The wilderness permit was arranged six months in advance. In preparation for this day hike, we had spent six nights camped at various elevations from 8000 feet to 12,000 feet. Acclimatization can't hurt.
You may have read the similar reports from Years 1-26, so there is no need to repeat the words.
The wilderness permit was arranged six months in advance. In preparation
for this day hike, we had spent six nights camped at various elevations
from 8000 feet to 12,000 feet. Acclimatization can't hurt.
As usual, we woke up before 4 AM and began hiking uphill at 5 AM. As
a result of experience, we passed just about everybody in sight and the
two of us reached the summit in times of 4 hr 25 min and 4 hr 50 min. We
were actually slower going down.
just above Lone Pine Lake is where the pika lives (we saw 'em)
this view is from about one mile below the summit (the rounded part
in the rear)
Year 27 on the summit
To reach the summit, I was fueled on about 11 ounces of Gatorade and 6 ounces of banana chips. By the time I reached the trailhead again at 3:30 PM, I had finished only two 24-ounce bottles of Gatorade in all.
I'll bet that I don't stand beside the lightning rods if there were a storm brewing. If you think about it, this is the very highest point in the US outside of Alaska, and if any lightning is going to hit this general area, then it might be exactly here at the summit hut.
See you next year.