Photo link: http://www.shutterfly.com/view/pictures.jspFinally it comes to my big weekend of my big WHITNEY hike! We camped out at Whitney Portal on Friday and Saturday night. The camping is very pleasant in terms of weather and campground condition. On Saturday, four of us did a little acclamation hike at Meyson Lake trail near to Portal. Relaxed and had a big Pizza dinner at Saturday night.
Sunday is our hiking day! We got up at 3:00am-sh and headed out to the trailhead around 4:00am. The group started at a pretty fast pace and very soon I was left behind. As it went, the group naturally split into small groups of different paces. I was in the group with a slow to moderate speed. The hikers were getting slower and slower as we climbed up and the sun heat came to bake. I made many stops and I could absolutely feel the high altitude sickness. After about 6 miles of moderate climbing, we made our way to the infamous 99 switchbacks where the altitude was somewhere around 12,000 to 13,000 feet. There are 99 switchbacks, no kidding! It seems endless. I can see the S paths from the bottom of the switchbacks where numerous hikes were struggling on their legs. What an ordeal! It was a very very tough 2 hours in my life making through these seemingly endless paths. After the switchbacks, I came to the notch of the mountain. It was 13,600 feet high and the wind was blowing hard. From the notch, it was another 1.8 miles of rocky trail to the summit. The last 1.8 miles took me more than 2 hours and it was even more strenuous over the exhaustion of 99 switchbacks and continuously increasing altitude. Yet the 1.8 mile was the most inspirational part of the hike. The overlook of the numerous mountains, canyons and lakes is spectacular. I was moving up and up and approaching to the sky on the ridge of the mountain. I did enjoy every steps of that moment. Peace is the tune! I finally submitted Whitney at 12:30-sh. It took me 8 and half hours! Some of fellows I came across on the way were already heading back down . They are much faster than me! It took one gal only 6 hours to get to the peak! At peak, I hung out with some slow group folks and enjoyed the spectacular scenery for a moment. I headed down back at around 1:30pm. After repeating the same 99 switchbacks which seem even longer on the way back, I became terribly sick from the high altitude. The nausea hit me really bad! I had to make myself to lie on the rocks in fear of passing out. A helicopter swirled above me and parked on a large rock not far from me and checked me out. I let it go since I DO NOT want to be carried down and I had to walk down on my legs! Thanks to a family hikers who gave me a Tyronal and two hikers who I asked to stay with, I made my way back fine although it took much longer than I attempted. I got back to the trail head at 7:30pm. The entire hike took me 15 and half hours! 8 and half hours going up and 7 hours back.
I was very happy that I summited the peak and finished one more thing on my to-do list. It's worth all the work done to prepare for the hike and all the pains sustained to make it through. The reward of the endeavour is the PEACE experienced on the peak and the GOOD FEELING about myself. Again in the end, it's all good!
Sunday is our hiking day! We got up at 3:00am-sh and headed out to the trailhead around 4:00am. The group started at a pretty fast pace and very soon I was left behind. As it went, the group naturally split into small groups of different paces. I was in the group with a slow to moderate speed. The hikers were getting slower and slower as we climbed up and the sun heat came to bake. I made many stops and I could absolutely feel the high altitude sickness. After about 6 miles of moderate climbing, we made our way to the infamous 99 switchbacks where the altitude was somewhere around 12,000 to 13,000 feet. There are 99 switchbacks, no kidding! It seems endless. I can see the S paths from the bottom of the switchbacks where numerous hikes were struggling on their legs. What an ordeal! It was a very very tough 2 hours in my life making through these seemingly endless paths. After the switchbacks, I came to the notch of the mountain. It was 13,600 feet high and the wind was blowing hard. From the notch, it was another 1.8 miles of rocky trail to the summit. The last 1.8 miles took me more than 2 hours and it was even more strenuous over the exhaustion of 99 switchbacks and continuously increasing altitude. Yet the 1.8 mile was the most inspirational part of the hike. The overlook of the numerous mountains, canyons and lakes is spectacular. I was moving up and up and approaching to the sky on the ridge of the mountain. I did enjoy every steps of that moment. Peace is the tune! I finally submitted Whitney at 12:30-sh. It took me 8 and half hours! Some of fellows I came across on the way were already heading back down . They are much faster than me! It took one gal only 6 hours to get to the peak! At peak, I hung out with some slow group folks and enjoyed the spectacular scenery for a moment. I headed down back at around 1:30pm. After repeating the same 99 switchbacks which seem even longer on the way back, I became terribly sick from the high altitude. The nausea hit me really bad! I had to make myself to lie on the rocks in fear of passing out. A helicopter swirled above me and parked on a large rock not far from me and checked me out. I let it go since I DO NOT want to be carried down and I had to walk down on my legs! Thanks to a family hikers who gave me a Tyronal and two hikers who I asked to stay with, I made my way back fine although it took much longer than I attempted. I got back to the trail head at 7:30pm. The entire hike took me 15 and half hours! 8 and half hours going up and 7 hours back.
I was very happy that I summited the peak and finished one more thing on my to-do list. It's worth all the work done to prepare for the hike and all the pains sustained to make it through. The reward of the endeavour is the PEACE experienced on the peak and the GOOD FEELING about myself. Again in the end, it's all good!
3 comments:
great job on the hike, lotus. you sure showed some guts and inner strength completing the hike and making your way down the mountain safely despite the challenges you encountered.
Finding strength, to achieve peace... My card was the right one. I'm glad your safe, u were on my mind the whole weekend. I knew you'd make it, the end was clear. It's the journey that was questionable yet most enjoyable. It's the same when I did the marathon: I knew I'd finish, it's what happened between the start and finish lines that mattered. Great job, can't wait to hear more stories!
Congrats from another of the "slow and steady" group. It was great having you on the trip, seems like it made a lasting impression on all of us.
We were worried when we saw the search and rescue helicopter going up to the ridge - glad it wasn't there for you.
See you on the trail.
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