It was August 2013, and we have been clambering up the majestic and regal unrealness that’s Mt. Whitney, a mountain each inviting and unforgiving in its margin for errors.
That was the primary time we’d completed it — my buddy Jesus, my buddy Fernando and me. They’re childhood pals of mine, and we have been excited to attempt to bag the tallest mountain within the continental United States.
Between a Rock is a Los Angeles Occasions sequence that shares survival tales from the California wilderness.
We bought into mountaineering in our early 20s. On weekends, we had nothing to do, so we began mountaineering larger and longer. Ultimately, we began thru-hiking, taking long-distance backpacking journeys. We do lots of worldwide journey as effectively when it comes to mountaineering.
We did lots of conditioning hikes beforehand: Mt. Baldy, Gorgonio, Mt. Wilson, just about all the foremost peaks in Southern California. It’s hardly coaching, however we tried to situation our our bodies to ensure they might have the ability to take the dramatic altitude climb and the chilly temperatures.
Jesus bought a kind of Mt. Whitney books, and he was very well-read in regards to the perils of Whitney. We have been aware to relaxation up beforehand and never keep up too late and likewise to carb load beforehand. A minor misstep or bout of ill-preparation comes with dire penalties, from the slightest of ankle sprains to bygone absent frostbitten fingers. It’s a no-nonsense endeavor up these 99 switchbacks.
We camped at Path Camp, which has an approximate altitude of 12,000 ft. We didn’t try this single-day factor the place you need to stand up at 10 p.m. to start to go to the summit.
Whenever you get to a sure altitude at Whitney, there are little microclimates, so it’s actually arduous to anticipate what it’s going to be like. All you need to do is be a Boy Scout and plan for the worst, which we did. Every thing was waterproof, and we had emergency provides. We even deliberate in case we have been stranded up there, which fortunately we weren’t.
The climate was dangerous, so there was a very good likelihood of your tent being washed away. We have been approached by two hikers who have been — tooth clattering incessantly and garments soaked — ill-equipped for the night.
Once we arrange our tent, we needed to do it on a boulder and excessive up, excessive floor. They didn’t, and their tent was washed away, which was why they needed to share our tent. It was actually essentially the most harmful a part of that journey.
Tommy Vinh Bui with pals Fernando, left, and Jesus, proper, on the Mt. Whitney summit.
(Tommy Vinh Bui)
We introduced a tent for 3 individuals, however as a result of their tent had washed away and all their provides have been soaked, we invited them in — actually, to save lots of their lives.
There aren’t any strangers within the nice open air. I’ve discovered through the years that what’s mine is yours and often likewise within the spirit of hiker comity. We glance out for each other — we give water if somebody is low on water, granola bars if somebody is low. There’s lots of plenitude on the path.
So it was 5 grown adults in a tent made for 3 individuals, the polyester material straining and holding its form by a thread. It was like a head-to-toe state of affairs, form of like sleepaway camp. We have been in a really intimate state of affairs.
It was hailing. Not large softball-size hail, however ok to have you ever operating for canopy. An icy gale blew incessantly in live performance with a torrential deluge. If we had wind chimes, it will’ve been a Lollapalooza monsoon of surly zephyrs all of the livelong night time.
We noticed tons of lightning strikes. Whitney is infamous for lightning. That’s a giant a part of why you need to get off the mountain earlier than midday. Lightning turns into extra frequent. You possibly can see the atmospheric stress drop fairly fast earlier than midday.
With the braggadocio of youth, I used to be in all probability too dumb to be scared. Wanting again on it now, underneath the circumstances, I ought to have been.
One of many strangers had a Garmin, and he was fairly near urgent that SOS button simply to get off the mountain. We had headlamps and we have been capable of maintain spirits up. I keep in mind one man was notably not feeling nice. He was a newlywed, and his new spouse was going to kill him due to the state of affairs.
It wasn’t tremendous snug inside. My pals and I had alpine winter baggage that have been thick and insulated. However issues have been moist simply from strolling round and having the water construct up inside our footwear after which by taking them off. We had waterproof jackets on, so the water beaded off.
My pals and I introduced books, which we thought we’d have the ability to learn at night time. We tried to maintain spirits up and revel in ourselves. We knew it was perilous, however we additionally knew it was a novel expertise.
By morning, the clouds parted, and we discovered we survived the meteorological maelstrom comparatively intact. Our little makeshift ark hadn’t washed away within the night time lagoon, a lot to our collective reduction.
We have been under-slept, over-fatigued and waterlogged. I suppose we have been so depressing that my group and the opposite hikers didn’t make makes an attempt to present one another contact info. They have been like, “We’re gonna hike again down” and wished us the perfect of luck.
I need to say they weren’t from L.A., however perhaps from Arizona. This was their first go on the mountain as effectively. They should have had some mountaineering expertise however they might have simply discovered themselves in over their heads. It might suck to make an try at Whitney and have to show again due to climate. We’re solely a pair miles from the summit.
We have been capable of get to the highest earlier than midday. And once you’re on the prime, you’re above the clouds. You possibly can see out to Badwater Basin in Demise Valley. It appears like a Home windows screensaver. It appears Photoshopped, like AI made it. It’s a fantastic tableau — panoramic, chic, transcendent.
That’s why we go on the market, to commune with nature. I don’t need to use the phrase “non secular,” but it surely’s one thing akin to that. If the outside is usually a faith, then mountaineering is Sunday service.
Whitney just isn’t a mountain to be trifled with, and lots of people lack respect for it and discover themselves in harmful conditions. My recommendation? Carry out meticulous analysis and attempt to have a contingency for all doable situations. Verify the climate forecasts, obtain all of the maps in your Garmin, notify individuals of your plans, pack sufficient meals and water and have emergency provides on the prepared.
Be receptive to the restorative powers of the wilderness, and let it’s a catalyst in your journey towards wellness and oneness with the nice open air.
Solvitur ambulando, amigos. Let the sky slather your spirit with serenity.
Tommy Vinh Bui is an L.A. County librarian and avid hiker and runner. He has competed in marathons around the globe, together with a current race in Antarctica. He not too long ago grew to become a father to twins, a boy and a woman. This retelling has been edited and condensed for size and readability.
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