LA’s Guide to Summiting Whitney, Part VI - Assorted Things

Boots: If you hiking Whitney in the summer, you will not need boots; however, I do recommend them because of the extra support they will provide you with. I also suggest that if you are planning on buying – or using brand new boots for your summit bid, that you break them in by putting some miles on them beforehand. I guarantee that no matter how nice or expensive your new boots may be they will cause foot pain or blisters if they are not broken in beforehand!

Bodily Functions: The Forest Services states that you must pack out all solid waste you pack in, including poop. The Ranger station at Lone Pine will provide you with baggies should you require them. There are two outhouses on the trail – at Outpost and Trail Camps. Should you elect to use these facilities, you will not have to pack out your poop. Be prepared to do this when you are on the trail to minimize your impact on the environment. Also be prepared to pack out what you pack in, including all trash. Remember the motto: “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.”

Gear: As noted above, I recommend you check the conditions before you go, which will determine what you carry. Having said that, this is a draft list I provided my group before our October climb:

1) Backpack: preferably something larger than a daypack, but smaller than a week long excursion pack.

2) Sleeping bag; on trips such as this I carry a lightweight 10 degree bag.

3) Bivy Sack/Lightweight tent

4) Sleeping Pad: I generally don’t carry one because of the weight factor, but if you want to be comfortable, there are some good lightweight inflatable pads.

5) First Aid kit

6) Water Filer (See above)

7) Trekking poles: I don't use these, but the descent down from the summit is hard on the knees. I'd recommend these for anyone who wants to save some of their knee cartilage for later in life.

8) Backpacking stove (See above)

9) Bear Canister (See above)

10) 4 1 liter size bottles.

11) Matches/Lighter/Compass/Map/Emergency blanket/knife/TP/Poop bags

12) Boots (See above)

13) 2 pairs socks

14) 1 pair long underwear

15) 1 pair of "convertible" pants

16) Wind resistant fleece jacket.

17) Water resistant outer "shell" jacket

18) Wind resistant fleece hat.

19) Pair of mid-weight gloves

20) Camera

And always, remember to have fun and a good time! See you on the trail!

LA’s Guide to Summiting Whitney, Part V -Minor to Major Potential Trail Perils (Giardia)

Giardia: Giardia is a water borne parasite. It is found in all areas of California in untreated water. Other than altitude sickness, I’d say this should be your biggest concern during the hike. (If you really want to learn more about Giardia, I’d check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Giardia_lamblia_life_cycle.jpg ) I’ve never had Giardia, but from what I’ve heard from fellow climbers, it is very, very, very unpleasant. And while I do guarantee that you will get Giardia – or something worse from drinking untreated water in the Whitney Portal zone, it is very preventable. The best way to avoid getting Giardia is to treat all water you get from backcountry sources.

Treating water can be done a number of ways; but the most productive are through a filter or with iodine tablets. There are a variety of filter options; some involving passing the water through a charcoal based filter system; others that involve treatment with either ultraviolet light or chlorine. I personally utilize the MIOX filter system (http://www.msrcorp.com/filters/miox.asp); and while it is on the expensive side, I have never had a problem at all with it. Should you not have a filter, there is no need to fret, as there are two perfectly good low cost effective methods. First, iodine tablets. A small bottle of such tablets (Such as these: http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=603&parent_category_rn=4500460&vcat=REI_SEARCH ) will run you about ten dollars, and there will be more tablets than you need. Using iodine tablets is very easy. You simply use one tablet per liter of water, and after letting the water (with tablet) sit for the prescribed period of time, the water will be safe to drink. The only downside of iodine tablets is that the treated water will have a bit of an aftertaste, but this side effect is pretty much unavoidable (Almost all water treatment options leave some sort of residue). The second method is boiling water; however, this method requires one to carry more fuel for a stove, and if not done properly, can still lead to water-borne illnesses.

LA’s Guide to Summiting Whitney, Part V -Minor to Major Potential Trail Perils (Heatstroke/Hypothermia/Dehydration)

Dehydration/Heatstroke: Both of these are pretty obvious and avoidable. And yet, when I was working for the Park Service, I saw more cases of heatstroke and or dehydration than anything else. Do not be one of the people that try to climb the mountain with an eight ounce bottle of water! Take lots of water, and wear sunscreen and a hat. Be aware that once you clear treeline, you will be exposed to the sun until you cross back down into the treeline at the end of the hike. My personal preference is to carry at least three liters of water in my pack; and depending on the season, sometimes four liters. Be aware that there are few water sources on the trail in late summer and early fall to filter water from.

Hypothermia: This is another obvious condition that, unfortunately, seems to affect a lot of potential climbers. I suggest that before you leave for your trip you consult the forecast for the region. I would also suggest that when you pick up your permit from the Forest Service, you talk to the Ranger about the current and planned conditions. Such information will allow you to be better informed and to have the right gear. Also keep in mind that if you are camping at Trail Camp, its elevation is right below 12,000 feet. Even during a hot summer day, the temperature at such an elevation can drop dramatically at night! It is also a good idea to have warm clothing for the final stage of the ascent as the temperature at 14,496 feet can be quite cold, and storms can come up quite fast.

LA’s Guide to Summiting Whitney, Part V -Minor to Major Potential Trail Perils (Altitude Sickness)

The items in this part are no fun at all – even to talk about! But, to be safe, it’s always good to know what can happen, so here we go:

Altitude Sickness: When summiting Whitney, this particular aspect should be a potential concern. The summit of Whitney is the highest point in the lower 48 states at 14,500 feet. Most people in the United States live at 0-1,000 feet above sea level. Whitney is over three miles higher than what most people’s bodies are accustomed to on a daily basis. Even if one is in excellent shape, at 10,000-14,000 feet, the altitude will have an effect on your body. At higher altitudes, there is less oxygen in the air, which means that your body will have to work harder at some point during the trek. Additionally, if you consider that you will likely be carrying a 15-35 pound backpack while ascending a steep grade, the inevitable conclusion is that at some point, you will be gasping for air. Altitude sickness ranges from the benign – headache, muscle aches, hyperventilation - to the severe – hallucinations, vomiting, and all sorts of other complications that can end in death!

(For more information check out: http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/safety/altitude.html )

The main thing to keep in mind about altitude sickness is that for the most part, it is easily cured. The cure for altitude sickness is simple – descend to a lower altitude. So, if you’re on the trail and you start feeling really funny, it is a good idea to turn around and head back down. If you are traveling in a group, you can also keep an eye on other people. If it’s obvious someone is acting oddly, help steer them back down to a lower elevation. Some people are more susceptible to altitude sickness than others; I know that around 20,000 feet, I start to get a little loopy; the point is that everyone, at some elevation has some sort of breaking point. There are also two things to help you avoid altitude sickness: acclimatization and hydration.

By allowing your body to acclimatize, it becomes more accustomed to the elevation by producing more red blood cells. By arriving early at Whitney Portal the day before the hike, one allows their body more time to acclimatize (similarly, arriving at Trail Camp earlier on the first day of the hike also aides acclimatization). Second, it is also important to remember to stay hydrated. In addition to there being less oxygen at higher elevations, there is also less moisture. Everyone loses lots of moisture through simple breathing and through their skin. The more water you take in, the less likely you are to be dehydrated and less likely to be susceptible to altitude sickness. The thing to remember about altitude sickness is that it’s both avoidable and treatable as long as you know what to be aware of and what to do.

LA’s Guide to Summiting Whitney, Part IV – What to eat on the trail.

There are three main considerations about trail food. Any food that you bring should be high-calorie and contain lots of energy; the food should all fit in the bear canister; and it should not be excessively heavy to carry. Generally, for an overnight hike, I recommend something simple to prepare, or even not prepare, such as things like energy bars, or freeze-dried food. Sandwiches or other pre-cooked items also can be good after a long day of hiking. What you really want is something that can be prepared easily and tastes halfway decent. One of the advantages to freeze-dried food is that all the preparation it requires is hot water. This allows you to save on weight by carrying a single burner stove to heat water. Even easier alternatives are as mentioned above, pre-cooked foods or energy bars which require no cooking at all. When I’m on the trail, I usually eat some sort of fresh fruit or energy bar because I don’t usually like to deal with making something crazy like soup for lunch. For dinner, and sometimes breakfast, I’ll usually go with some type of freeze-dried meal for the calories, and not for the taste. Although I will admit, the quality of freeze-dried meals has become much better in recent years.

LA’s Guide to Summiting Whitney, Part III - Food Storage: What to do about bears on the trail.

People: On the trail you are required to use bear-proof storage for our food. The rationale behind this rule is identical to storing food in cars. It is again illegal to feed wildlife; and the Forest Service doesn’t want bears becoming habituated to human food. As all bears in the Sierras have learned to defeat the “hanging method” of food storage, the Forest Service requires all backpackers to carry what are known as bear canisters, which are reinforced (usually plastic) containers that weigh approximately three to five pounds and are bear-proof. It is also important to note that as Trail Camp is above treeline, the hanging method would not be an option! The number of people and the amount of food a group plans to eat will determine how many containers you will need to carry. Generally, I would say that one canister can hold three to four people’s food for one night. Once you have reached your campsite, take the canister out, and place it roughly twenty feet away from your campsite. Do not leave it in your pack; otherwise the bears will simply take your pack containing the canister back to their den!

The bear canister does two things: 1) it protects your food from bears, and places you in compliance with the law; and 2) it protects your food and smellable items from marmots. A marmot is a rodent that lives at high elevations (9,000 feet and up) and is roughly beaver sized (for more information than you will ever need about marmots, check out this site: http://www.marmotburrow.ucla.edu/ ). These not-so-little rodents also love to eat people food. They will chew through tents, backpacks, and just about anything else to get at the food. I have seen all sorts of equipment ruined by these guys, and I guarantee that they will be around any campsite at Trail Camp in force (along with their other smaller rodent cousins). They also have an uncanny ability to swoop in, chew holes in stuff and disappear while people are around or watching. The bear canister, while extra weight is therefore a bit of a blessing in disguise as it allows you to be protected from bears, and it allows your gear to be protected from marmots.

LA’s Guide to Summiting Whitney, Part III - Food Storage: What to do about bears and your car.

It is hard to predict if you will see a bear during your visit to Mt. Whitney. On the one hand, Mt. Whitney and the Whitney Portal area, like most of the Sierras are home to many Black Bears and a lot of Black Bear activity. On the other hand, Black Bears are wild animals and as a general rule, do not like to hang out with humans. In the Sierras, Black Bears come in a variety of colors from a golden brown to a dark black. However, do not let the different colors fool you – there are only black bears in the Sierras. There are no Grizzly Bears, and no California Golden Bears; the first lives in a completely different habitat, and the second is extinct. Black Bears in the Sierras are generally not aggressive toward humans; however, some will engage in conduct known as a “bluff charge”.

In these situations, the bear will run at a person, expecting them to drop their backpack and run; the bear is then left free to pillage their bag for food. If this happens, I cannot stress the following advice enough: do not run! First, you will not be able to outrun a bear. Second, even if the bear is attacking you, you should either fight back or protect your vital areas. Third, if it is a “bluff charge”, the bear will stop before it reaches you, and then saunter off. I have seen this many times, and I have heard of it many times. As a result of these very active bears, Mt. Whitney and the Whitney Portal zone, like all National Parks in the Sierras, have strict bear food storage requirements. The food storage requirements devised by the Forest Service for the Whitney Portal area covers two areas: cars and people.

Cars: Under the law (and yes, you read that right), it is a crime to store food improperly in your vehicle in the Whitney Portal Zone, which is you will be park your car. The reason it is a crime is because it is against Forest Service regulations to feed wild animals (in this case bears). The reason the law applies to cars is because black bears in the Sierras have learned to break into cars to get food. And when I say “break into cars”, I mean that they can break into all areas of the car. Trunk, backseat, front seat, hood, and anywhere else they want to investigate.

How the bears break into cars is really quite ingenious. For the bear, it is a two step procedure. First, they hook their claws into any car window. Second, they simply pull it down. They are unfazed by breaking glass, car alarms, and just about anything else. They then climb into the car through the broken window, and then claw/chew their way into whatever other areas they are interested in investigating. In addition to totally destroying portions of a car to get at food, they also tend to use the car as their own private bathroom!

So, in order to avoid lots of property damage that your insurance may or may not cover, I highly recommend that you follow the Forest Service’s guidelines and store all “smellable” items that you are not taking on the trail in the bear lockers that are provided in the parking lot free of charge. What I mean by “smellable” items are those items that possess any sort of food type smell; such as toothpaste, lotions, sunscreen, shaving cream, bug spray, and of course food. Another reason to use the bear lockers is to avoid a ticket from the Forest Service. I guarantee that the Forest Service will ticket you for having a bear break into your car; which will leave you with: 1) a thrashed car; 2) a car that smells like shit; and 3) a large ticket for allowing the first two things to occur. This is not hype: as former national park service employee, and an avid mountaineer I have seen bears break into tons of cars, and it does happens on a regular basis, so, in short: just use the lockers that are provided.