reddirtblogger: Whitney Impromptu!

The final destination on my drive down US-395 was Whitney Portal.

I went there with Mt. Russell in mind since, unlike all the red tape I had heard about Mt. Whitney (namely the lottery in February I never entered), Russell requires no permit if you stay outside the "Whitney Zone". Apparently, Whitney requires no permit if you do it in a day and don't camp. But I did not know that at the time. And I really didn't think I had it in me to do Whitney-in-a-day.

Along the beginning of Whitney Portal Road (the actual street sign is labeled something else- I forgot...edit later), there are a bunch of Buttermilks-looking rock.

My first view of Day Needle, Keeler Needle, and Mt. Whitney.
And the sun was sinking fast!

After arriving a bit before dusk, as I tried to figure out where to camp and other just-arrived-misc-stuff, a guy in the parking lot offered me an extra Whitney permit (as 2 of his party of 6 bailed), but it must be used that night.

"There's people on the trail at all hours," he said, as the thought of a midnight start occurs to me.

The inside of my car was more of a disaster than usual, so it took me a while to get my stuff together. I also inherited a SuperTopo photocopy of the approach trail to the Mountaineer's route from some folks arriving back right before midnight, which saved me from bringing the whole book in my crammed day-pack.

As I look for the trail head, I pass by a chocolate cake that someone forgot to pack away after their summit celebration. Booty for the bears!
(Later, I learned they come down every night,
arriving at Whitney Portal at 2am like clockwork.)

Under the trail head awning.

Exhilaration, Inspiration, Misery

After hiking up 0.8 miles I get to this sign:

(no, I had no compass nor GPS; I looked up the distance while writing this)

And then I realized the trail I had in mind was not the same one
that the guy who gave me the permit spoke of.

In my haste in trying to take advantage of the permit, it also slipped my mind that bears are *nocturnal* and like to feed along CREEKs.

I was on the North Fork of the Lone Pine CREEK trail.... alone, shortly after midnight and had no one to outrun if I did come across a bear (insert bear joke w/ punchline, "I don’t have to out run the bear, I just have to out run you"). If I could just make it to Lower Boy Scout Lake without running into a bear, I'll probably be ok.

But that was wishful thinking...

Shortly before the 8 ft waterfall, a pair of bright green eyes stare back at the reflection of my headlamp. Kinda like those of my dogs' at night, only larger & wider apart.

This picture was taken by Chris McNamara when he and Eric Volz did Keeler Needle in 2003.

Check out Chris' trip report & slide show for much better pictures (as well as more bear pictures). I asked to "borrow" this picture as I really didn't think try to photograph the bear(s) alone was a good idea.

Was this the same guy I saw?

I went off the trail and headed up as high as I could along the base of the wall on the left. I waited with bear bells and bear spray in hand. Though I read the directions out loud (to the bear?) several times, I failed to replace the safety as instructed before I reached back to adjust my pack. No matter how hard I tried to get that tiny squirt of capsaicin off my hand, I could feel the spray for the rest of the trip.

An hour after seeing the green eyes on the trail, I checked again to see if the bear(s) were still there. Sure enough, a pair of eyes lifted up to look back at me. I was not going to check for a third time. I was not sure if there would be a third time.

While it was clear that I should not keep going, I hesitated about the idea of going back down for fear of running into other bears. From where I was sitting, I had a great signal on my cell phone. I checked my voicemail, made a few phone calls. Finally I sucked it up and made an idiot call to 911, to "discuss" this issue. I was advised to make noise and stay put... bummer, there went my head start.

I then left a message on Duncan's voice mail to tell the dogs' I love(d?) them & him too.

bear bells, bear spray, bear bivy

pre-dawn

A beautiful end to an exciting night.

A cairn on top of the Ebersbacher ledges.
In hindsight, I was glad to get to see them for the first time in daylight.

Whitney, Keeler Needle & Day Needle coming into view as I approach Lower Boy Scout Lake.

View from Lower Boy Scout Lake.

Someone descending, making good use of the friction-y slabs.
They sure beat bushwhacking & boulder hopping.

the view somewhere between Upper & Lower Boy Scout Lakes.

After turning the corner following Upper Boy Scout Lake,
Day Needle, Keeler Needle, and Whitney come into full view.
I definitely need to come back w/ a solid partner to do Keeler soon!

Just before crossing some 3rd class to Iceberg Lake area
(aiming for area right under tiny blue patch above my head).
Clouds move damned fast in the Sierras!

There are two parties of two ahead of me... and they keep yelling "rock".
I am grateful for my helmet and am in no hurry to get started.
A guide who passed them on the way down suggested I
"avoid the grey" and "stay on the yellow".
Very helpful advice!