High Sierra Topix

Friday, 11 July 2008 (day 1 of 3)
Wanoga Peak and old mining road on Horseshoe Mdw road

PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/54 ... 8884_VtraS

This was my day to acclimatize. I slept at Horseshoe Meadow Campground (9,400') Thursday night. Lottery for walk in permits for Whitney was at 11am Friday, so I had some time to kill. I read about some mining cabins in a book (can't find it now, will get the name of this place later), so I walked about 1/2 mile down an old dirt road, hidden from the road. It was 250' el loss and gain, but at 9,300', I was feeling it. I drove down to Lone Pine, got permits to hike Whitney on Saturday, then drove back up the Horseshoe Meadow road. I hiked to Wanoga Peak and hung out at the summit (~10,373', register missing) for 2 hrs. I drove down to Boulder Creek, showered, met Devon, and had dinner in Lone Pine. Later I drove back up (5th time in 24 hrs) Horseshoe Meadow Road to sleep for the night, and got up at 2:45am to meet Devon at Whitney Portal at 4am.

Short hike to check out an old mining road






Hazy views from Wanoga Peak, you can see Trailmaster, Cirque and Langley and Owens Point in front/right

Saturday, 12 July 2008 (day 2 of 3)
Mt Whitney - up the Mountaineer's Route and down the Main Trail

PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/54 ... 3096_6PBAf

I dayclimbed Mt Whitney with Devon, up the Mountaineer's Route and down the Main Trail. We started at 4:41am, and got off the trail at 5:40pm. Devon slowed down to my pace so I didn't bonk early, and we ended up 2 hours faster than last year. Plan was to also do Muir and the Needles, but weather was a little sketchy so we headed back. It started sprinkling big drops as we ran down the last part of the old trail, and 15 minutes Whitney Portal was hit with enough of a downpour to cause a rockslide and river on the road.

View from Lower Boy Scout Lake


Needles and Whitney


From Iceberg Lake


The Notch ahead


Iceberg Lake below, can't even see the Inyos because of smoke


Devon stayed behind for most of the final 400 to give me boosts where I couldn't reach


Almost there


Heading back on the Main Trail


Tanking up between Consultation Lk and Trailside Mdw


Back at Whitney Portal 13 hrs later. We were back 15 minutes and it started raining and hailing



11:30pm, the loaders cleared one lane and about 8 vehicles drove out

Sunday, 13 July 2008 (day 3 of 3)
Whitney Portal, flood and rock slide photos, the morning after

PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/54 ... 4571_5eHAj



Woke up in a campground at 6am and started returning calls from last night. A few hours later we stopped by the Whitney Portal Hostel, people who were stranded by road closure (mud slide/Independence) slept on the lobby floor. Breakfast at Alabama Hills Cafe, then drove to WP to see the damage. Ran into Bullet and his group (actually Kristen's group) and heard their story being in the storm at Trail Camp and watching the lightning on the Whitney Ridge. I took a few more photos, then headed for home. I got only a few drops of rain, while Sooz drove thru gnarly rain/flooding going on the 395 to the 15. Like Trekker says, the Weather God's were with me again!


Moving big boulders and clearing the road


Upper parking area


Working hard, awsome job!



Ran into Kristen, Bullet, Aaron and Tarkman. They had a pretty exciting night at Trail Camp

Friday, 25 July 2005 (day 1 of 3)
Wonoga Peak to acclimatize

PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/55 ... 7254_otfQS

Crazy Bob e-mailed about doing Whitney 2 days after the last trip. My plans fell apart this week (due to friend having to work), so I asked CB if he could do it Sat. He said yes! Since Wonoga worked for acclimatizing then, I tried it again. Sparkles joined me on this one. We spent a lot of time photographing flowers (she just got her Canon G9), then kicked off the boots and opened our flower books to ID flowers. It was a relaxing and beautiful day to be out.

Sego Lily


Fireweed


Tiny flowers on a bush


tree of the day


another tiny flower, need ID

Saturday, 26 July 2008 (day 2 of 3)
Mt Whitney dayclimb, up the MR and down the MT

PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/55 ... 2183_hqS2c

A repeat of 2 weeks ago. 3 hrs of sleep for me, and coming from sea level for Crazy Bob, added 2 hrs to the hike. Also got a late start, missed Doug's burgers, took showers at Whitney Portal Hostel and had burgers at Whitney Cafe. (wk 132, day 2 of 3) Drove part way home after to pack for trip to Australia on July 30th.

Success!

Cori..beautiful pictures...the Fireweed this year is really blooming better than I have seen it in years..the beautiful patch we have on our property is stunning and a lot better this year then last year..can't figure it out.

Hope all is well in Australia and you two are having a good time
Take care