In February we put our name into the lottery system to climb Mt. Whitney. In April we received word that we indeed won an opportunity to hike Mt. Whitney on August 30th. The hike is 22 miles round trip. The starting elevation is 8,360ft and you top out at 14,496ft (depending on what map or souvenir you are looking at). The original roster was Emily, Nate, Randy, Kim, Ryan, Joel, Elam, and Sam. Actual roster on August 30th was Nate, Sam, Randy, Elam, Miles and Gabby. Joel is not fond of altitude and opted out. Kim got pregnant. Ryan had a child (Lucy) split her head open the day before hike so he had to tend to that. Emily sprained her ankle three days before.
We left the house and drove late into the night and arrived at our campsite at 12:30am. We set up the tent and laid down at about 1:00am. The alarm went off at 3:00am and we were on the trail by about 4:30am. We went with camera phones only this time so the morning pictures in the dark didn't look so good. So here are some of the pics that turned out.
Consultation lake
In the background is "Trail camp" and this is the start of 97 switchbacks.
Gabby, Miles and Elam at "trail crest" and 1.9 miles to the top. There was virtually no wind. It was so calm and quiet.
Gabby making her way up.
The top and cabin in the distance (built in 1909).
We made it!
Here we are at the very top of Mt. Whitney. We had clouds moving in and out while at the top.
The hike back felt like a death march. It took us about 18 hours round trip!
The pancake.
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