Mt Whitney - Four Years Ago Today

[Originally published elsewhere on 7/21/19, describing a trek to Mt Whitney via the Mountaineer's route as a fundraiser for the Michael J Fox Foundation]

Some thoughts/lessons learned for next time:

I finally understand the usefulness of trekking poles. They help me a lot in poor-balance situations and get in the way in poor-coordination situations, and there are times when I prefer to put my hands on rocks (or branches), but I get it. I was considering carrying my cane instead of poles, like on Mt Charleston, but that would not work on a climbers' trail.

I need to be more conscientious with sun screen and insect repellent.

My training in the months leading up to this trip was pretty good, with one glaring omission: walking on steep slopes and jagged rocks. I can go for a longer hike with few if any problems where it's flat or stair-stepped, but on a real trail I got blisters on the balls of my feet. Better preparation needs to include hikes on rugged terrain, or if that is not available, at least a lot of time on a treadmill with the incline cranked up.

Building strength and endurance does not necessarily result in greater speed. Sure, we can move faster on the easy parts of the trail when in good shape, but the hard parts that force me to slow down involve less strength and endurance, and more balance and coordination.

Stream crossings suck. Somehow I can see a path and commit to it better on dry land (but still with some falls) but much worse over water. It may be the movement behind the rocks I'm trying to focus on, but I had loads of trouble. Some streams were shallow enough to just walk through, but others were dangerous. Luckily, my only fall in water was inconsequential. I need waterproof storage for my phone in case my luck runs out.

My sleeping pad kept me warm below, but it was very uncomfortable. Part of the reason is that I unzipped my sleeping bag and used it like a blanket, leaving myself directly on the hard foam ridges. Not good. Also, my inflatable pillow did not hold air well, making it very uncomfortable to lie on my back.

Individually-wrapped candy bars are great for not touching food with dirty fingers and for sharing, but they leave lots of small wrappers to keep up with.

Bring some light-weight footwear (such as flip-flops) to wear around camp in lieu of hiking boots.

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