"I'm just a normal person with amazing hair." - Boom
1am wake up call, y'all! And we slack packing! We left our tents set up and carried only what we needed: food, water, micro spikes, warm clothes, one sleeping bag JIC. Mount Whitney isn't actually on the PCT. It's just a fun little side trip..............
Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states (there is a higher mountain in Alaska). All of my prior experience (Colorado, Pelotonia) told me that I would not in fact be able to summit Mount Whitney, and if I did, I'd have to reinvent my self narrative because what I know about me would be shattered.
So we started climbing in the dark like a row of coal miners on our way to our physically and mentally demanding, but noble vocations. The hikers ahead of us bobbed like orbs of light up above. The higher we climbed, the colder it became. We added layer after layer.
At sunrise, we weren't quite at the peak, but the views were magical nonetheless: the Milky Way gave way to a light blue sky, and eventually rows of pinkish and blueish light hinted at the impressive landscape around us. Near the top, rocks jagged up to the sky, reminding me of La Sagrada Familia, one of my favorite places on earth. Windows in the rock gave amazing views of the sunrise, and I certainly felt like I was in a cathedral.
[1am start time, sun rising, sun rising, sunrise!, views from the climb, feeling surprisingly good]
Eventually, we made it to the final rocky climb; the emergency shelter at the top came into view. When we arrived, we went straight into the shelter, where a dozen hikers were huddled and shivering under sleeping bags. We quickly changed into warmer layers of clothing (thanks, Girl Scouts for this lesson!), and then we made our way out to the tippy top for a breathtaking view and a few photos. Unfortunately, our phones were so cold they kept shutting off when we tried to take pictures.
We signed the registry and decided to bite the bullet and make our way down. As always, the path back down felt much longer; we couldn't believe how much we had climbed. It's really difficult to emphasize just how taken I was by the mountain; I just couldn't get over it. Plus, marmots! I officially have a new fave animal - I know what you're thinking: I've loved pigs since I was a tween! But I'm telling you: these guys look like beavers and Guinea pigs had a baby. They're fluffy, cute, and lazy (like Sula), and they live in trees. Round trip, the hike lasted 12 hours, we climbed to 14,505 feet, and it was 8 degrees at the top with whipping winds.
[trying to stay warm in the hut at the summit, summit photos, we did it!, contemplative, view from the highest point in the contiguous US, snuggs]
At camp, we collapsed and waited for the rest of our group to descend so we could lazily applaud them. Everyone took a nap, and people still looked like crap at dinner. A sunburn and sunken eyes are the equivalent of an "I hiked Whitney" tee.
We had contemplated hiking on to set up for our next big climb: Forrester Pass, the highest point on the PCT, but then we remembered who we are: Slow Magic.
[down again, incredible rock faces, getting sleepy, nearly there, green stuff!, Animal snuggs back at camp]
One last thing: we are at the point in the hike where hanger is a way of life. People are bartering food stuffs like merchants: "I'll trade you a Mountain House for half a block of cheese and a Snickers" is not unusual to hear. Twice, I heard friends threaten death to one another should their food be in anyway compromised. Dayhike was agitatedly sipping his hot chocolate while Boom and Hardway played catch nearby, and every time the ball whizzed by he visibly winced, hovering to protect his calories. Personally, I can't bear the site of our dehydrated veggie meals that once seemed so superior. Honestly, the thought of them makes me want to gag a bit, and I gaze longingly at others' packs of ramen and faux mashed potatoes. This is my life now.
