High Sierra Topix

My friend here in Independence hiked Mt Whitney on Veteran's Day - 13 hours, passed only 4 other hikers, and had the WINDLESS summit to herself! How cool is that?

Sounds like a nice hike. I love to sit on peaks with no wind at all. Sometimes we get lucky.

This year early November and late November on Mt Whitney were two completely different animals. I summited comfortably with trail runners in early November under mild conditions. That day the car count at the TH was 33. In contrast, last weekend just driving to the TH would have been considered an extreme adventure. In fact last weekend a CHP helo twice plucked hikers off the North Fork approach. Sounds as if the hikers were in big trouble and their rescue benefited from good weather.

Jim F