Delayed start on the trail
There is another storm in the mountains so I am delaying my start back on trail. I will be trying to start on Fri now.
Visits: 1874
There is another storm in the mountains so I am delaying my start back on trail. I will be trying to start on Fri now.
Visits: 1874
Hey! Hope you got the passport etc straightened out. I felt so bad when I heard about the bag gone missing. Looking forward to your videos when you get back on the trail.
Thanks Darlene. New passport and Visa is on the way soon. My iwn stupid fault. Now I have reached town I should be able to start posting my videos from tomorrow
I’ve been waiting anxiously to hear how you’re doing. Hope you’re staying safe. I’ve hiked most of the JMT (Cottonwood Pass to Thousand Island) but it looks like a different world now. When you get closer to central and northern Oregon I’ll send my contact details. Would love to give you a ride if you need one or bring supplies. Someday want to do what you’re doing but for now I have family responsibilities so I’ll have to live vicariously.
Hi Heidi. I am safe back in town now. Had a challenging but rewarding 10 days. I would love to meet up when I get closer.
So glad you made it to your next resupply and you are safe! I have enjoyed reading about your adventures.
Thanks Jill
Hiya,
Exemplo Ducamus – By Example We Lead!
There are those that talk about, and there are those that demonstrate it. What you are achieving is absolutely outstanding. Never give in, keep going forward.
I’m heading sobo next month and I hope that I can tell you the same if our paths cross. You take care.
Thanks Dean. It would be great to cross paths. I hope your adventure is as fun as mine is so far
Hope you made it out yesterday back on the trail. We have all been enjoying your videos in Portland. My kids are inspired!
I did and am now safe in my new resupply location. Blogs and videos will be posted in the next couple of days. It was a great adventure
Safe travels! We look forward to your pics and commentary, hopefully the weather will cooperate!
Thanks. I am safe in town now, looking forward to a rest. Generally the weather was good with a few exceptions
Probably a good idea to wait, although you seem like you can handle anything. I’m very impressed with your progress, snow storms and all.
The next leg to Mammoth was the hardest for me, and I didn’t have to deal with snow. I thought I had hiked way too much food out of Bishop when I hiked back over Kearsarge Pass, but ended up in Mammoth with almost nothing. Forester might be the highest, but you’re going to be really super high until you get to Mammoth. I stuffed my bear canister, and I filled my regular food bag, and I barely had enough. I guess I’m saying, I’m not sure you can leave town with too much food.
But again, I am so impressed with your hiking. You really seem like you know what you are doing. And with snow-bridges to cross the big streams, I think you’re going to be fine. I’ll try not to worry about you until you post again.
For sure you are having an epic adventure! Like few others ever will. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Hey, hopefully I’m not bombarding you with too much information. Since you mentioned you’re staying in Lone Pine, you might want to swing by the Whitney hostel and say hi to Doug Thompson. (Senior – he’s Doug Sr and his son is Doug Jr.)
His family owns the Whitney hostel and operates the Whitney Portal store (as well as runs the forum where some of your videos were posted).
Doug knows every possible thing there is to know about Whitney and this section of the Sierra. He’s usually up at the Portal store during the day, but he may be down in LP due to the storm. If you stop by and leave a message, I’m pretty sure he’d be interested in meeting/talking to you.
He loves to talk about the mountains and share information anyway, but with your Kiwi accent, super optimistic & happy videos, etc. I don’t see how he can resist.
Thanks Hobbes, the info you are sending is helpful. I am staying at the hostel tonight. I will pop down and see if he is there
Another Whitney forum has two cams: one of Whitney, and the other of Williamson (above the tree on left) and Kearsarge (to the right behind the billboard). One look at those images and it’s time to make some more coffee …
http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/
When you were walking up to Forester from Tyndall creek, you were panning both Mt Tyndall & Mt Williamson to the east (on the crest).
Shepherd pass, which is very dangerous with a snow cornice, is the canyon under Williamson.
https://scaruffi.com/travel/williams.html
Thanks for this information, not so nice views from the webcams.
Hey, your videos are getting some exposure at the Whitney forum. This is the place where a lot of Sierra hikers, both Whitney and in general, look for information on conditions:
http://www.mountwhitneyforum.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=103253#Post103253
PS A great resource for real-time info are the Mammoth cams + report. It’s whiteout right now on the summit, but when it’s clear you can see the entire Ritter range up to Yosemite:
https://www.mammothmountain.com/cams/summit-cam
I am now in Lone Pine looking at the mountains, or rather where the mountains would be on a nice day. Nearly 20 hikers tried to go up Kearsarge yesterday and all turned back. Some are trying again tomorrow despite heavy snow forecast. Fri will be earliest for me but depends on weather.
Hey, don’t know if you’ve ever checked out this site, but it’s the Mammoth report + cams. I’m sort of addicted to it, since it provides such an excellent source of information.
As you can see, it’s total whiteout conditions right now on the summit (11k). When it’s clear, you can see the entire Ritter range up to Yosemite.
However, perhaps more revealing is the Village cam. If it’s snowing there – like it is right now – that should be telling everyone to stay put.
https://www.mammothmountain.com/cams/summit-cam
Hi. Yes I have seen this, scary conditions. I can see the mountains from my current location and they are fully clagged in. I will continue to monitor weather reports for better weather.
I was hoping/thinking you’d think twice about entering during the storm(s).
I try and hike Whitney and/or a JMT section every year in May. This year, I keep putting off any plans because the weather just won’t let up. Snow is one thing, wind another, but when the wind chill drops below 0, it’s time to re-consider.
Even hardcore back country skiers who take fully equipped 4 season gear Jan-Mar don’t play around when a severe winter storm warning is issued. Especially when it’s deep powder and snow shoes don’t even work.
Two years ago, a hiker got caught in a storm @ Bishop pass with rapidly falling temps – he wasn’t found until the next summer. The thinking was a fall, but he was curled up in a small boulder cave with his tent/bag wrapped around him.
Of course, every year always has a few (non-PCTer) slips, falls and drownings, but you seem pretty experienced. Knowing how to read a topo, not getting cliffed out, self-belay/arrest, etc are all keys which I’m sure you know.
At this point, my regular partner and I have pushed our JMT plans back to mid-June. That’s too late for you, but it’s important to let (new) snow go through a thaw/freeze cycle in order to actually walk.
Good luck – it looks like this weekend may be “go time” for a lot of patiently waiting hikers. I think I might do Whitney next week as well.
Fingers crossed
As I work in the garden far north of where you are, I think of you. Thank you for keeping us posted. Your safety ethic and experience are admirable! Safe journeys and enjoy your down time. Jane
Thanks Jane