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2005 Mt. Whitney summit

After completing the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon, a few runners will go on to summit Mt. Whitney, thereby traveling by foot from the lowest elevation in the United States (282 ft below sea level) to the highest in the contiguous US (14,494 ft). Both Art Webb and Marshall Ulrich finished the race. We join them Thursday morning for their summit.
We leave the Portal Road to head up the mountain at 5:30 am Thursday.
We leave the Portal Road to head up the mountain at 5:30 am Thursday.		 Art and David survey the trail ahead. It's still dark and we are all tired from the previous days' work.
Art and David survey the trail ahead. It's still dark and we are all tired from the previous days' work.		 Marshall leads the way.
Marshall leads the way.		 v3/81/452681/3/46339068.200507157.jpg
Marshall leads the way across the rocks of Lone Pine River.
Marshall leads the way across the rocks of Lone Pine River.		 This is tough to navigate even if you have NOT run 135 miles through Death Valley the days before!
This is tough to navigate even if you have NOT run 135 miles through Death Valley the days before!		 view
view		 The first part of the trail is well-groomed and easy to navigate
The first part of the trail is well-groomed and easy to navigate
We fill our water bottles in the streams. Art douses to cool off.
We fill our water bottles in the streams. Art douses to cool off.		 Marshall is master of refilling our bottles. Tom replenishes calories.
Marshall is master of refilling our bottles. Tom replenishes calories.		 Chris & Lisa
Chris & Lisa		 Marshall leads the way through the snow.
Marshall leads the way through the snow.
This is Chris's first Whitney summit.
This is Chris's first Whitney summit.		 David & Lisa
David & Lisa		 This is our second time to the summit. We summitted last year after my Badwater finish.
This is our second time to the summit. We summitted last year after my Badwater finish.		 We stop at the camp to refuel. This is the whole gang.
We stop at the camp to refuel. This is the whole gang.
v3/81/452681/3/46339081.2005071521.jpg view looking up from camp
view looking up from camp		 Another quick break to rehydrate and refuel.
Another quick break to rehydrate and refuel.		 David
David
David
David		 Marshall
Marshall		 Art ices his head to cool off....
Art ices his head to cool off....		 ...decides icing the body is better
...decides icing the body is better
v3/81/452681/3/46340041.2005071530.jpg the switchbacks are lined with gorgeous purple bouquets
the switchbacks are lined with gorgeous purple bouquets		 v3/81/452681/3/46340045.2005071533.jpg v3/81/452681/3/46340046.2005071534.jpg
Lisa
Lisa		 v3/81/452681/3/46340049.2005071537.jpg Lisa, Tom & Chris at about 13,000 feet
Lisa, Tom & Chris at about 13,000 feet		 Marshall climbs to the water's origin, refills our bottles and camel backs
Marshall climbs to the water's origin, refills our bottles and camel backs
David on the trail in the distance
David on the trail in the distance		 Looking back. We've come a long way already!
Looking back. We've come a long way already!		 On top of the world, Yes! But you'll never catch me doing this!
On top of the world, Yes! But you'll never catch me doing this!		 Short breaks help. Our hearts are racing. Even Marshall's pulse is 84. Mine is 102!
Short breaks help. Our hearts are racing. Even Marshall's pulse is 84. Mine is 102!
v3/81/452681/3/46340058.2005071545.jpg Tom takes his pulse
Tom takes his pulse		 Natural formations
Natural formations		 We continue to climb. The trail is much more rustic, the rocks less forgiving.
We continue to climb. The trail is much more rustic, the rocks less forgiving.
Bright blue lake from high above. Careful where you step!
Bright blue lake from high above. Careful where you step!		 The rocks get larger and larger as we near the summit
The rocks get larger and larger as we near the summit		 Into thin air. Note the tree line far below.
Into thin air. Note the tree line far below.		 Party on the summit! John Radich, Linda McFadden, Lisa & David Bliss, Chris Frost, Marshall Ulrich, Art Webb & Tom Triumph
Party on the summit! John Radich, Linda McFadden, Lisa & David Bliss, Chris Frost, Marshall Ulrich, Art Webb & Tom Triumph
Marshall, Chris, David, Art
Marshall, Chris, David, Art		 Linda McFadden finished Badwater in 40 hrs, and is heading toward Yosemite with JR after her summit
Linda McFadden finished Badwater in 40 hrs, and is heading toward Yosemite with JR after her summit		 John Radich finished Badwater in under 47 hrs. He will be traveling w/ Linda but will also make a round trip back to Badwater!
John Radich finished Badwater in under 47 hrs. He will be traveling w/ Linda but will also make a round trip back to Badwater!		 Art signs in
Art signs in
Lisa signs in
Lisa signs in		 v3/81/452681/3/46340976.2005071558.jpg David signs in
David signs in		 Art on top of the world!
Art on top of the world!
Summit Hut
Summit Hut		 proof
proof		 Sign on the descent. We were fortunate to have gorgeous weather.
Sign on the descent. We were fortunate to have gorgeous weather.		 Only 8.7 miles to go back to the Portal Rd.
Only 8.7 miles to go back to the Portal Rd.
View from the camp.
View from the camp.		 view
view		 view looking down from camp
view looking down from camp		 David refuels during our short break. We are ahead of the rest of the group by a couple hours and will wait down the trail.
David refuels during our short break. We are ahead of the rest of the group by a couple hours and will wait down the trail.
Tired descent but just a few more miles to go.
Tired descent but just a few more miles to go.		 run off
run off

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