I just don’t understand how so many disregard human physiology— this is NOT mind over matter 🧘🏾‍♀️🧘🏾‍♀️🧘🏾‍♀️

It’s good to be able to properly understand danger in life.

"A man's got to know his limitations."  Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry.  Wise words then, wise words still.

I first climbed Whitney in the late 80's. Never went alpine style. Always went expedition style. First night at the base of the 99 switchbacks. Second night on the summit. Third night back down to Lone Pine Lake. And the fourth day you're out and driving home.
As someone who has climbed all 15 of Californias fourteeners plus Rainier. I've always had a greater respect for the mountaineer that knows their limit and when it's time to turn back. Before they get themselves and or someone else hurt or killed. Have fun, climb safe.

I would say it’s probably one of the hardest one-day hikes I’ve ever done

I absolutely would turn back if my limitations said this could be dangerous.

I can share my experience with Whitney.  My first trip, I showed up at the portal.  I’d been living at altitude for a few months and I’d regularly climbed peaks to 10,000 feet.  Heading out, I felt good.  I had all the right gear.  Just before I got to the switchbacks, I met 3 guys from Colorado that were up much higher on the hike, but we’re turning back as the weather came in from the west.  After some discussion, it was a no brainer.  I went down with them.  Leaving it for another day.  
My second attempt was some years later.  I had gained weight and was living at sea level for years.  I was offered a part of a group permit.  Showing up in Lone Pine the day before, lacking equipment, and having just been diagnosed with cancer, I went to the portal.  We headed out in the dark, you couldn’t ask for better weather.  My head was good, my calves were tight and screaming at me.  I moved on.  With a slight headache, I gutted it out and was the second one in my group to get to the summit, just behind the ultra marathoner.  I really enjoyed those moments.  Heading down my calves were in severe pain, the second half was more painful than the ascent.  A week later I started treatment for my cancer, the first part was surgery.  A few days after surgery I was diagnosed with bi-lateral DVT’s and a pulmonary embolism.  The doctors thought it was related to the surgery, I have a different conclusion.  That was 11 years ago.  Summiting Mt Whitney could have waited.  I should have listened to my body and turned around.  I am happy I made it up and back, but it almost killed me the second time.  And recovery from it sucked and consumed a lot of time.  
I will head up there again in the next couple of years.  I’m in my 70’s now but wiser.  I will train, and I will not hesitate to enjoy what I can accomplish and will gratefully turn around.  It is not Mt. Everest, but it will require time at some altitude to acclimatize.  I will give it 8 weeks, just to be on the safe side.  
Be safe, stay well.

In the summer of 1970, I rescued a group of boy scouts that had come up from Los Angeles. They left their cars at Whitney Portal and tried to go up and back in one day. They had no food, no cold weather gear, no matches to start fire. I had been up at these altitudes for a month. Every one of them including the adults had acute mountain sickness. I built a fire, left all my supplies, purified water,  if you look straight down from the peak, you'd see the lake and meadow where I found them. I have no doubt some of them may have not survived the night.

I went down to Whitney Portal that night. At dawn there already was a major rescue attempt being assembled. I told them exactly where they were. A helicopter went up first.

The amount of arrogance it takes to mock warnings is mind blowing. Just dumb for no reason.

Someone I know almost got struck by lightning on Mt. Whitney.  She and her hiking partner were above tree line and the clouds appeared to be far enough away to be safe.  Then lightning struck nearby, and they turned back.  A few minutes later, their hair was standing completely on end, and they knew an electric charge was building up around them.  They ditched their backpacks, which had metal frames, on the trail and ran back to the trees, getting well into the forest before stopping.  They got soaked from the rain.  The storm came and went, and then they had to hike back up to retrieve their packs before going back down to the bottom of the trail.  That experience scared them bad enough that neither of them wanted to ever climb Mt. Whitney again.  They knew they'd been lucky not to get killed that day.

Hey, I knew Marcus Delray! We worked together (well, he was my boss) at a Phoenix investment company. He could be tough when needed, but fair. One time, the CEO tried to get him to 'massage' the numbers a bit; he called me in to his office for a talk... he explained that his morals and honour were worth more than any job. A couple of months later, he was gone. Great memories big guy.

I got a headache just going over the alps from Switzerland to Milan, in a train.  I was so glad when we came down off the heights.

I take the Ranger's advice always

I was climbing for hours, started at 5:00 am. I’ve done 3 14ners. This hike was tough. 1700 elevation gain. Straight up. My dog and I took off. It was beautiful, water falls every where, rivers. Lots of mud, some snow, lots of scree. As I got about a mile to the top I ran into a lot of mud and snow and a huge boulder field. I had to get around a glacier and it was slippery. My goal was 3 beautiful lakes. Man it was tough and I was exhausted. I had my dog off leash. Talk about a storm. As I was approaching the open boulder field, I was getting worried. Yup dark clouds every where and really windy. I got to see one of the lakes. 1/2 mile to the other 2 beautiful lakes. I did my own analyze of my body and mental state and the weather. I called it quits. I wasn’t feeling great, my stomach was a bit queezy. I picked up my pace going back against the wind. The last mile was in the rain and wind. I was exhausted by the time we got to the car. I was really happy with that hike. I saw people going up and I told them “it was really windy and gonna rain” I was happy with my decision. It’s no joke on mountains and when it rains or hail, you don’t want to be on a mountain if avoidable. There is always tomorrow unless you screw up today.

Mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence. My first and only trip up Whitney consisted of 1 year of training, health checks with my primary doctor, training at the Sierra Nevada mountains, treadmill identifying my Aerobic Threshold or AeT. Whitney like so many others Shasta, Lassen, Russell, Muir to name a few are no joke. Do your homework peeps might save your life someday.🙏

Um, the all time record high for Lone Pine is only 114 degrees. And that’s at only 4000ft. At Whitney Portal, it’s probably never hit 100 degrees. And at the summit of Whitney, it MIGHT have hit 70. MAYBE. But 124 degrees? You will have to go to Death Valley for that.

97 degrees first thing in the morning at Whitney Portal? NOT HAPPENING! That’s Death Valley weather. On a REALLY hot day. By the way, there isn’t a trailhead thermometer. And the video of the trailhead is NOT Whitney Portal. Also, as far as water, who does this hike without carrying a water filter? There is PLENTY of water all the way up to Trail Camp.

I've been in the extreme heat of Kuwait. Weekly 5ks were normal in triple digits, one was held when temp dropped to 113. I've hiked in PHX, AZ without problems until I didn't bring enough water on my first hike up one of the mountain trails.

I have done 8 summits since 1991. Had to turn around once just out of Trail Camp due to heavy snow. Had to stay at Outpost Camp for the night. 13 degrees. 🥶 My first summit we saw lightning striking the peaks around  us. Got off the summit quickly of course. Someone was killed weeks after our trip while taking shelter in the summit cabin from a lighting storm. 5 of the 8 summits  I started at Horseshoe Meadows/Cottonwood Pass. It doubles the total miles but it is easier to get permits and because you start at 10,000 feet you can acclimate better. It also takes a minimum of two nights before you summit so that gives you more acclimation time. Also you have to take a second vehicle or arrange a ride back to Horseshoe Meadows because you end your hike exiting Whitney Portal. Also you have to take your entire pack all the way to the John Muir Junction. That is the only time you get to drop your pack and do the final 2 miles to the summit. So of the 38.5 miles only 4 of those miles you are pack less. I am attempting another summit this September.....I have found out if you acclimate properly, have the correct gear, watch the weather reports prior to the hike, drink plenty of water and know where the available water is along the trail and be committed you should do ok. I suggest going from mid August to mid September. I found the weather to be optimal during that time but not guaranteed of course. If your thinking about climbing Mt. Whitney it is an experience of a lifetime and well worth all the effort in the end. Good luck!

Yay, Simone! Good discipline!

No, I would not have turned around and gone back.  But it has been  four decades since I've felt "strong".  Now?  Yes, I'd feel unable to do anything other than turn back.