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
Author: asiwentwalking
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
Mount Whitney II of 8 — Movie Road
the Sierra NevadaCaliforniaSeptember 2016 Four blocks north of the Lone Pine Film History Museum in the center of town, you can turn west onto Whitney Portal Road. Drive 11.7 miles and you are at a campground. We’ll do that later. For now, we turn right in 2.7 miles onto Movie Road. Another 1.6 miles and… Continue reading Mount Whitney II of 8 — Movie Road
Mount Whitney I of 8 — Arrival
the Sierra NevadaCaliforniaSeptember 2016 After an excellent flight from Pittsburgh to LAX — excellent meaning “not bouncy and it didn’t scare the hell out of me” — we jammed into a shuttle bus like a crowded Steelers bar during the Superbowl, only without the shouting, the beer and the black and gold, and everyone had suitcases. … Continue reading Mount Whitney I of 8 — Arrival
Hooray for Maps!
Quebec Run Wild Areatraining hike2015 Back to the soldiers in their ACUs (Army Combat Uniforms) in the woods. I say, “I notice you are using map and compass. I don’t see a single piece of electronic gear.” “You mean like GPS?” “That’s exactly what I mean. It’s all the rage among hikers who think it… Continue reading Hooray for Maps!
Lint Rat
The WildernessAny Time Camping Sure, we know how to start a campfire. Just do what they do in the movies and television shows. Rub two sticks together and in about eight seconds, that fire is just bursting at the seams. There’s also the flint and steel method. Heck, I saw an ancient American Indian on… Continue reading Lint Rat
Queen of Diamonds
MurphreesboroArkansasJune 2012 So yes, after our hike at Mount Driskill, or Driskill Mountain if you prefer, the highest point in the state of Louisiana, we travel north, driving through the Pelican State, the state that handwrites its name on its license plates, Louisiana. We cross the border into Arkansas and enter the town of Murphreesboro. … Continue reading Queen of Diamonds