Hiked to Mt Whitney summit yesterday, total time was 13 hours flat. Embarrassingly/recklessly/insanely last minute—my buddy started trying to convince me at noon, he got permits at 4pm, I bought proper footwear at 5pm, we left OC at 6pm, got poor sleep in Lone Pine from 11pm-3am, and started on the trail at 4am.
I found the ascent to be tough but enjoyable, I think in major part due to excitement, seeing the sunrise, and altitude sickness hadn’t hit me. I felt a little off at the start of the switchbacks but then stopped for a few minutes to refill water around 24th/25th switchback, the rest of the switchbacks I felt pretty good. The final ascent to the summit I definitely felt the altitude, fatigued and slightly lightheaded. Being at the summit with the 360 degree view and feeling of accomplishment was incredible.
The descent sucked. Felt great coming down from the summit, but then felt awful at the part where you have to go back up a little to the crest. Pretty bad headache, fatigue, and nausea set in. I had to take that uphill part slowly. The headache and nausea persisted the rest of the way down, and my headache didn’t subside until about noon today. Going down felt 3x as long as the ascent.
I was running my head under the spigot in the parking lot when some random dude (saint) gave me a beer as a congratulations for my first time. Best tasting beer I’ve ever had.
I won’t say I will never do it again, just not anytime in the immediate future. I’m glad I did it and it was an awesome (and grueling) experience. I enjoy hiking but I don’t regularly do it. I’m in somewhat decent shape with moderate weight training, grappling, surfing. I felt the 22 miles was what I expected—it was the altitude that kicked my ass. Oh and I have no blisters and my feet didn’t feel sore until the last mile or so… so I guess I’d have to recommend Darn Tough socks and Altra Lone Peak 6 shoes.
If I were to do it again I would bring more caffeine and it might be nice to break up the hike by camping—although I’ve been told not to do that since it’s hard to sleep at high elevations.
I found the ascent to be tough but enjoyable, I think in major part due to excitement, seeing the sunrise, and altitude sickness hadn’t hit me. I felt a little off at the start of the switchbacks but then stopped for a few minutes to refill water around 24th/25th switchback, the rest of the switchbacks I felt pretty good. The final ascent to the summit I definitely felt the altitude, fatigued and slightly lightheaded. Being at the summit with the 360 degree view and feeling of accomplishment was incredible.
The descent sucked. Felt great coming down from the summit, but then felt awful at the part where you have to go back up a little to the crest. Pretty bad headache, fatigue, and nausea set in. I had to take that uphill part slowly. The headache and nausea persisted the rest of the way down, and my headache didn’t subside until about noon today. Going down felt 3x as long as the ascent.
I was running my head under the spigot in the parking lot when some random dude (saint) gave me a beer as a congratulations for my first time. Best tasting beer I’ve ever had.
I won’t say I will never do it again, just not anytime in the immediate future. I’m glad I did it and it was an awesome (and grueling) experience. I enjoy hiking but I don’t regularly do it. I’m in somewhat decent shape with moderate weight training, grappling, surfing. I felt the 22 miles was what I expected—it was the altitude that kicked my ass. Oh and I have no blisters and my feet didn’t feel sore until the last mile or so… so I guess I’d have to recommend Darn Tough socks and Altra Lone Peak 6 shoes.
If I were to do it again I would bring more caffeine and it might be nice to break up the hike by camping—although I’ve been told not to do that since it’s hard to sleep at high elevations.