June 4, 2007

I awoke this morning at Guitar Lake at 5:00 a.m.  The sky was painted blue and pink and the sun was beginning to coat the mountains.  I captured several photos before waking up 30-30, Clara, Patrick, and Fireball.  They were all happy to also enjoy the morning's beauty.  I took a picture of the mountain's reflection in the lake.  Meanwhile...Fireball was removing the large rock he had placed over the marmot hole.

"Good morning children," he said.

I emptied my Ramen noodles next to the hole and added,

"It's time for breakfast".

The marmots remained silent as we broke camp and began our trek up Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states.  We hiked up about one mile and unloaded our unnecessary gear items on the mountainside.  We wanted to lighten our packs for the 14,492 foot ascent. And...we wanted to be high enough so that the marmots wouldn't disturb our gear.

I took the Whitney climb slowly.  30-30 was kind enough to hang back with me and take a couple of rest breaks.  I huffed and puffed my way up to the summit by 10:00 a.m.  The morning skies could not have been more perfect.  I signed the trail register and added two Ladybug stickers to it as well.  I peeked inside the Smithsonian Hut and made several phone calls to my beloved family and friends.  Sadly, I learned that my girlfriend's brother had passed away from his battle with cancer.  I said a prayer for Deb and her family.  I knew on top of Mt. Whitney God was listening.  I could see His presence.  My faith was strong today.  I was experiencing God's natural world on top of the U.S.A.

It was beautiful!  I ate lunch as day hikers streamed in.  I watched a marmot tease 30-30 as he was enjoying his lunch.  Our theory about marmots existing above Guitar Lake just went out the window.  Uh oh...I thought about our gear items and wondered just what the marmots were doing down below.  We took group shots and began our descent.  I loved going down in elevation and passing day hikers still hiking up.  I knew their pain, but I also knew their rewards at the summit.

We found our gear items we unloaded on the mountainside intact.  Whew! We hiked back past Guitar Lake and took a break at Crabtree Meadow.  We gathered our food bags from the bear box and hiked onward to Wallace Creek.  There were swarms of mosquitoes and 30-30 took pleasure in smashing at least 12 inside his tent.  I hiked 17.5 miles today and climbed Mt. Whitney.  I fell asleep with a full heart.