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Mount Whitney, from campsite
center of photo, courtesy Norm In my last update, I mentioned that I intended to climb Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the U.S. outside of Alaska at the end of May.
Well, how life changes in an instant!
April 30, I fell at work, breaking a vertebrae in my neck, as well as my left arm, along with a number of scrapes and bruises. With a broken neck (fortunately, only a hairline, undisplaced fracture), and a neck brace for the next 8 weeks, any mountain climbing was immediately ruled out. However, tickets had been bought for my wife, my cousin and myself, and the others continued their serious training. Mt Whitney is really just a very long hike, with 6200 ft. of elevation gain, at high elevation--tough, but no technical climbing, as I found out 3 years ago, when I successfully summited.
The group was nearly 20 strong, about half of them my close relatives. Several had no intention of climbing; they were just there to camp with the group, and, on the day of the climb, to visit Death Valley. The Valley is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere (-282 ft.), and only about 100 km away from Mt. Whitney
Setting out
Alden Petker photo (el. 14,497 ft.) This is the report of my wife, Joy, cousin Norm, and others who climbed Mt. Whitney on May 30, and my daughter, nephew and his wife, who were among those who toured Death Valley that day.
The Climb With an exorbitant snowfall this year and a late spring, most to the trail was snow covered. All climbers had crampons. Three years ago, there was no snow on the trail. The group, ranging in age from 13 to 57, started hiking at 1 a.m. The trailhead is at 8360 ft. elevation. For the first six miles, to 12,000 ft., they went slowly and stuck together as a group. This is the spot where those who do the climb over 2 days, set up a high camp. My niece, who had a bum knee and was along more for the photography, turned around at this point. Fourteen went on. After resting, they tackled the "snow slope. This is a steep slope of 1700 vertical ft. Under the snow, there is a fine trail with, reportedly, 99 switchbacks, culminating at a col between a number of peaks. That was our path 3 years ago.
This year, however, the
route was straight up over the snow, a long, difficult climb. Here they all climbed at their own speed, but were advised to stick together with at least one other person. The group quickly spread out, based on individual conditioning and differing reactions to thinning oxygen at high altitude. (The average person's threshold being about 9000 ft., thin air begins to take its toll at this elevation). When I did it three years ago, it was just six weeks after trekking to Everest Base Camp, so my acclimatization was still about 50% effective.
Apparently they had agreed to wait again at the col; so it was, that the first people up waited approx. 2 hours until the last ones arrived. The climb was evidently very tough, and some likely wouldn't have made it without a lot of encouragement from those already at the col. But, in the end, all 14 made it to the mark. Norm, my often climbing buddy, was among them.
Once all had arrived at the col, the group was again allowed to set their own pace to the summit, a long (2.8 mile) traverse that first drops over 200 ft, before gradually rising the
Snow slope
col at the top center, photo from Alden last 1000 ft. to the summit. The snow and ice covering the trail made it a treacherous prospect, with the narrow trail dropping steeply off to the left. Again, the group quickly spread out. For some, the long slog took its toll. A group of six, three young people chaperoned by my brother, his 30-yr old son and his son's girlfriend, decided it had already taken too long, and that attempting to summit, then get back safely was not worth the risk. They turned around, and waited for the others at the bottom of the snow slope. Another climber also found his body telling him it might not make it to the top, and decided to return, as well. Norm was with him, but made the opposite decision. In the end, seven summited; I'm proud to say, including my wife Joy, son-in-law Joel and Norm. The others who summited were 13-yr. old Meredith, 16-yr. old Benjamin (another of my nephews), Scott and Alden.
But reaching the summit is only half the climb. Success is getting back to the campground safely. Fortunately, everyone made it back down safely, most of them sticking together, and arrived back at the campsite around
Snow slope
Alden Petker photo 8:30 pm, exhausted and some feeling ill. Fortunately, the illness was mostly fatigue-related and by the next morning, everyone was feeling somewhat refreshed, although complete return to normal was about two more days away. Anyone who does 22 miles, with 6000+ ft. vertical gain, at high elevation, deserves a gold medal, and those who made it to the col and beyond, a silver is deserved.
Death Valley Having also been to Death Valley in the past, I can relate to those who did the exact same route I did some years back. Death Valley is a gold mine for geographers (which I am) and geologists, and for anyone who has an interest in desert landscapes. The temperature was warm, reaching about 105*F (41*C), but not nearly as hot as it gets in the middle of summer.
Interesting places included the Mesquite Sand Dunes; numerous alluvial fans and pediments; every color of rock imaginable, all highly stratified; the "Devil's golf course" (not really a golf course but salt crystallized terrain so rough that "only the devil could golf there"); Badwater, the lowest point, which is on a large playa (dried lake); Artists' Drive, where the rock colors are amazing;
At the col
photo Alden and the Zabriskie Point. Below are some photos taken on the excursion. I'm sure you'll agree that it's an amazing and unique place.
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