Day 61: summit Mt. Whitney - Mile 770

Today was the craziest and most adventurous day yet. We woke up at midnight from our awesome granite slab cowboy camping spot. We packed up our gear in the dark. You could see the star-lit sky and little red dots moving around the woods like fireflies...those are our headlamps. It was dark out, real dark. I didn't really have an idea of where we were going exactly except that we were going up. Way up. We started ascending in the dark past guitar lake and across miles of suncupped ice fields. I was the lead hiker for the first few hours. I'm learning I have a knack navigation and finding disappearing foot tracks from previous hikers. It was cold but the climbing made me sweaty.

The moon lit up the snowfields, giving us some guidance. I could see massive dark shadows in the distance and all around us...towering over us...those are the cathedral peaks that barricade the base of Whitney. Like an ancient fortress.

When we finally reached the switchbacks of Whitney we had to cut up through a lot of them because they were harried in snow. Righteous and Earwig started cutting an ice path straight up the wall. I was out of my comfort zone. The air is thinning and I can't catch my breath. One slip and I'll end up like that poor woman who passed on this climb just a few weeks ago. I trust my footing and keep climbing.

the sun started rising as we got to the top  

As we got within a 1,000 ft of the summit the sun began to rise and light up the earth. Wow. I've never seen the sun from this position. I've never been this high. After 12 miles we reached the summit. It was 6:30am.

freezing my buns off at the summit

When I reached the top my mind and body were spent. I was feeling loopy from the low oxygen. I started to cry hard. I was so happy I made it, and so rushed with emotions. I made it here when I never really believed that I could. It was a lot to process.

Repping #LAStreetVendors

Everyone got to the top and took photos, laughed and made some coffee. I quickly realized this wasn't a good place to hang out. My limbs were going to freeze and fall off. The summit is the only place in the High Sierra where you get cell service so I took advantage. I called my mom and Jessica and then started heading down the mountain.

I thought the day's battle was done until we tried to get down. Those miles of ice fields and suncups were now slushy bear traps. We had to frustratingly navigate through them to get below Guitar Lake. It took several hours cooking in the sun before we got back to base camp. Big Daddy decided to glisade and had a yard sale on the slope.

frozen lakes down below  

After some discussion with the crew we pressed forward down the valley to get back to the JMT junction. Remember, we are technically not on the PCT at this point. Whitney is a side route. We pushed through lower elevation forests and more snow to get to Wright Creek. A ford was in the cards for today and it was getting late. I crossed with a few others and we camped on the other side of the river.

a view of what lies ahead for us  

Day 58: 736-749

This morning is was by far the most brutally cold morning I have ever spent camping. The sun couldn't come up fast enough. We all milled around camp trying to warm up, and avoid having to pack up and hike. 

I finally got going with the intent to camp just below cottonwood pass, it's only 12 miles or so. 

The hiking today was gorgeous. No wind or breeze and mostly flat cruising at high altitude. Several people in our group have some weird stomach bug and several more are getting altitude sickness. I feel pretty damn good. I thought the altitude would exhaust me more but it hasn't...yet. 

The trail was good until about mile 8 where we hit north slopes covered in snow. There is no trail to be found.  Getting through deep slushy snow slows everything down considerably. Maps are basically pointless now, and GPS is the only way to navigate through the woods. It took me an hour to go .4 miles. That's a terrible pace and we have to make sure we don't run out of food. Whitney and Forester Pass are still in our way to getting to the next town: Bishop. 

smoke two joints in the afternoon 

After 10 hours of hiking we made camp just below Cottonwood Pass and it's amazingly beautiful. 11,200 feet: the second highest place I've ever slept. I found a cool rock cliff to catch a sunset of snow covered northern peaks we are headed towards. I'd be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified. This deep cold and unforgiving terrain humble me every second. The beauty of this place is impossible to describe. 

Day 56: 702-719

The trail is changing and becoming spectacular and more beautiful than before. It was also the first of roughly 8-9 days that we will be in the back country of the High Sierra. 

Most folks had already done mock-packing sessions over the past couple days but I sort of avoided it because I knew that it was going to suck.  This morning I woke up and finally packed everything that I have.  With the extra 12 pounds of food, the bear can, ice axe, and crampons, my pack is extremely heavy. I was sort of shocked that I was even able to get everything inside or on it. 

The climb out of Kennedy Meadows is beautiful, but painful with the new weight. We are definitely moving slower than before and the altitude will start to affect us as well. Several miles into the hike Scotty rolled his ankle.  My feet are feeling all kinds of new pains, and the same goes for other parts of my legs.  The good news is, each day the pain shifts…so I think its just my body making its own adjustments and not some recurring chronic injury.  I have to keep a lookout for any serious issues.  

Our group earned a trail name: The lazy fucks

Me and Earwig - a lazy fuck and Medic for Ventura County.

The valleys we walked through were impeccable. Imagine two mountains on either side of you forming a perfect V. It gives way to a massive field, a meadow. It’s a real emotional boost to finally walk into these meadows and great expanses. No more damn desert. It runs miles long and is pristine and untouched. The Kern River snakes and meanders through the valley floor. It's breezy and cool, but sunny. Snowy peaks in the distance tower over everything, giving you a preview of what's to come. It is a spectacle to see first hand. With all that is happening in the world, it feels selfish to be here. I am awed by it and I can't wait to see what is next. 

That evening, Earwig and I finally pulled into our first camp for the night.  20 hikers were already there, too many for my taste. I decided to cowboy camp because this may be the last night that it's warm enough to do so. It's very cold and the temp dropped fast tonight. I can hear the Cow Creek flowing hard in the darkness. Good night world.

The Kern.

Note: my camera is getting more filthy and its been hard to keep my lens clean.  excuse the spots in the photo!