[pct-l] MT Whitney PCT

[chwillet at indiana.edu (Christopher Willett)]

It isn't so much about a rush as it is about a quality of experience. 
There is only so much time to hike, and I would rather have spent the 
day climbing Whitney doing something more aestheic, like climbing Shasta
or Halfdome or one of the Sisters.  
Or taking a zero day by the shores of Mica Lake.  Or hitching into
Chico to visit the Sierra Nevada factory.  

While the views from Whitney are good, they are better in other places.
It is 
certainly true that climbing Whitney is a breeze for thruhikers, although 
acclimatization isn't really there yet. Whitney is 14.5k, where as the 
route before is mostly at 10k.  I, and the other PCT hikers with me, all 
got zapped by some AMS, requiring (hee hee) a nap in the sun back near 
Crabtree.  Permits are easy to come by.  For many people standing on 
this highest of places in the lower US is important and worth the 
trip for this very reason.  But, if it isn't for you, consider hiking 
on.

Suge

----------------------
Christopher Willett
Department of Mathematics
Indiana University
831 East Third Street
Bloomington, IN. 47405-7106
(812)-855-1448
chwillet@indiana.edu
mypage.iu.edu/~chwillet