Hiking Mount Whitney
June – July 2007
The plan
Mount Whitney is the tallest peak in the lower 48 states. It is a long, non-technical hike to get to the top — 11 miles, 6,000 feet. I decided to hike it, originally as preparation for the Inca Trail hike in Peru, but really just ’cause it sounded neat!
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anyone who agreed with me. (Except Jeff, but he & my sister had just had a baby in February, and sanity seems to have set in. And Patricia, but she decided to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro instead.) So for a while, I thought I was going solo.
I’ve got my hiking permit for a day hike up (and down) Mt. Whitney for Sunday, July 15th. I made campground reservations for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The plan was to take two days driving to Lone Pine and the Whitney Portal, arriving mid-day on Friday. Hang out, perhaps go on a short hike on Saturday while I get acclimated to being at 8,300 feet.
On Sunday, I’ll get up very, very early, and hike 11 miles to the top. Then, turn around and hike down.
