Mt. Whitney

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 11:41 -0700

hey Usagi fans, this weekend I am hiking the avant garde of hikes -- Mt. Whitney. Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet (4,421 meters). It is located at the boundary between California's Inyo and Tulare counties. The western slope of the mountain lies within Sequoia National Park. Mount Whitney is the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail, which runs 211.9 miles (340.9 km) from Yosemite Valley.

This is a fairly hardcore hike which I've been training for all year long. If for some reason I don't make it back alive, I'm handing over Dojo responsibilities to Steve Hubbell

Wish me luck... and abayo!

morna-san · Post by **morna-san** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 11:54 -0700

wow sounds like a challenging one! I hope the weather's good for your adventure! How many days is it?

have fun!

Don't worry, Steve will take good care of us ...heh heh

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 15:43 -0700

You better make it back!

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 16:12 -0700

I've heard that is an awesome hike. Matthew did not do it, but 11 members of his Boy Scout troop did it last year as part of their hiking merit badge. You have to get a permit to hike to the summit. They made the reservation about a year in advance. They first hiked up to a lake at the timber line, and made camp for the night. They got up very early the next morning to get to the summit. One of them didn't make it because of altitude sickness (more than 14,000 feet, remember?). There is a restaurant at the bottom that serves giant pancakes. If you can eat one, you get it free.

Josiah Whitney was a crooked geologist. When the Transcontinental Railroad was being built, the federal government was paying higher rates to the railroad companies for going over mountains. Josiah categorized the gentle foothills at the base of the Sierras as mountains, and made the railroad tycoons (who controlled the state) even richer. As a thank you, they named the mountain after him.

Stay warm.

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 16:56 -0700

I did not know that about Mt. Whitney. This illustrates the Golden Rule: "He who has the gold makes the rules!"

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 21:17 -0700

We're leaving tomorrow morning and camping at Horseshoe Meadow campground tomorrow night to acclimate at 10,000 feet. We start the hike 10AM Saturday and will be camping out at Trail camp. Sunday we hit the peak and descend back down to Whitney portal. Basically the same routine Stan described, which is a common one. Some people try to summit in one day but many don't make it. We decided not to tempt fate!

Leonardo-san · Post by **Leonardo-san** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 22:14 -0700

That's awesome!!!
Have a great time!

I've hiked up Half Dome twice at Yosemite as day hikes. That's around 8800' with 4,800' gain and loss in a day on a 16-ish mile round trip.
I've been higher up at 9000+ at Cathedral Lakes on a day hike that was only 8 miles or so round trip...but never as high as what you're doing!
Be careful, have fun and I wish you success!!

morna-san · Post by **morna-san** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 23:12 -0700

you know we're going to want pictures, right?

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 23:49 -0700

Thanks y'all. And yes, I will have plenty of pix.

Post by **Mayhem** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:37 -0700

Good luck Todd

I've done hiking and going up hills/small mountains here but we don't have that high peaks in the UK

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 21:31 -0700

Pics of my Mt. Whitney hike are here:

http://powdermonkeys.segashinobi.com/ga ... temId=9695

It was unbelievable, and definitely more challenging than anything I've done before (mainly due to the high altitude). Previously the highest peak I had done was Mt. San Gorgonio at 11,500 ft. Even acclimating for two nights (Friday at 10,000 ft and Saturday at 12,000 ft), the elevation gain between trail camp and the summit (2500 ft) took its toll. Definitely a new experience. It was quite exhilarating standing at the highest point in the lower 48. Of course, I was wearing my UYD Albedo NR 2 shirt!

go · Post by go » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:11 -0700

Congratulations oh Mighty Shogun!
Best wishes to all,
go

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:19 -0700

Nice pic !

We should start a Spead Usagi Photo Contest with the best photos with an sagi T Shirt.

morna-san · Post by **morna-san** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 8:32 -0700

Kool Todd!

Looks pretty raw up there - nice colours though. I've done lots of hiking but I guess I've never done any real high altitude stuff. What does that feel like?

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:19 -0700

Welcome back. Judging by your photos, you had a great time.

It's been awhile since I've done any backpacking or camping. I really miss it sometimes. Other times, I remember how old I'm getting.

Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

Mt. Whitney

Mt. Whitney

Congratulations!