Whitney and the way home.
Topic: Adventure, Backpacking|Thank god, I can see the truck! Day 7
We all woke up pretty early and got moving with no breakfast in order to get going quickly. We had a ton of mileage and work to do today. We would be breaching 14,000 feet and be above that for miles, then we’d have to lose about 6,000 feet of elevation and hike about 11 more miles. It was going to be a long day and it started nice and early. We were all ready for this last monster of a day, Gant, Jared, Josh, Jared even managed the strength to smile.
So, this is the steepest part of the trip, the jaunt up to Kgap was tough, because we had full packs, but this one is just plain mean. It’s at a much higher elevation so your lungs are straining, it’s steeper so your muscles are begging for more oxygen and despite this it’s still the most beautiful place in California. So, by now you know the deal; stunning alpine lakes, gorgeous granite monoliths, and views to all of eternity it seemed like. So, for the last time we went up and up and up.
Eventually, we were done with the up and were sitting pretty on top of Mt Whitney. Time for the ridiculous hero poses, which I think were well deserved after a week long trip to the top, so get ready. Since I am putting this stupid story together, screw the alphabetical order, I’m going first. Josh(I miss those dark blue skies) 1(what a doosh, seriously), 2,(one handed pushup, whatsup!?) , Gant 1 I’m not sure what happened, if he forgot or if I screwed up somehow but I don’t have a picture of Gant’s historical Vitamin Water hero pose. Jared, 1, 2. Group hardcore, with Gant celebrating Brokeback Mountain’s emmy win with a W symbol. Group smiles, with all of us absorbing too much UV light into our sensitive little eyes because Gant doesn’t like to wear sunglasses for pictures.
After almost three hours on top for me, the other two had about 1.5 hours up top, we were ready to get to the truck and finish the last 11 miles or so. Down we hiked, Gant and I made a valiant attempt on Mt Muir, but were rebuffed. We’ll be back for that one with a better description of the route, or maybe someone to guide us, like Gant’s future self who we happened to run into on the trail later that day.
Again, down we hiked, past the needles, through snow and through switchback after switchback. The people that summit Whitney from the portal, which is 95% of them I’d guess, are just sick in the head. That’s a slog on a scale that only a masochist would enjoy.
We left trailcamp around 3:30 from what I remember. I didn’t break until I saw the most welcome sight mine eyes have looked upon (my big stupid red truck),which was a little after 6:00.
Thus ended the trip, Gant, Jared and Josh had successfully traversed the Sierra Nevada from West to East. Traveling 90+ miles and gaining over 20,000 feet over seven days.
After shots, contrasted to before shots:
Hey man, found your travelogue via Google. I’m about to do the HST in a couple of weeks and your blog has been a great source of info. Quick question: What did you do for water, are the lakes there safe to drink from w/filter? I can’t find anything about it online yet.
Good luck on the trip, it’s a great hike. One of my favorite hikes of all time, easily. For water all we did was use a product called Klear Water, it was very light, no mechanical worries (like with filters) no horrible taste, it purifies fast and just works. Ever since that trip I’ve used it on all of my hikes. Let me know if you have any other questions, and I’d heartily reccomend a day stayover in the 9 lakes basin just north of the Kaweah Gap if you have the extra time. It’s simply stunning.