97 Switchbacks - Mt. Whitney Trail

Jim woke us all up at 3:30 AM. I was very ready to get up because I had been cold all night long. We brought what I consider combat gear (just what we need to survive). In the war of weight verses comfort I will usually choose to go with less weight. Rhonda began to experience her first signs of altitude sickness and started to feel something similar to the flu. She really needed to eat, we both needed to eat, but at even the 12,300 feet Trail Camp our bodies didn't want food. The group started for the infamous 97 switchbacks at 4:00 AM. We had our headlamps, but the sky was so full of stars and the Moon that we had plenty of light. The switchbacks have a reputation of being the worst part of the hike, but they really were not that bad to us. If we had hit them after hiking all day from the Portal I imagine the switchbacks would be tough, but to us they were only a steady stroll uphill. As we gained altitude up the side of the wall we noticed several falling stars, and of course we made wishes for each one.

Rhonda on the Trail Crest with Guitar Lake far Below
This is Not a Good Place to Fall Off

After 45 minutes of steady hiking up the switchbacks they ended and we reached the trail crest. This was our first view of the other side of the mountains. Now we could see down to Consultation and Guitar Lakes. It was great to change perspective for a while. This is where everyone started to feel the altitude, everyone except Jim. Jim's mental strength matched his natural and trained stamina as he hopped along the boulders like a mountain goat while constantly making jokes.

Trail crest was over 13,600 feet. The altitude combined with the 35 F degree temps and 20 + mph made this part of the trip "interesting".

Mt. Whitney Trip Report Page 7 >>

 
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