A return Expedition to Mount Whitney Wilderness Area was conducted on 25 June 2003.  The Mission for this venture was to obtain underwater photographs of FEOR Divers at Lone Pine Lake.   (Though other CEDU alpine training was conducted, details of those operations are on a need-to-know basis.)   The members of this expedition consisted of myself, friend Erick, and his nephew Gregory.

       I acted as Guide since just three weeks ago I discovered, and "cut the trail" to this newly designated CEDU's Alpine Training Facility (Lone Pine lake).   Gregory was considered the "customer seeking Adventure" and a prospective CEDU Applicant completing one of his pre-membership requirements.   Erick, our trusty Sherpa and Pack Person, hauled over 85 pounds of supplies on his back for this days Expedition.

            It was a beautiful clear and sunny day that greeted us.  The weather must have been lovely ever since my last trip up here because the temperature of the lake had warmed up significantly.  The water temperature of the lake today was very comfortable 60 degrees F.    This is warm compared to what I experienced just three and a half weeks ago.    This is a comfortable temperature for swimming.  (Ocean waters off the Southern California coast range from the low 50's to low 70's, thus sixty degrees is smack in the comfort zone.)

            With the water temperature as mentioned, a wet suit was not needed for swimming, or the kind of diving that we do with the FEOR Oxygen Rebreathers.  Erick, not wearing a wetsuit in the image below,  is checking an instrument in total immersed comfort.

            Being new to hiking and wanting to keep my pack weight down, I choose not to carry the lead counter buoyancy weights of my FEOR Rebreather and removed them prior to hike.   You can see in the picture below my "field expedient" counter buoyancy substitute.    Yes that is a rock I am holding, similar to what I did on the last trip.  Of course with only two hands underwater  photography does get a little awkward, but it can be done, after all humans are very adaptable.  (The rock can also be considered a depth limiting device, and/or a life detector;  if you go too deep and convulse or black out,  dropping of the rock will automatically allow you to float to the surface,  where resuscitation, or body recovery can occur.)

            Mission Accomplished: Advanced Alpine Training Operations and Underwater photographs were obtained!   Now personal free time was allowed.

            I choose to do a little more diving.  I noted that ambient light dropped off markedly with depth. Short algae of about 4 inches in length grew on the bottom below about 10 feet of depth.  My official  max depth was less than 20 feet.   With diving operations complete, life support was removed and a  surface swim across the  lake was in order.  I was rewarded not only by the absence of leg cramps this time, but by the beautiful view of the valley below,  which can be seen from the far edge.

            Gregory enjoyed exploring around the edge of the lake.  He took advantage of some snow remaining on the slope to climb up and slide down it a number of times.  (A snow sled or snow board may have been desirable, but not required.)   He also had a nice swim in the lake after hitting the snow covered slopes.   With a running start, he dived into the lake and sprinted along the shore.  The swim was useful in removing clinging snow and ice from his body after his hitting the slopes.
 

      Erick took some free time to engage in meditation while being bathed in the warm rays of the sun.  The altitude, serenity and peacefulness of location, resulted in the generation of a good, deep, Alpine Mantra.
 

                        After three hours of enjoying  Lone Pine Lake we left this paradise for our return trip down the hill.  The hike down was a breeze.  Upon leaving the mountain, we stopped for dinner, then hit the road to return home.

           A fun day was had by all.   I am sure we will all be back.

                                                                                'Till next time.   Smile, Bob

    Links to some more pictures....

Erick and Gregory before Whitney
Erick and Gregory / Gangs of Lone Pine
Defiantly Erick
Gregory at North Fork Lone Pine Creek Sign
Erick at John Muir Wilderness Sign
Bob "Hero" shot at lake
Erick and Gregory with GPS
GPS (reading 9954' elevation)

    Video File  (a first)

MPEG Video, Gregory running, diving and swimming in lake. 248 KB

    Lessons learned...

        Lessons from my last hike and applied to this was that (1) better hiking shoes, (2) more water, and (3) a better pack, resulted in a hike that was pleasantly uneventful and not stressful at all.  I didn't even get a blister thanks to two paris of socks that my wife Jane recommended.   (Yes, sometimes the learning curve does kick in. )

            A discovery reinforced from this trip is that with more people involved, more time is needed for every evolution of the journey.

            Though not a new concept, but the invincibility of Youth was played out before my eyes as I watched Gregory, with a 25 pound pack and the first time up this trail,  literally running his way up.  (Where does that energy come from.)  There was no stopping him, and when we got up to the lake he didn't rest for a moment as described above.

    Some Statistics:   25 June 2003

Mount Whitney       36.579 N        118.293 W    Elevation  14,494'  (from chart)
Whitney Portal     36.35.16 N     118.14.46 W    Elevation  8,400'    (approximately)
Lone Pine Lake    36.34.49 N     118.14.83 W   Elevation  9954    (from GPS-see photo)

[ Topographical Map - Whitney Portal to Lone Pine Lake ]
[ Topographical Map - Whitney Portal to Mount Whitney ]

Convert Meters to Feet:            Multiply Meters by 3.281 to get Feet
Contour lines on maps shown:   Heavy Lines 100 meters, Light Lines 20 meters
Vertical Rate of Climb:             ~1,600 feet / 4 hours 3 minutes
Drive distance:                         ~ 208 miles each way
Water Temp of Lake:              60 degrees F (warm compared to last time)

                                   Bob         Erick        Gregory
Weight with clothes:     180            232            110
Wt. with Pack               235           310             135
(Wt of pack)                   55             78               25
% body weight carried    30.5%      33.6%         22%
(pack weight) / (clothed hiker weight) = % body weight carried
Water I carried 134 oz,  Water I consumed 74 oz.

Training:
Me                Hiked to lake one time prior
Erick             Had climbed Whitney before
Gregory         First climb to lake

Timing matters:
0400 Wake up
0422 Leave home (Crestline, CA)
0512 Arrive Adelanto, CA. (Expedition members rendezvous)
0512 Leave Adelanto
0949 Arrive Whitney Portal
1040 Start Whitney Trail to Lone Pine Lake
1443 Arrive Lone Pine Lake
1743 Leave Lone Pine Lake
1921 Arrive Whitney Portal
1930 Leave Whitney Portal (to dinner)
2340 Arrive Adelanto (Drop off expedition members)
2355 Leave Adelanto
0048 Return Home (423 miles round trip)

Disclaimer:  Activities depicted on this page involves risk, including, but not limited to;  (1) venturing  into the Wilderness, (2) high altitude Physical Activities,  (3) Unprotected down hill snow sports,  (4) Cross Lake surface swimming,  (5) Diving with Home Built closed circuit  life support equipment, and  (6) Meditation in a low oxygen partial pressure environment.

In consideration of the litigious community at large, Caution is advised.