Mount Whitney Day Trip

This trip was planned solely around a single day push to the summit of Mount Whitney (the highest point in the lower 48 states). We flew into Las Vegas then drove through the desert of Death Valley to the town of Lone Pine for walk in permits at the National Forest office. Camping at the trailhead was the most feasible way to facilitate the following day's 4AM start. There was a constant glow of headlamps above us switchbacking up the mountain. Sometime around 8AM the sun started to rise and we emerged in the alpine of the 'High Sierra'. A series of 99 switchbacks brought us to the snow line before crossing into Sequoia National Park and signs for both the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail. Signs of altitude were evident during the final push to the summit on what turned out to be a great weather day overall. I had carried far too much food which turned out to be extra baggage and dead weight (the effects of altitude completely killed my appetite). The descent was long and the headache seemed to get worse until I dropped below 3000m at which point I started feeling better again. Fortunately my overall fitness at the time was fairly high, having recently completed a busy fire season, but traveling immediately from sea level didn't prepare me well. My father had hiked the trail a few years prior. Whitney was a new summit for me and sparked my interest in the Sierra Nevada range. Hopefully another trip will bring me back for an overnight loop. Wahoo!