Day 34 - The End of the Trail...

Today the ladies awoke to a beautiful sunrise - the peaks of the Whitney massif bathed in the warm morning light from the east. I was 10,000 feet below them in the Alabama Hills outside Lone Pine, photographing the peaks glowing in this wonderful light.

Here is what dawn looked like!


Mt. Whitney at dawn through the "Mobius" arch, Alabama Hills...

Shortly thereafter, they made their final breakfast on the trail and packed up their tents and gear for the last time. Careful packing was not a priority on this morning as just one thing was on their minds - "The End of the Trail".


Janet tests her new antenna...

It was bittersweet - the call of the high country was strong but the time had come to say goodbye for now and return to the familiar - families, careers, obligations.

Once on the trail, they still had several miles to go, straight down, thousands of feet until they finally reached the Whitney Portal trailhead.


Lone Pine Lake - only a couple more miles to go!

There, a group of us were patiently awaiting their arrival with Champagne, Roses, Chocolate, warm smiles and big hugs & kisses!


Our "camp" at the trailhead...

Finally, we heard the melodic strains of "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain When She Comes" floating down from the trail above. Somehow we knew, we would hear them before we would see them. Sure enough, here they came...


Nana gets a big hug from me...


Janet gets a big kiss from Linda...


Lisa and Karl celebrate...


Janet, Nana and Vicki...

After we wrapped up the celebration at the portal, we all headed down to the Owens Valley and north to Bishop. There we got checked into our hotel and relaxed. Some went swimming, some sat in the hot tub, some took naps. Before dinner, we all went to the famous "Mountain Light Gallery" and were awed by the photographic work of the late Galen and Barbara Rowell.

Then we headed to the nearby Whiskey Creek restaurant and enjoyed good wine, good food and good company. The ladies told some wonderful stories from the trail. We all toasted each other and those who were also part of the journey, Sheryl, Kris and Carrie.


Dinner at Whiskey Creek...

Thanks to all who have made comments and enjoyed sharing this journal with the ladies of the "Mud Tribe".

Also, a big thanks to the ladies and Karl for sharing their wonderful photographs and stories with me so that I could put this together. It has been a lot of fun.

Day 33 - Mt. Whitney...

Today the ladies arose early and hit the trail to Whitney. It was a long night as it was windy and the coldest of the trip. (I guess their tents flapped all night!) By 7am they were packed up and on their way up to Trail Crest, el 13,600'.


Nana, Janet, Vicki and fellow hiker, Tommy hit the trail in the freezing cold...

Meanwhile, I was on the other side of Whitney, some 10,000' below in the Alabama Hills photographing the mountain at first light...


Mt. Whitney at first light...

The ladies made good time up the switchbacks that lead up the back side. Along the way, they were treated to spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.


On the way up...

Finally, they arrive at Trail Crest where they can leave their packs for the final push to the top.


Trail Crest...


Only 1.9 miles to go!!


They were not alone for this final journey...

After leaving their packs, the ladies made the final climb to the summit. Once there, they were treated to unbelievable views for 360 degrees. Although it was still quite cold and windy, the girls stuck around for a couple of hours, visiting with fellow hikers and waiting for friends from the trail to make it to the top.


Along the trail to the top...


The Whitney Hut...


Janet, Vicki and Nana celebrate on top!


Lisa celebrates on top!


Lisa signs the summit log book...

Meanwhile, Nana called me on her cell phone and reported in. It was the first time in 17 days that I had been able to speak with her. It was quite a moment. I was in Lone Pine at the time of the call so I headed back into the Alabama Hills and photographed Whitney with the girls on top. We were blessed with outstanding clouds, both for the ladies and their views and for me and my photographic efforts.


Mt. Whitney with the ladies on top! If you look really close...they are flashing all of us. Of course, you need the Hubble Telescope to see them...

After a couple of hours on top, the ladies headed back down to Trail Crest where they shouldered their packs and headed down towards Outpost Camp, their destination for the evening. This would put them into a good position for Saturday morning and the end of the trail.


These cables assisted the ladies in an especially precarious spot...


The solar toilet at Trail Camp. (Apparently REALLY STINKY!)


Their camp for the evening...

Day 32 - South of Wallace Creek to Guitar Lake...

Today was a relatively easy day for the ladies as they prepare for tomorrow's assault on Mt. Whitney. They left Wallace Creek and headed eastward to Guitar Lake, el 11,400'. This is the point where the John Muir Trail leaves the Pacific Crest Trail and heads east towards the Whitney Massif.

They stopped for lunch at Timberline Lake and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon. Then they continued on and made camp on a shelf just above Guitar Lake. After they arrived, they had an afternoon of rest and relaxation to get ready for tomorrow.


Along the trail...


Lunch at Timberline Lake...


Another view at Timberline...


Guitar Lake...

Here they reflect on what they have accomplished and the beautiful scenery they have seen and passed through. This also gave them one more day of high altitude acclimation before their climb to the top of the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states.


Karl surveys the camp...


A beautiful sunset!

Tomorrow - Mt. Whitney!

Day 31 - Tyndall Creek to South of Wallace Creek...

Today the ladies left Tyndall Creek and headed south. They were looking to position themselves in a good location for the trek to Guitar Lake, the last stop before Whitney.

There are no more passes to be crossed today and I'm sure that is welcome after this week's assaults on Muir, Mather, Pinchot, Glen and Forester Passes.


Another stream crossing - a pretty one though!

Just two more days until the ladies are scheduled to summit Mt. Whitney, el 14,496', the highest peak in the lower 48 states and the "official" end of the John Muir Trail. (why they don't include the trail to the bottom, I have no idea)

Today, they got their first look at it - towering in the distance.


Mt. Whitney, from the back side...


16.1 miles to go!


The "Mud Tribe" poses for a quick photo op...


Their camp for the evening - South of Wallace Creek...

Day 30 - Vidette Meadow to Tyndall Creek...

Today the ladies tackled the highest pass on the John Muir Trail - Forester Pass, el 13,200'. Along the way, they enjoyed commanding views of Junction Peak, a massive tower of rock that is one of the most impressive mountains in this region of the Sierras. The final approach to the pass was in outstanding mountain country - rocky, stark and impressive. The view from the top is second to none. One of the most sensational sections of the entire John Muir Trail is the initial descent on the south side of Forester. Here the path is cut into solid rock.


On the way up to Forester pass...


A glacial tarn below the pass...


Major "UFH" through the snowfields...


Finally - the top!


Looking south from the pass - a forest fire is putting up quite a bit of smoke...


Here the trail is cut into solid rock...


Looking back at Forester...

This was a long day for the ladies with a total distance covered of 12 miles with 3800' of positive elevation gain and 2500' of descent. Their destination for the evening was Tyndall Creek camp.


Tyndall Creek Camp...

Day 29 - Rae Lakes to Vidette Meadow...

The ladies left Rae Lakes and headed up and over Glen Pass, el 11,978'. The views from the top were spectacular.


On the way to Glen Pass...


Look closely - a friendly Pika!


Lisa crosses a snow-field...


The gang rests on top...

Once over the top, the ladies headed south down a steep, rocky descent towards Vidette Meadow.


Southbound...


A lovely tarn...

Along the way, they passed the junctions of the Bullfrog Lake and Kearsarge Pass trails, finally arriving at their destination for the evening, Vidette Meadow.


The camp at Vidette...crowded!

A friend of Lisa's, Karl had hiked in over Kearsarge Pass and joined up with the ladies for the push to Whitney. Carrie headed back home via the same route...