SummitPost.org

clmbr wrote:A few years ago a group of people from all over the States met in Lone Pine to climb Mt Whitney in winter. I monitored that trip because of their confident goal of summiting and their persistent arrogance about the approuch.

haha did they post all over the internet that they will 'own the place'? It is quite sad people go into the mountains to 'conquer mountains' and beat their chest...

Vitaliy M. wrote:

clmbr wrote:A few years ago a group of people from all over the States met in Lone Pine to climb Mt Whitney in winter. I monitored that trip because of their confident goal of summiting and their persistent arrogance about the approuch.

haha did they post all over the internet that they will 'own the place'? It is quite sad people go into the mountains to 'conquer mountains' and beat their chest...

For sure they never posted back after that. The locals and other climbers posted the updates. People were worried about them.

was it going on whitneyportalstore or something?

Vitaliy M. wrote:was it going on whitneyportalstore or something?

sure

Vitaliy - I got your sarcasm the first time. I also got some good feedback from you, so it's all good. Thanks for all of the advice.

Clmbr - I've been in the mountains in the winter and have experienced high winds, cold, whiteouts, etc. I'm not claiming to be super experienced nor that I'm going to conquer a mountain. For me success is to have achallenge, a good time and see some new parts of the country. I have no issues with turning back before the summit, and I have on many occasions.

My favorite trip was to Maine last March. We snowshoed 12miles to where we could camp, then made our way pretty far up Katahdin but were turned around because my partner couldn't stay on his feet due to the wind. I couldn't hear what he was saying because the wind was so loud. I ended up with some minor frostbite on my face where there was a gap between the goggles and balaclava. That trip was awesome! It was as though we were on another planet.

Thanks for the story and the info.

Shane - Nice pics. I'm jealous...of the pics and the suffering.

Hi JoshWood,

I’m not challenging your experience or reasoning. In fact I admire your persistence in implementing your plan. I sensed from your posts that you would not intentionally do anything which could jeopardize your safety. Again, staying at the base camp during a terrible weather conditions could be a valuable experience, but what if someone’s ego would take over. What if you would get an illusion of window opportunity and then get trapped in the whiteout on the top of the mountain. What if then one of your buddies breaks down mentally.

The wind itself (unless really strong) is not the worst factor; however, its combination with LACK OF VISIBILITY (plus annoyingly freezing temperature and constantly falling snow) put you in a completely different scenario. Just imagine barely seeing (if at all) your boots. And NO footprints. Perhaps you have experienced such conditions in other places. However, if due to confused navigation you would take a wrong exit from the top of the mountain, you could experience a long way home. (On the above picture you can see the summit very clearly. That’s a completely different scenario.)

Unfortunately, Mt Shasta started taking lives again, three in less than last two years. Bad weather played a factor in two of those outcomes. Also a few years ago three experienced climbers ended their lives (well two bodies were never found) on Mt Hood due to bad weather. None of these climbers were planning the tragedy.

The rangers and SP members just try to save you from possible misery. However, if you don’t like their responses don’t ask such questions; just come over and climb the mountain any way you want. Don’t get offended.

You may climb the mountains (almost) as many times as you want, but you may live only once.

Hey,

I'm not offended. I was just trying to say that I like to have good, safe fun in the mountains too. (not only from my chair posting in a forum)

The advice and story are appreciated as always. I will continue to ask questions and hopefully come out there and climb your mountain. Maybe I'll even convince one of you guys to join me. Who knows.....

JoshWood wrote:Hey,

I'm not offended. I was just trying to say that I like to have good, safe fun in the mountains too. (not only from my chair posting in a forum)

The advice and story are appreciated as always. I will continue to ask questions and hopefully come out there and climb your mountain. Maybe I'll even convince one of you guys to join me. Who knows.....

That's the spirit. The mountain is waiting for you. If you could spare more time I would also recommend Rainier, Adams and Hood (they are close to each other). And sure we could climb together or at least have some beer. Just let us know...

Somtimes a trip just doesn't seem like much of a trip without suffering! I trudged around through snow in the dark for several hours this weekend after having many of the views I had hoped to see during daylight hours obsucred by snow and clouds. I still enjoyed the outing, but I didn't have to deal with high winds, an intense storm, nor spend the night in the wilderness.

Much like JoshWood, later this month, I hope weather ends up favoring my annual Thanksgiving Day tradition of summiting a prominent California peak (not Shasta).

I'm glad that Josh will have more time to read up on the lore surrounding Mt. Shasta before visiting. For some, high winds and the possibility of a storm are not the first things to be concerned about. For those out there who attempt summits on or around Thanksgiving, I do suggest wearing/carrying more than one layer of clothing and I do not suggest going barefoot!
http://www.redding.com/news/2011/nov/14/body-l-area-man-found-mt-shasta/
http://www.redding.com/news/2011/nov/14/man-dies-on-mt-shasta/

Edited to update link (the newspaper editors revised and added some details, but now both links seem to lead to the same article besides the comments)...My last bit of advice--if you are a minamalist when it comes to clothing cost, convenience, and weight, and the weather seems mild, don't go too basic on the few items of clothing you do venture out in. The same clothes you sat in while watching football from your recliner might not cut it in November, especially after dark in the mountains.