SummitPost.org

Rick Kent climbed the Mountaineers Route on Mount Whitney and then the regular trail all in one day -- a total of about 16 and a half hours round trip. Watch out Skyline (on San Jacinto)
http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum ... w=1#UNREAD
http://rickkent.net

I am shocked, shocked, shocked that Rick Kent would do this sort of thing.

I'm still trying to get him to try for his best time up the trail, to see how it compares to my (1999) best time of 3:41 from Portal to Summit. (With pack containing clothing, food, and water -- not trail running.)

This trip, he did the MR for his first ascent, so his trail ascent, being his second, was not his best speed on that.

My advantage in 1999 is that I was 10 years younger than Rick is now. His advantage now is that he is 80 pounds lighter than I was in 1999.

When I did the Fishhook Arete on Russell a few years back I noticed some guys lower down on the route when we were at about 70% or so to the top. 'Late start,' I thought to myself as I wondered if they'd catch us or not. Didn't see them anymore after the notch. As I was belaying Gordon up the last pitch from the summit, a dude pops up from the latter part of the E ridge. He explained that they were visiting from Boulder, had done the E Buttress of Whitney having started from Whitney Portal that morning, then did the 1st half of the Fishhook before bailing at the notch. From there the dude went up the standard descent route to summit (his partner had stayed behind). Their plans were then to get back to the car.

Read it earlier this week. 3h43min to the summit over the MR in the dark is, well, impressive

I can't believe Rick would do such thing either

Actually it was 3 hrs 40 mins. I was joking with Mike that I'd beat his time by 1 minute. Turns out that's exactly what happened (though by different route). I wasn't trying to push too hard however since I knew I needed to save a little for the 2nd ascent. None-the-less that's my best time so far in 29 summits.

Rick Kent wrote:Actually it was 3 hrs 40 mins. I was joking with Mike that I'd beat his time by 1 minute. Turns out thats exactly what happened (though by different route).

LOL! I actually think you might be able to be even faster on the trail. If you average 3mph, you should make it under 3.5h.

Nice run. In '94 I ran into a guy about 1:00 pm just below Iceberg lake. He' already free'd the East Buttress and had gone back to hike up with his friends who were slogging up at the normal pace of most in-shape climbers.

Nice work Rick!

OK......WHY? would you want to do that Rick?! DAAAAAAAAAMM!! You're THE man!

Rick is an animal...rumor has it that he once climbed Mt Baldy 5 times in a day.
Keep it coming, Rick!

Next on Rick's agenda should be to do the EB then run over and get on the FA then back to the car. All this in under 18 hours. That will definitely bust your balls, trust me.




EB: East Buttress
FA: Fishhook Arete

Agreed. 2 times up Whitney aint nothin compared to soloing both the EB and FA in the same day. I wish I were that talented. In truth, twice up Whitney isn't that hard. I've had many harder dayhikes this year. Now 3 times up Whitney ... that would be something.

Rick Kent wrote: Now 3 times up Whitney ... that would something.

I see a plan brewing

Rick Kent wrote: Now 3 times up Whitney ... that would something.

It's still just HIKING. Lots of endurance required, but it doesn't take much skill.

Rob wrote:

Rick Kent wrote: Now 3 times up Whitney ... that would something.

It's still just HIKING. Lots of endurance required, but it doesn't take much skill.

Depends what you want to test. I think endurance is indeed what he was after here.

If you go for skill, you can just try to climb 5.14