For a few years we've talked about the climb to the summit. In February we decided to stop procrastinating and really do it. Who would go? When would we go? The decision was to make the trip on June 26th.
Well we started out with 8 in the group. The plan was two rope teams of 4. Pretty good group if you need to do an sort of rescue. Two people in the group had been to the summit before...one of which had done it 24 times. That guy would be the leader.
Next, we need to get the individual permits to go above 10k' and submit our plan to the NPS. They would then issue a group permit and reserve the date and then everything is ready to go.
Fast forward to earlier this month. We are now down to 5 who are commited. The two experienced climbers decided to make a quick trip to the summit on June 13th without telling us.... As they approach 11k' one of them is noticing altitude sickness. They press on. At 12,800' the sickness was so bad that he was coughing pink stuff, had a massive headache and started to lose his mind.
3 days later he starts to lose feeling in his feet and visits the doctor...who tells him he has a herniated disc. Now he is out.
We are down to 4 with less than two weeks to go.
Two days before the climb, June 24th, the leader... the guy with 24 summit ascents..... backs out.... Family issues. WTF?????
Now we are down to 3. All rookies. Never been higher than 11k' on the mountain. Are we still going???
Yes we are.
Thursday night we head out to stay at Paradise Lodge for the evening. $172.00 for a room with 3 beds. Art was fine with two but I wasn't in the mood. The walk down the hallway promted the question... "did we just pay $172.00 for a $40.00 room?
Our key says 301.... What does this mean?
Two seconds later and Art is ready for bed....
Maybe this is a $30.00 room but at least we have running water in the room.
Do we have cell service here??
This pic has already been posted but....... WTF is this all about?? The box that this soap came in talked about how they were basically saving the world by eliminating the center of the soap since you never use it. Are you F-ing kidding me? How about just reduce the size and the amount...like the little soap you get at normal hotels....
Alarm is set for 7am and we head out for some oatmeal pancakes... Then it's off to the Ranger Station check-in. Fill out all the forms..things like: how much food do you have, Do you have any radios, do you know what you are doing etc....
Now we head back to the parking lot to grab a few items from the car...
Art doing what he does best...
A quick check on pack weight....
A final stop at the restroom....here is the 3rd in our group...He has no idea what he is about to endure with us....
More to come....
Well we started out with 8 in the group. The plan was two rope teams of 4. Pretty good group if you need to do an sort of rescue. Two people in the group had been to the summit before...one of which had done it 24 times. That guy would be the leader.
Next, we need to get the individual permits to go above 10k' and submit our plan to the NPS. They would then issue a group permit and reserve the date and then everything is ready to go.
Fast forward to earlier this month. We are now down to 5 who are commited. The two experienced climbers decided to make a quick trip to the summit on June 13th without telling us.... As they approach 11k' one of them is noticing altitude sickness. They press on. At 12,800' the sickness was so bad that he was coughing pink stuff, had a massive headache and started to lose his mind.
3 days later he starts to lose feeling in his feet and visits the doctor...who tells him he has a herniated disc. Now he is out.
We are down to 4 with less than two weeks to go.
Two days before the climb, June 24th, the leader... the guy with 24 summit ascents..... backs out.... Family issues. WTF?????
Now we are down to 3. All rookies. Never been higher than 11k' on the mountain. Are we still going???
Yes we are.
Thursday night we head out to stay at Paradise Lodge for the evening. $172.00 for a room with 3 beds. Art was fine with two but I wasn't in the mood. The walk down the hallway promted the question... "did we just pay $172.00 for a $40.00 room?
Our key says 301.... What does this mean?
Two seconds later and Art is ready for bed....
Maybe this is a $30.00 room but at least we have running water in the room.
Do we have cell service here??
This pic has already been posted but....... WTF is this all about?? The box that this soap came in talked about how they were basically saving the world by eliminating the center of the soap since you never use it. Are you F-ing kidding me? How about just reduce the size and the amount...like the little soap you get at normal hotels....
Alarm is set for 7am and we head out for some oatmeal pancakes... Then it's off to the Ranger Station check-in. Fill out all the forms..things like: how much food do you have, Do you have any radios, do you know what you are doing etc....
Now we head back to the parking lot to grab a few items from the car...
Art doing what he does best...
A quick check on pack weight....
A final stop at the restroom....here is the 3rd in our group...He has no idea what he is about to endure with us....
More to come....
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They will fly a heli up there but you have to be dead
