At Trail Crest Ascending the final two miles to the top
The Beauty of the scenery
The Summit Group Photo
Well we all made it to the top of the highest peak in the continental US. If someone were to ask me for one word to describe it I would go with EPIC! The place has an awesome scope and grandeur to it. The hike is very strenuous, long, beautiful, and did I say long? For me there were a bunch of highlights, but probably the best one (other than the summit of course) was when we got to mile 9 at the top of a never ending series of switchbacks that went on forever. Once we got the top, I was greeted with a view that I will never forget...At the point of the trail crest it is 13,600 and we could turn our heads to the left and look down on Kings Canyon National Park, to our right, the Owens valley and the trail we had just climbed. At that point knowing we were near the summit it was a relatively easy trek the final two miles...but we still had to climb almost another 1000 feet! We began hiking in the dark at just after 3:00 AM in near total blackness wearing only headlamps...11 miles later we were standing on the summit at about 11:45 AM or so? The view was incredible and we took some time to enjoy it..but we were also all loopy from being up so high...We started the descent...and for me that's when it started to get hard..because I had reached the goal, and I just wanted it to be over..so psychologically that made it tough combined with the fact that the Whitney trail has a zillion "stairs" to climb up or down. When you are descending there is added pressure on your knees, and my right one had plumb near given out....path with no steps I was OK..but I had to slow down and gingerly descend everytime there was a step. And so the descent went on and on and on and on......and the whole time climbing down when I looked back at the grandness of the summit and the entire thing and thought...I CAN'T BELIEVE WE DID THAT! And I am happy I did.
P.S. There are 55 total pictures of this trip..they are ALL at
http://gallery.me.com/garrettriley
(don't type that URL into google copy and paste it directly into your browser)
From there you can upload/download or even e-mail any pictures that you want to!
(I left this album unrestricted you can add your photos to it, just hit upload)
Unlike free programs like flicker, this allows you to download big high quality photos! Any problems please tell me and I will gently help you I promise..lets work together to get as many pictures of this trip available for all to see!
P.S Mt Whitney Awards
I would like to thank all of my teamates
Matt The Mt. Whitney veteran was a great guide for all of us and a huge help.
Nicole Bundle of energy kept us all smiling
Denise At 57 years old to do that! Incredible job and congrats
Tina Solid as a rock, even when her water bladder leaked out completely she never faltered
Tasha The trip wouldn't have been the same for me without you there
As Matt said "We will remember this day for the rest of our lives"
8 comments:
Wow, It looks great. I remember when I got to backpack to the top of Dick's Peak at Desolation Wilderness up by Lake Tahoe. Not as high up, but it was awesome being up higher than anything else around.
Thoughts on lastnights game. Well Done Mr. Mota!!!
Prince Fielder is a stinkin loser. Charge the mound if you want to make a point or go after a guy. Dont wait til you get to the club house where you know security will stop you and you have no shot. Reminds me of the loser in high school who would tell his friends to hold him back and make a fake fuss like he wanted to fight and look tough, when he really wanted nothing to do with them. Then all his buddies could "calm him down" and say he aint worth it, or you could killed him and so forth.
Big Goot-
I never doubted it for a second! Can't wait to climb with you again next year. It is amazing how far you have come in one year. Congratulations!
Garrett, what can I say. What an awesome experience and how wonderful all of you were able to share in this amazing trek. You gave a fabulous written account of your experience, accompanied by great pictures. We could REALLY appreciate how you felt during the climb. Can't wait to see the rest of the pictures.
[I know I could never have done anything like this. Sandy]
So excited for all of you.
We love you, Sandy, Namie and Joe
Congratulations. I am very proud of all of you and love you all very, very much.
Love, Grandma
Gar and company...congrats on your outstanding achievement. I can't wait to see all the pics. Time for a jacuzzi, message and neck rub...you deserve it.
Mennis
Amazing accomplishment. Wonderful pictures of your great trek to the summit. Looking at the group shot at the top reminded me of one of my favorite quotes by John Muir. That quote is:
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Natures peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The wind will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy , while cares will drop off like the autumn leaves.
Congratulations!!
Love ya, Susan
Very nice senior. Quite a climb, I am humbled and impressed. Gosh, what's next? Did you take your pics with your iPhone? If so they are geotagged! That is awesome.
I'm back from my trip....awesome blog, Gar! I loved your descriptions of everything and enjoyed every picture. I am SO PROUD of all of you...I am bursting! This is a forever accomplishment and a forever memory that you will always carry. Congratulations on a well-done incredible feat.
With love and pride for you and all, Mom
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