Learning How to Climb...

After 5 days of seeing no one, and speaking to only me briefly on the phone, Teddy arrived in Kennedy Meadows, received all of his packages and goodies, and is heading out towards the Sierra Mountains.  It was recommended in "Yogi's PCT Handbook" to leave Kennedy Meadows with an extra day of food to account for one of the most unique experiences on this trip - to summit Mt. Whitney.  The western slope of the mountain lies within Sequoia National Park, one of the two national parks that Teddy will travel through during this next leg of the trip.  He is currently about 40 miles from entering the parks.

via google images

The PCT enters Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park at mile 753 and exits the parks at mile 854.  In reading through Teddy's books for information, I came across this notice:  As of January 2011, thruhikers along the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail with a valid wilderness permit must use portable, park approved, bearproof storage containers. 

Lovely.  Teddy might just get another encounter with a bear, but this time, the bear will not be training for any movie.  

I know from talking with Teddy, that climbing Mt. Whitney is one of the biggest highlights of his trip.  I am so happy that he is approaching this triumph - he needed a pick-me-up after his rash ordeal.  I want to share a few facts about this mountain that my husband is about to climb.

Mount Whitney is the highest summit in the contiguous United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet.   The most popular route to the summit is by way of the Mount Whitney Trail which starts at Whitney Portal, 13 miles west of the town of Lone Pine. The hike is about 22 miles round trip with an elevation gain of over 6,100 feet.  The High Sierra, including Mount Whitney, has unpredictable weather patterns.  Common advice is to be off the peak by noon during the summer monsoon season, between June and September.  Lightening is a frequent occurrence at the peak on summer afternoons.  Let's hope Teddy read up on his Wikipedia facts before leaving on this trek...

via google images

Residents of Lone Pine financed the first trail to the summit, engineered by Gustave Marsh, and completed it on July 22, 1904.  Breathtaking photographs of the trails leading up to Mount Whitney, as well as the photo at left, can be found on many sites - I took these from Wikipedia.  Although this is not a picture of Teddy, I hope the experience is just as amazing as it appears in this photo.

via google images

 I also learned that there is a hut at the summit of the mountain, known as the Smithsonian Institution Shelter.  This shelter was constructed back in 1909, after a hiker named Bryd Surby was struck and killed by lightning while eating lunch on the exposed summit.  In response to this event, Gustave Marsh began work on the stone hut that would become the Smithsonian Institution Shelter, and completed it in 1909.  The shelter was built to house scientists who used the 14,505-foot summit to study high-altitude phenomena in the time before sustained high-altitude flight was possible.

So, there you have it.  A bunch of interesting, crazy facts about the next piece of Scarecrow's adventure.  Below is a picture of the plaque that is mounted at the summit of Mt. Whitney.  I am anxiously awaiting for Teddy's photo of this amazing accomplishment.  I am sure that he will climb this mountain, reach the summit, and take a big breath... and then, he will fill up with pride and accomplishment in the realization that he has achieved this extraordinary feat. 

via google images

There are times in  life when you gotta crawl
Lose your grip, trip an' fall
When you can't lean on no one else
That's when you find yourself...
I've been around an' I've  noticed that
Walkin's easier when the road is flat
Them danged ol' heels'll get you every time
Yeah, the good Lord gave us mountains
 So we could learn how to climb...       ~Lonestar

~The Thruhiker's Wife