A forum to initiate member meet-up. Looking for a hiking/climbing/fishing/skiing/etc. partner, or are you planning a trip where you wouldn't mind having some company? Last minute invites can be just as fun as a well-planned group trip (sometimes even better) so don't be shy! And be sure to post a trip report to the appropriate forum when you get back.
[/img][/img]Hi I'm British army veteran DBK amputee.
You can find out about me at:- https://www.sailblogs.com/member/tiggersworld/
It's a sailing blog because I can use it, and previously I was taking veterans and disabled people sailing bin the med.
I have summitted four of the top 5 Mt in the 48 states. So now only Mt Whitney to do. I was going to do it after the blue ridge mountains in August this year but it was just to hot. So I'm doing it end September to mid October. Just hope there's no snow.
If there's anyone crazy enough to come along and join me. Carry some of my food for me that would be great.
Tigger
Ps I did Mckinley and Aconcagua in the army in the 80s.
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I apologize for not responding earlier to your post. I'm quite impressed with what you've accomplished, combine your love of hiking with your love of sailing, although I, too, sold my boat a few years ago.
I'm not a big fan of the Whitney hike--too many unprepared people for my tastes--but you might find more info and support at the Whitney Portal website: https://www.mountwhitneyforum.com/
Seems to me that if you get a permit, you might well find a person or two who is looking for company on that same trail...
The two times that I've been on Whitney, the number of people has been crazy. I still enjoyed the sense of accomplishment: my highest summit the first time and the finish of the John Muir Trail the second time. Wishing you good luck and good weather.
Well with all those people maybe they can help me. The reason it's not been done by a DBK is that's it's hard. Above 12000 anyway, but I'm hoping camping at lodgepole for a few days will help acclimatization. My aim is to do 15 miles a day. Walking from 0600 to 1900. So say 12 hours, that should be around twenty miles a day easy. That's only 1.6 mph, I do 3.5mph in UK on flat but slow on up gradients. But do 11 Miles in 6 hours including 2000' ascent and decent and stopping for lunch for 40 minutes with 14kg backpack. There are only two sections that worry me. From Hamilton lake to the kaweah pass and Mt Whitney. From Guitar lake to the ridge could easily be 4 hours and an extra 2 to the summit. I hope a ranger will turn up and take my sack.
I'm going to try and do Moraine lake to the John Muir trail in one. 20 miles . But if I'm exhausted there's always junction meadow. However some of the stream crossings along the kern river look a bit hairy for a DBK. What's your take?
Hi, I think other commentors were assuming your going up Whitney via Whitney portal vs. taking the HST and completing Whiney from the "back side".
Based on your last comments, I'm assuming your taking the HST to summit Whiteny at the end.
I'm not a backcountry expert like most folks here, but I am a therapist that works on prosthetic mobility with post amputee patients and I have done the HST to summit Whitney 3 times. Later summer water crossings should be no problem, especially with the dry year we have had on the HST.
Im not sure what your recent experience and fitness levels are, so forgive me if I'm under estimating you...but there are stages of that hike that, with a full pack and altitude, would be challenging to average over 15 miles a day if your are not a youngish man, even without DBK, especially with that heavy of a pack (consider cutting weight, 30 pounds is a lot of weight). The hike to Hamilton should be no problem (but a good challenge), but 20 miles would require a fair amount of fitness in one day (I do it, but I definitely feel the burn, and my pack weight is under 18 pounds). The altitude and gradient of the hike from Hamilton to KP is a steady ascent and the first taste of higher altitude, at over 10,000 miles coming from sea level, expect to feel the affects (and spending a few days at lodgepole helps, but its only 6.5K altitude..starting off hitting the trail hard and gaining >10K in a few days might make altitude sickness a very possible reality)..Trail is narrow and, if its early in the season, the ice bridge might be present which would be a true hazard. The hike gets a lot easier from there with a gradual climb and then a lot of descent to the kern and flat going once down to the river with a nice bridge to cross. Its a slog up from kern river to JMT and a steady climb to Guitar lake, but altitude acclimatization and reduction in pack weight help here a lot. A lot of people choose to start their summit from Guitar lake at pre-dawn to get to the summit and see the sun rise...but the trail up to the trail junction is tricky in the dark with only a headlamp and a fall here would be a disaster. The ascent is steep and the trail is rocky/uneven. Allow for a lot of time here, not to mention your going over 14K altitude, oxygen is thin and that will slow you waaaay down... the summit from trail junction is even rockier...The 99 switchbacks on the other side of trail junction will be met with the already mentioned throngs of potential summit-ers, some grossly ill prepared and destined for a helicopter ride (unfortunately). Steep descent via switchbacks and no reliable water source from Guitar lake to the other side of the mountain.
Basically, I would plan for a later summer hike to avoid any risk of ice/snow (the snow bride midway up from Hamilton can be a very unpleasant surprise) and, given the altitude and ascent challenges, give yourself more time... 7 days? A GPS messenger is a must. Given the recent cutbacks to the NPS, it is possible ranger coverage on the HST could be sparse or non-existent...If something goes wrong, you will need it if your solo especially.
Best of luck to you. I hope I gave you a realistic opinion and didn't underestimate your ability. The HST is a lovely hike and mostly pretty easy but the areas you mentioned of concern would also be the areas I would consider worth building in extra time for.
-Alex
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