Murphy's Law strikes on Whitney ...

[rider Profile 14er Peak List (19)]

Not my adventure, but it's a good read of a somewhat scary tale.

One thing for sure, if you plan to climb Whitney for a full calendar year of 52 weekends straight, then Murphy's Law says #52 is going to be the most difficult (... and it was).

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=93361&page=1&nt=2&fpart=1

[RoanMtnMan Profile 14er Peak List (45) Trip Reports]

Wow that was an epic. It immediately reminded me of the first long mixed climb I took my wife on in winter of 2001 in the eastern Sierra. My time estimates were way off as well and we ended up spooning with feet in packs, frozen ropes as pillows, and pine bows chopped with ice tools as a blanket. I told her we were fine, but in my head I was thinking we are totally doomed and it was my fault. I wish they had SPOT back then. I guess the learning from these stories goes back to the boy scout motto, "be prepared", and as my dad used to repeat, "take nothing for granted in the woods". Glad this guy was as lucky as we were.

[14erFred Profile 14er Peak List (50)]

A poignant reminder that the best laid plans and a lifetime of experience are no guarantee whenever we set foot on the mountain. Glad the final outcome was positive and that Richard P's instincts worked to his advantage. Thanks for sharing the story of this epic adventure, rider. Climb on!

[nyker Profile 14er Peak List (49) 13er Peak List (3)Trip Reports]

Whitney must have been in a bad mood that week. I climbed it a few days before Richard and just had a bear of a time on that hill that day, much harder than my prior three summits. Conditions and the cold coupled with my heavy pack all contributed, but I should have known something would be off when I was the only one going up the switchbacks that day after the storm came in...