August 1999
Backpack trip to the top of Mount Whitney

Mount Whitney at 14,496 feet elevation is the highest point in the contiguous United States (thank you Walt Brewer) and part of the scenic High Sierras in California.  Our trip was actually planned for summer 1998, but was cancelled because El Nino left snow levels down to 12,000 feet in mid August.  Five of us, including my then 24 year old daughter, Michelle did Whitney in 1995 - a five day trip coming in from Horseshoe Meadows South of Lone Pine.  

This time it was just my long time backpacking buddy, Bob Johnson and I.  Bob and I have been doing week long back pack trips together since 1982.  Bob, a retired US Marine Major (never say EX-Marine) and I started out with a couple of days of altitude acclimatization hikes at Mammoth Lakes, California at about 8,000 feet elevation.  We stayed at the ULLR Ski Lodge, owned by ATRA (Advanced TRansportation Association) secretary, Dennis Manning.  

Doug at Lake Ediza with the Minarets in the background

The first afternoon we did a 5 mile hike from the Mammoth Mountain Ski Lodge to the Minarets Vista and beyond.  Had a long discussion with Wolfgang, a young Architecture/Engineering student from Austria as we hiked up to some higher vistas along with his family.  The next morning Bob and I started out at Agnew Meadows (8,300 ft) and hiked to Shadow Lake (8,800 ft) and up to beautiful Lake Ediza (9,200 ft).  Then back down to Shadow Lake, up 700 feet to Rosalie Lake, past Gladys Lake and out at Devil's Postpile.  About 15 miles total.