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The 2006 expedtition to
California was a huge success!!

Click Here for Photos!

Top of the Lower 48!
July 31 - August 7 2006


Bryce
Autin
Jason
Hughes
Dane
Faucheux
Taylor
Lasseigne
Trey
Ragan

 

 Overview: Fly into Las Vegas, rent a Jeep/SUV, explore Death Valley National Park (1 day), summit Mt. Whitney (2-3 days), explore Sequoia National Park (1 day), return to Las Vegas (possibly visit local sights if time permits).

Dates for travel: Sunday July 31th - Monday August 7th

Distances/Times/Gas: Approx. 160 miles/3.5 hrs [approx $20 in gas] from Las Vegas to Death Valley. Approx 100 miles/2.5 hrs [approx $12 in gas] from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney (including time for obtaining permits and the slow road to camp). Approx. 280 miles/6-7 hrs [approx $36 in gas] from Mt. Whitney to Sequoia National Park. That's a total of 540 miles one way, and while there are several possible routes home, the gas should cost approx. $65 to get back. That's a grand total of $133 in gas. This sounds a bit low to me considering that we will drive around in the parks as well. I am figuring this at $0.12/mile. The grand total may be closer to $200-$250 in gas which comes to $50 a person.

Documents: I received the following documents on March 17, 2006 - a very exciting day! The first document essentialy confirms our reservation in the Mt. Whitney Zone from August 2 - 4, 2006. The other four documents comprise the newsletter Hiking the Mt. Whitney Trail - the Inyo National Forest 2006 Edition.


We're in!
News pg.1
News pg.2
News pg.3
News pg.4

 

LEG#1 - Death Valley NP official NPS website or (maps)
    ***Points of Interest at Death Valley NP***
  1. Shoshone Museum - We'll stop in to see the museum/chamber of commerce, home to a woolly mammoth skeleton.
  2. 20 Mile Team Canyon - Scenic route, park and walk into prospectors' tunnels.
  3. Artists Palette - On the way to Badwater, volcanic deposits have created this, the top site of the park.
  4. Badwater - Lowest altitude in the lower 48 states at -282 ft.
  5. Dante's View - View of Badwater Basin and Mt. Whitney (highest and loewst)
  6. Racetrack - Long drive to this spot, but it conatins rocks that supposedly move when it rains.
  7. Sand Dunes at Mesquite Flat - Expasive dunes, one of the best places to stop.
  8. Scotty's Castle???

LEG#2 - Mt. Whitney summitpost.com site or (map #1, #2, #3)

Inyo Wilderness Permits
Average Weather Conditions
Climbing Whitney (small online guide)
    ***Points of Interest on the Mt. Whitney Trail to Summit***
  1. Whitney Portal Trailhead - The ascent starts here at the Whitney Portal Trailhead (start at 8,365 ft).
  2. John Muir Wilderness Sign - (8,500 ft / .5 mi)
  3. Lone Pine Lake - The first big landmark on the trail. A beautiful lunch spot. (9,960 ft / 2.5 mi)
  4. Outpost Camp - First of two main campsites on the trail, in a meadow at the base of a waterfall. If you're fit enough, summit from here so you don't have to lug your gear as far. Spectacular location. (10,360 ft / 3.5 mi)
  5. Mirror Lake - Beautiful lake in a cirque below Thor Peak. A good spot for lunch or fishing. (10,640 ft / 4.0 mi)
  6. Consultation Lake
  7. Trail Camp - Base camp for summiting Mt. Whitney. It can get very cold at night. Above the treeline, it is exposed to strong winds. (12,000 ft / 6 mi)
  8. 97 Switchbacks - From mile 6.3 to mile 8.5, these infamous switchbacks twisting up from Trail Camp make this one of the toughest parts of the climb. (gradual 1,738 ft gain)
  9. Trail Crest Pass - The end of switchback torture and the beginning of a very long 2.5 miles to the top of Whitney. (13,777 ft / 8.5 mi)
  10. Mt. Muir - On the right side of the trail, Mt. Muir is visible and wecome to experienced climbers. (14,015 ft / 9 mi)
  11. Keeler Needle - Nearest jagged pinnacle to Mt. Whitney. From here, there's only half a mile to go, past a heavily bouldered slope. (14,000 ft / 10.2 mi)
  12. Mt. Whitney Summit! - (14,497 ft / 11 mi)
 Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit Office
351 Pacu Lane Suite 200
Bishop, CA 93514
(760) 873-2484 Fax
(760) 873-2485 Wilderness Info
(760) 873-2408 General Recreation Information

(760) 873-2483 Reservation Line
8am-4pm 7 days a week June 1 - October 1, Weekdays only the rest of the year

LEG#3 - Sequoia NP official NPS website or (maps)

 Inyo Wilderness Permits
    ***Points of Interest at Sequoia NP***
  1. road "tunnels" - drive through tunnels carved out of fallen Sequoias
  2. Moro Rock - staircase carved into rock, leading to a 360 degree view of the High Sierras and Central Valley
  3. General Sherman's Tree - the tallest living thing in the world at 275 ft. tall and 36 ft around the trunk!!
  4. Tharp's Log - a hollowed-out Sequoia made into a home by Hale Tharp
  5. Redwood Mountain Grove - the largest grove of Sequoia in the world; accessible only by foot or horse, but the drive to it has many pull-offs that allow for views of the grove
  6. Grant Grove Village - no info yet...

PROJECTED COSTS
    ***What it costs to see the hottest/lowest place in America, the top of America, and the largest trees in the world***
  1. rental to Houston (Dane, Taylor, Bryce, Trey) $15/person including gas
  2. air travel $240ish/person
  3. rental from Vegas (Jeep Liberty) $75.00/person
  4. Passes (3 parks) $10/person
  5. Camping Fees (6 nights) $15/person
  6. Mt. Whitney Wilderness Pass $15/person
  7. Gas (1080+ miles) $50/person
TOTAL = roughly $420.00/person + food (MREs?) and equipment
totals figured with five campers

 

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