States. I might be smiling here, but on the inside I'm dying to descend to a lower altitude to combat my altitude sickness.
Peak panorama, looking down on Mt. Russell
Looking down on Consultation Lake, Lone Pine Peak, Mt. Irvine, Mt. Langley, and Mt. McAdie. Notice the dark streaks of rain coming down on the right. This quickly caught up to me on the descent, turning into snow.
On the descent, looking down towards Bighorn Park and Outpost Camp
Another river rock path. After 18 miles these were not a welcome sight
Log path over a slow rolling river
On the way back I saw dozens of pine trees with these patterns cut into them. Does anyone know why this was done? Edit: Thanks to commenter Brain for clearing up this mystery for me. Apparently, these trees allow hikers to stay on trail when it snows.
And that’s it! 22 miles and 14,500 feet later in 10 hours and I’m spent. For these next couple of days I’ll be resting and taking a steady diet of Motrin. Hopefully I’ll be recovered enough for a quick run up Iron Mountain in a few days 
Herman, this trip looks incredible man. The longest solo hike I’ve ever been on was only 18 miles, and I was very nearly hullucinating by the end. I can’t imagine what you must have went through up there. Congrats, and enjoy the ice and motrin.
Awesome scenery up there! So that’s what you’ve been up to!
Congratulations on a swift trip!
The tree marks are blazes: See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_blazing
They make it possible to follow the trail when there is snow.
Ahhh….many thanks for clearing that mystery up for me, Brian!
Congrats on the successful hiking trip. You posted some really nice photos. The mountain pictures are especially a favorite as well as those rock path photos. Your photo is nice as well and the surroundings really come together well with the sky in your background.
wowwww what fantastic sites!! very inspiring and really, well done!!
This is awesome. You Rock. That is an amazing accomplishment. If you ever want to do that again, I’d love to go.
This is so awesome. Not sure what took me so long to hit your blog and comment since I was waiting for the details on the trip. Your adventure makes me want to plan another four day solo hiking trip next summer in CO. It has been a few years since I did one but just reading your post give me that same feeling of adventure.
Great job!
I see that you left your red cape behind on this trip (Superman). I guess that you are mortal after all. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences and inspirational pictures. Great information for those attempting the summit. Glad you got back down the mountain okay.
nice write up, good on ya
@jason
Thanks, Jason. Here’s hoping for a repeat in September!
I’ve seen the comments dated almost a couple years back. I wish I saw this article a couple years ago. Last year I jogged up San Bernardino Peak(10,000feet) and since then I’ve been wanting to do Whitney. Your last comment was doing a quick run up Iron Mtn. Is that Iron Mtn in San Diego? I’ve done that quite a bit. A nice little run. Any suggestions on training for Whitney would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Great post, remember it from before.
I always wonder who and why build these fences and shelters on the top of mountains must be killing work to do, but I have decided after this summer climb to spend next summer few days wondering from one to another peak on my favorite mountain in south Croatia.