Simply stated, hiking to the summit of Guadalupe Peak is mentally and emotionally to this point the toughest hike I have ever done. And I’ve done a lot of hikes. Throughout most of our three thousand foot ascent on Guadalupe, I’m feeling just about creeped out, one banana short of a bunch, an ant short… Continue reading Fear IV — Why I Am Doing This
Author: asiwentwalking
Fear III — Later is Now
Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau — we have named one of our furry, stuffed pets “Hank Dave” in honor of Thoreau — were trail buds, kind of like Lisa and me, but not really. Emerson warned Thoreau that Mount Greylock was a “serious mountain.” Thoreau’s response was to up and summit forthwith. Bushwhacking the final… Continue reading Fear III — Later is Now
Fear II — Fear of Falling
When it comes to fear, The Book of Lists (by David Wallechinsky) reveals some surprises. The list of the top ten fears manifested in humans looks like this… 1 speaking before a group2 heights3 insects and bugs4 financial problems5 deep water6 sickness7 death8 flying9 loneliness10 … Continue reading Fear II — Fear of Falling
Fear I — Phobias
In 1977, construction on the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia was completed. It spans a half mile chasm at the bottom of which is the New River. Before the bridge was installed, the drive from one side of the gorge to the other — down into the gorge and up again on the… Continue reading Fear I — Phobias
Mount Whitney VIII of 8 — Coming Off the Mountain
the Sierra NevadaCaliforniaSeptember 2016 Whitney Portal Road. One road connects Whitney Portal to the rest of the world, the town of Lone Pine in particular. This 11.7-mile stretch from trailhead back down to South Main Street in Lone Pine is a relatively straightforward road with a few twists. And who doesn’t like a few twists!… Continue reading Mount Whitney VIII of 8 — Coming Off the Mountain
Mount Whitney VII of 8 — Descent
the Sierra NevadaCaliforniaSeptember 2016 Rod and Diane, who hike about twice as fast as Lisa and I do, take off before dawn. Their ambitious plan is to get up the 99 switchbacks, traverse the crest and continue their climb up to the top. Spend a little time there and hike back down. And by “hike… Continue reading Mount Whitney VII of 8 — Descent
Mount Whitney VI of 8 — Trail Camp
the Sierra NevadaCaliforniaSeptember 2016 Diane and Rod are faster hikers than Lisa and me, so they get to camp before us. When we arrive, Rod is still bouncing around. Their tent having been erected and organized, he and Diane go down to Trail Camp Pond to filter water for the four of us. Me? I… Continue reading Mount Whitney VI of 8 — Trail Camp
Mount Whitney V of 8 — I Gotta Go
the Sierra NevadaCaliforniaSeptember 2016 The 99 switchbacks ahead take you to Trail Crest where you cross over to the west side of Mount Whitney, the west side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In the distance way down to our left is a striking spectacle, like so much here in this land. This is a lake; … Continue reading Mount Whitney V of 8 — I Gotta Go
Mount Whitney IV of 8 — the Hike
the Sierra NevadaCaliforniaSeptember 2016 Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.— Andy Rooney We set our cozy campsite up a small, annoying little hill from the car to the tent. Life presents such trail trials. In the scheme of things, since this… Continue reading Mount Whitney IV of 8 — the Hike
Mount Whitney III of 8 — Badwater
the Sierra NevadaCaliforniaSeptember 2016 After exploring the Lone Pine area, Lisa and I take the opportunity to visit Death Valley, the largest national park in the country, not including what they have in Alaska. We figure that a day should be plenty enough time to enjoy all 5270 square miles. How big is that? Bigger… Continue reading Mount Whitney III of 8 — Badwater