mt. Whitney - post mortem

On September 3, the 805 Sherpas took a walk up the Mt. Whitney trail in an attempt to summit the tallest peak in lower 48 states.  Our plan was to make the summit (14,505) and return in a single day.  That's a 22 mile round trip with an ascent of approximately 6000 feet.  Of the 7 who started out, 5 made it to the top.  2 had to return early due to altitude sickness.  It happens. 

For those who haven't done Whitney  before, it is breathtakingly beautiful and a huge achievement.  It is also a forced death march.  Walking 22 miles at sea level is heck of a workout.  Adding incline and elevation increases the challenge exponentially.  As you ascend, particularly past 12,000 to 13,000 feet, the impact of altitude is very real. 

To my brothers who made the top, well done.  You guys are animals.  Tough as nails.  The journey continues.  On to the next.

For me, this year was a bit different.  I escorted one of the guys off the mountain who got sick a few miles in, so my day was over early.  I spent the remainder of the day relaxing in and around the Whitney campsite.  After getting over the initial disappointment of being left out of the adventure, I had a chance to kick back for a few hours, and then a few hours more.  That just never happens for me.   Moreover, it doesn't happen in one of the most visually spectacular venues in the world.  In between naps, I took in the peaks and vistas, strolled past waterfalls and mountain streams, and just chilled out.  It would have been a huge thrill to hit the summit again, but that day of relaxation and reflection may be the best day I've had all year. 

My takeaway is that on future adventures, I resolve to focus more on being in the moment.  I will pay closer attention to the steps along the way rather than just the destination.  No doubt I will find hard trails to walk, and I will certainly be back to top of Whitney again, but the next time I come across a tranquil spot, I may just sit down for a couple hours and take it in.