We just returned home from our trip to Whitney via Cottonwood and I wanted to express my sincere thank you for putting together such a fantastic trip.  Honestly, it will be one to remember forever.  Above all, Marie and Luke were outstanding.  Their expertise, encouraging words, ability to pace us and sure friendship was the ticket for success!!  They both did a wonderful job supporting my 14 year old son through the peaks, teaching him about the backcountry and making the entire trip fun.  We are putting together pictures and will be sure to add SMC to the email.

Still flying,
Rhonda

Next day took us up to 14,000 on White Mountain Peak, along a tricky 3rd class rock section (but only 1/4 mile of it and on to the wide open spaces of the crest. Hiking along above 13,000 feet we saw a mama bighorn sheep and her lamb, both totally unconcerned about us. We camped at Cabin and Birch Creeks where the streams start 100 yards apart and then one flows east and one west.

Next day took us over more fantastic meadows in Chiadovich Flats and down Indian Creek to our pick up with beer, watermelon and the drive back to Bishop.

This is true wilderness and everyone should do this hike! It is simply the best and we cannot rave enough about it.

Connie, Andrew, and SP,
I’m just now back in touch with e-mail, so it’s the first opportunity to say thanks for the Bear Creek Spire trip and for the flexibility in rescheduling.  It was perfect.  Andrew is an excellent guide; I can’t imagine better.  I’ve done four trips with SMC, all of them A+.

I’d like to thanks you for my successful summit. Nate did a great job of guiding; he’s definitely a professional and I highly recommend him for anyone looking to attempt this route. As a former employer I know how hard it is to find good help. My compliments to you!. I found the climb quite challenging. There was a little bit of everything; stream crossings, crampon use and rock climbing. Getting to the summit was as much fun as actually arriving there. I’ll be climbing with you again sometime.

Just got back from CA on Sunday and I wanted to drop you a quick note to let you and everyone at SMC know what a great trip we all had (Mt. Whitney – Mountaineer’s Route – June 17-19). For me and my boys it was a first rate experience that we will never forget. I can’t say enough about Nate and Aaron and the job that they did guiding us, and the others on our journey. Those guys are true professionals. From my perspective, there’s no greater compliment.

Sunday night, in Mammoth Lakes, the whole family went out for pizza and it was fantastic listening to Teddy, Aaron, and Mason tell their mother about the whole trip.  Maybe it was because I was wiped out, but I don’t think that I could have been happier.  It was a tough 48 hours, but a very rewarding 48 hours.  Rewarding for the summit of Mt. Whitney, but also for the experiences and memories gained from getting there and back.

Thanks again Nate, Aaron, and SMC!!!

I wanted to thank Sierra Mountain Center for a great trip up the Mountaineers Route of Mt. Whitney. It was everything I expected and then more. Our guide Andrew was superb in every aspect of his job. He was a complete professional and we felt we were well taken care of at all times. I look forward to climbing again with your company and with Andrew.

SMC Trip coming down the ledges.

On our first day, climbing a little higher than usual, we made it to about 12,000 ft.  At one of my favorite spots we set up camp: a set of rock ledges with snow melt for water and a great view of both the North Fork drainage and Mt. Whitney.

During the day the weather was warm, and the snow felt soft under our feet.  Expecting a change in weather that evening and for the next day we weren’t surprised when the temperature started dropping with the sun.  That night the mercury stooped into the single digits, wind blasted our tent, and snowfall accumulated into a couple of inches of cold fluffy powder.

Creek crossing on the way up.

Creek crossing on the way down.

Morning came much too early, at 3:30 a.m.  I was up to start melting the ice block that was going to be hot water for our breakfast.  Two hours later, after a slow cup of coffee, we headed out to see if we would get lucky in the inclement weather.  The snow was now firm from the night’s freeze, and we made it to Iceberg Lake in less than an hour.  Still not knowing if the precipitation and wind would stop us from making the summit, we started up the Mountaineers’ Gully with one solo climber ahead of us.  The farther we climbed, the better the weather seemed to get. It was still cold and windy, but the snow had stopped and we were making good time.  At the notch we had clear skies and there was no doubt now that we were going to make it.

Starting to look good for the climb up.

At the summit for the second time this season, we were again huddled inside the stone shelter to warm up and refuel.  Going back down always feels fast after the long push up steep slopes. We were back in camp by 1 p.m. after leaving the summit at 10 a.m.  By this time, snow had started to fall again, temperatures were cold and the wind had picked back up.  We climbed inside the tent, lit the stove and waited to make soup and coffee to power us for the 4000-ft descent back to the cars.  The hike out was relatively uneventful despite tired legs and the relentless snowfall that kept up all the way down to the portal.
Grateful to be back at the cars, we decided to support Doug and the Portal Store by grabbing a beer in a warm environment.

Getting a little power for the way down.

Nice work, Luc, on your two-day Mountaineers’ trip.  Thanks for a fantastic time!