The Hike of a Lifetime! Mt Whitney - July 2023

[@mizzyride]

Thanks for the video man. You did the right thing to turn around. There will be more opportunities in the future. I have climbed many of the high peaks in the Sierras and I have gitten sick even at 10000 feet. It is awful. Glad you got to see the grandeur of the Sierra. Be well and try again.

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you so much. I knew it was the best decision but quite heartbreaking...I am already planning my trip back for next year lol... stay safe on your adventures 🙏 thanks again

[@immnotaboutthatlife2086]

@@MountainLife603I feel your heartbreak but look forward to your next attempt!

[@HuskyMike]

Same thing happened to me at Trail Camp my first time attempting Whitney. Got up to camp. Felt a little bit sick and figured I'd eat something and see how it went. Started getting a bit worse and I didn't want to chance getting really sick in the middle of the night and having to struggle hiking back in the dark so I hiked back down after only being up there a couple hours. Don't let it get you down. You still had a great adventure. The mountains will be there for next time. As an option, you can hike Whitney from the back side too. You start from Cottonwood Pass and hike around to Guitar Lake and up to Whitney from there. That's how I ended up summiting. It's a longer, multi-day trip, but well worth it if you have the time. Plus, you'll be at 10,000 (ish) feet for a couple days before your attempt to summit to help with acclimating. Spend one night at Whitney Portal before heading up to start your trip at Cottonwood Pass.

[@MountainLife603]

Awesome. I'll definitely look into thar route! 👍🏻

[@TylerKTanaka]

Great decision and kudos for making it. Lots of people don't make it soon enough & AMS is no joke. As the saying goes... "going up is optional... going down is mandatory". It will make the summit all the more worth it when you top out on another trip. I've summited twice, once from each side and strongly recommend getting there a day earlier next attempt and get a day hike in to Lone Pine Lake, eat lunch at the lake, relax, hydrate really well, then go down to town or the Alabama Hills at lower elevation to sleep for the night. That one extra day of acclimatization makes a huge difference!. Happy trails!

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you! Definitely acclimate on the next attempt lol thanks for watching

[@thepeacerunners]

Love your channell. You always give great advice to everyone who watches and talk about safety often. In this one you lead by example and still emerge as the beast of a hiker that we all know you are!

[@MountainLife603]

Hey thanks! I really appreciate that... this hike was amazing and although I didn't summit, I was able to learn a valuable lesson lol ..I like to think if I pass on info to the next person, it will inspire them to get out there for themselves. Thanks for your support 🙏

[@Jazz507YouTube]

Thanks for this amazing video! I’m heading there today and it has helped me be more prepared and realize many other details! ❤

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you! Good luck to you and be safe! 🙏

[@greghunter5627]

My son and climb Whitney every summer and continue on the JMT to Yosemite Valley. It takes us about 14 days. Next summer shooting for 10 or less days. We both like Whitney, the best, because our backpacks are at its heaviest, and we don’t quite have our hiking legs yet. It’s at guitar lake on the other side of Whitney where we share a 12 pack and prepare for the days ahead. Backpacks a bit lighter as well. :) nice video, thank you.

[@MountainLife603]

Sounds awesome! Safe travels

[@noahsanchez8910]

Great video, thanks for posting. Elevation sickness is rough, hopefully you recovered quickly and were able to enjoy the trail on the way out.

[@joebacarella1304]

You will be back. Whitney is a beast but also addicting. Heaviest snowfall in decades in the Sierra's this past winter so you picked a tough year to go. Hopefully your next time out, you'll adjust to the altitude a bit more. I attempted three times. First time was great, second time I pulled a muscle that stemmed from a previous injury so, of course, I couldn't let the mountain win so I went back a third time and made it no problem. You'll be back and you will summit. Best of luck.....and thanks, I enjoyed the video.

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you! You're right, I'll be back

[@fantasyEXX]

Hey thanks for the video. One tip I learned over the years to combat altitude sickness is taking an Ibuprofen before you start (Advil). Hope that helps you prepare for next time!

[@mottopanukeiku7406]

Wow- great video! Really gives you a sense of going up. So many other Whitney videos are pretty but no real info on trail conditions or climb dates. It is also great to see a "turn around" posted with so many other videos showing the fortunate folks that get the good weather plus do-able snow conditions. Good decision on going back just like others have posted. I had to turn back 1K ft from the summit of Shasta last June due to extreme weather/winds at the top. It has heartbreaking since I had trained hard and was feeling good at 13K+, but the risk was just too much for getting lost on the way down in white-out conditions. I will be back though, and it was super fun in it's own way to get caught in some serious weather condition drama that high up on the mountain. I have a permit for Whitney on October 23rd. I am training again now, but I am anticipating touch and go weather and trail conditions that late in the season. I have my fingers crossed though :) Cheers!

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you! All the best on your trip! Stay safe 🙏

[@LegioXIVGemina]

Get to Lone Pine early. Do a couple of acclimation hikes at Bristlecone Pine Forest and Cottonwood Pass. Take Ibuprofen (as noted by a previous comment) By a few O2 containers, they’re very light. Take your time and holy smokes that’s a lot of water on the trail.

[@dwaynecooper974]

Great video; brave decision to turn back. Altitude sickness is no joke. For others trying this, one extra day to acclimate can make all the difference. I went with an experienced crew and we arrived at Whitney portal late in the evening and camped the first night. The next day we hiked up to Lone Pine Lake, had lunch, returned to the portal for another night, and started our hike the following morning. It was still a tough hike but we avoided altitiude sickness.

[@lestercarlson1547]

Good Decision, The Altitude gets Most of Us and It can take several tries. No Worries Try, Try, Try, Again. It is Worth it to Achieve. Take Care

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you! I will 👍🏻

[@krysiawegrzynska6952]

Great video! Its nice to see this route without snow, I was doing same thing June 13 and after passing mile the 2nd, everything was covered by snow! I ended at the same point at the Trail Camp , ate and came back, thunderstorm was coming! Didn’t even spend a night there, 99 switchbacks was an ice wall. Mountains are amazing! But first rule is to listen to them! I believe we will make it to the top one day! All the best on your adventures!

[@MountainLife603]

I can imagine the amount of snow that must have been there almost 20 days before I was... it rained alllllllll night and the 99 switchbacks still looked the same the next morning... we will definitely summit! Wish you the best 🙏

[@ethang7565]

I've never nodded so hard reading the title. That hike down feels like a lifetime 😂😭

[@MountainLife603]

So. Many. Switchbacks.

[@outdoorshoesofficial]

Great video!

[@Backcountryhiker]

I chose to do the hike, years ago, and to shoot for completing it in one day, up and back. I did it but I also experienced altitude sickness but at the 10,000 foot level. I didn't get sick but had the worst headache and dizziness I've ever had. My "plan" was to hit it hard, do it quickly, and return so the altitude wouldn't bother me. Well, again, it did but the experience was worth it. Would I do it again? Nope, been there, done that. Thanks for taking us along. Next time will be the charm.

[@paulauksztulewicz4803]

Not so much "defeated" as "smart and thoughtful" I would say. We were up there July 18-19 and camped at what I call "Constipation Lake", packed in the morning, and headed back. Two from our group of four got up at 3am. and summited by 9am. Didn't get down to trail head until 7pm. Without ice axe, crampons, and very early in the morning before it's a Seven11 slurpy, not advised. You have to remember it's been years, maybe a decade, since this much snow coverage. We'll give it another go later when those 99, or 97 ;) switchbacks will reappear.

[@MountainLife603]

Awesome. Thank you, and definitely coming back to give it another "well acclimated" attempt 👍🏻

[@janetturner6745]

Good decision! Once you feel sick from altitude, it's better just to call it a day, but frustrating at the same time after all the effort and expectations. We live in the Sierras and do a lot of backpacking, but still try to have at least one day of acclimatizing before taking on one of the high peaks or passes. I think you'll find this makes a world of difference for your next time. All the best!!

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you! 🙏

[@slappdaddy8]

It’s not a defeat of you do the right thing. Well done!

[@MountainLife603]

Thanks... tough decision but the right one... I'll be back! ..thanks for watching

[@Smashycrashy]

First time I tried Whitney, I tried a 38mi route from the back with a sleepover at Guitar lake, day one was 26 mi. Got to camp, food wasn’t sitting well and couldn’t sleep (common high altitude things, I didn’t acclimate at all). I had to hike up and over, less than 2 miles from the peak and drop down to the portal. My first trail fail. I learned so much, failing means you get the fun of trying again. Went back and did it the normal way in a day. It is a tough hike. Now that I am trying ultra running I want to do that 38 mile route in a day lol. #failureisnotanoption

[@aruba8695]

You were correct...to get down..... I knew someone who got to Trail Crest and couldn't continue or get down, so they had to be rescued by helicopter..

[@GrammelVideo]

You gave it your solid try. It’s OK to make that kind of decision even though it’s disappointing. There will be another day! Thank you for sharing.

[@sarahrowe8007]

Respect for turning around.I know that was a tough call❤

[@MountainLife603]

Super tough

[@WestShoreMan]

Our hike date is sept 20 and hoping for the switchbacks to clean up by then. Try again next year!

[@MountainLife603]

They may! It is really sloppy up there after the sun is out for a while, be safe! ...I'll be back!

[@mattfreeman7564]

We camped right where you did and got sick as well. We weren't able to summit either. Definitely a tough hike!

[@MountainLife603]

Next time!

[@Halfpace52]

So sorry you didn’t get to submit. I got sick last year after summited the Mt Whitney. By the time I got to Trail Crest, I have no energy and stopped so many times on 99 switch backs. I felt normal when I got to Trail Camp. We were SOBO JMT and it wasn’t sudden elevation gain. I like to hike just Mt Whitney from the portal one day.

[@MountainLife603]

Yea I think I'm going to do that next time... spend the night at the portal and summit next day

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

You are a very smart man and you didn't let your ego control you. People die every year because of bad judgment.

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you 🙏

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@MountainLife603 You are very welcome 🙏🏻

[@Mr.Burnsy]

Amazing edit. Nice job.

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you for an amazing adventure 🤘

[@someoneoutthere7512]

Having proper rest beforehand helps. I've gotten altitude sick at only 9000 feet. Give yourself more time in the mountains beforehand. What I have done before is to plan a few days up in Cotton Wood Lakes campground. It's at 10000 feet and you can just drive there and relax while getting used to it. Throughout my life I've summited at least a dozen times from the age of 13 to 50.

[@MountainLife603]

Yea definitely going to acclimate a bit 👍🏻

[@roberttichich]

Great decision! I know it hurts now but you live to fight another day - take it from a 76 yr old who is still hiking - there are better days ahead. By the way - there is a commonly described medication called Diamox aka Acetazolamide that is taken a couple of days prior to going abruptly to high elevation and prevents AMS. It has worked for me several times. Good luck and best wishes for many successful future adventures.

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you! I appreciate your kind words and suggestions 👍🏻

[@MountainLife603]

Thank you! I appreciate your kind words and suggestions 👍🏻

[@dianebays5484]

Being from the east coast, I agree with you, our pine trees are nothing compared to those in Cali. I know a marine who climbed it in 1976, and at that time it didn't mean much to me. Now I see what all it entails. In watching, I'm wondering , is your buddy in a hurry? Lol

[@MountainLife603]

Haha yea he is a bull

[@mengmengliu6261]

Thanks for sharing your experience! looks like the trail is pretty wet this year. I counted 3 times crossing the stream, is there more? Hope you had prepared extra pairs of socks

[@MountainLife603]

A couple more...even deeper on the way down after the rain... plenty of socks lol 👍🏻👍🏻

[@stephaniegarcia5934]

I’m curious where ppl poop at camp. Just on the dirt? 🙈

[@MountainLife603]

Lol you're supposed to bring a "wag-bag" and carry it off the mountain with you...I think that's disgusting so I just try my best not to go..you could always go way off trail and dig a hole and Bury it though... but don't say I told you lol

[@spencersmyth5221]

I think i threw that log in the water by outpost camp! we ended up taking our shoes off for it

[@MountainLife603]

Ha! We took off our boots the next morning crossing there because the log was gone! Hope you had a better trip than I did 😏

[@gregoryfarris4801]

Learn from it. Keep at it.

[@MountainLife603]

For sure 🤘

[@tatedurand7020]

what was the date of the trip? I may have missed in in the video

[@MountainLife603]

23rd and 24th

[@tatedurand7020]

@@MountainLife603 Wow! Very quick upload! I'm heading up next week again to do the hike so I'm trying to keep an eye on how fast the snow is melting and the conditions. Thank you so much for the video :)

[@MountainLife603]

Had a long flight to edit! ... The 99 switchbacks area is still heavily snowed in and the Mt whitney trail has a lot of snow cover up past Lone Pine Lake. We had no rain in the forcast but it poured Saturday night at Trail Camp...bring your spikes. Good luck my friend, have a safe trip

[@dmw-whitaker]

ThE mOuNtAiN wIlL aLwAyS bE tHeRe! ThE sUmMiT iS oPtIoNaL tHe PaRkInG lOt Is MaNdAtOrY! Okay, all those hiker idiot clichés aside, sorry you didn't make it. Diamox, buddy. It works. Looking forward to your future video from the summit.

[@MountainLife603]

Thanks dude... I'll definitely use something next time..gonna shoot for a single day 🤘