Climbing McKinley May 2005

[teotwaki]

Jim, thanks for reviving an old thread. Wholy smokes man.... this is something i'd love to accomplish someday. I need a personal trainer.. hehehe... anyhow.. you think someone with a fear of heights can do it? Im scared just to try Whitney!

Speaking of which , i did a DVD for a fellow that did Badwater to Whitney in one straight through hike. Talk about nuts dude.

Anyways, Epic trip man. Thanks for sharing.

I am not that crazy about heights but when I have a harness on and am secure on a rope I worry a bit less. :sombrero:

Wow! Badwater to Whitney. That is an impressive bit of insanity!

PS: really good seeing you today! I think that the awning brackets are going to turn out really slick. When the tapes are done remind me about stickers as I should have some unique ones for you.

 

[Rallyroo]

Did you go up Whitney in the winter? I've had my butt handed to me 3 times now by storms (2) and illness so one of these days I'll do something better than the 13 hour summer death march from the portal. My best luck for safe ascents has been on Rainier.

First week of June for Whitney. Also first week of June for Shasta.

 

[Rallyroo]

Speaking of which , i did a DVD for a fellow that did Badwater to Whitney in one straight through hike. Talk about nuts dude.

If you think that's nuts, Ultra-marathoners who run from Badwater to Whitney in the middle of August are beyond insane!

 

[J-man]

great write ups, thx. Have you ever tried any other peaks like lake ediza/banner/ritter or the minerets at mammoth? We went last year but lack of cramp ons made us turn around. I cant imagine higher than 13k - i was breathing pretty heavy at 12k. Just for reference i do triathlons for a hobby, but i was soo surprised when i hit 12k ft, it was like a wall for breathing for me - maybe im just not used to altitude?

 

[teotwaki]

First week of June for Whitney. Also first week of June for Shasta.

For Whitney did you go up the mountineer's route and for Shasta did you go up to Lake Helen and then up and over Red Banks? Much snow in June?

June-July are late to go up Rainier. The snow is slushy and the crevasses are huge making for long detours. May is better.

 

[teotwaki]

great write ups, thx. Have you ever tried any other peaks like lake ediza/banner/ritter or the minerets at mammoth? We went last year but lack of cramp ons made us turn around. I cant imagine higher than 13k - i was breathing pretty heavy at 12k. Just for reference i do triathlons for a hobby, but i was soo surprised when i hit 12k ft, it was like a wall for breathing for me - maybe im just not used to altitude?

I have not looked into those. I always had my eye on Mt. Williamson further to the south. Also Gorgonio, Baldy and Jacinto are all easily accessible in the LA area for a quick fix when there is enough snow. They are "only" ten thousand-ish but are fun and realistic places to practice.

 

[Rallyroo]

For Whitney did you go up the mountineer's route and for Shasta did you go up to Lake Helen and then up and over Red Banks? Much snow in June?

June-July are late to go up Rainier. The snow is slushy and the crevasses are huge making for long detours. May is better.

The Mountaineer's Route I'm attempting the next time I go up Whitney.

Shasta had a 16 foot base of snow in the month of June when I went. Yeah, I went up Avalanche Gulch to Lake Helen then over Red Banks. For the descent, glissading was great until the flatter areas where the snow was mushy by late morning/early afternoon. It was a good thing we started in the dark when the ground was still hard.

Thanks for the beta for Rainier in May. I will keep that in mind.