All Along The Precipice

After Muir, the ridge seems to change shape, angling more gently on the western side. This (relatively) flat-ish ground marks the final approach to the summit of Mt. Whitney. From Mt. Muir, the trail proceeds along the precipice and isn’t as scary as it may look. Well… in the perfect conditions we were lucky to have had, it wasn’t scary! At Keeler Needle the precipice cuts back to the trail, and you can suddenly see down along Pinnacle Ridge and Thor Peak.

At Keeler Needle you can peek through giant cutouts to Thor Peak about 2,000 feet below, and beyond to Lone Pine on the desert floor.

Mt. Whitney was still throwing us shade as the trail rounded up to Whitney’s plateau. Conditions remained perfect with only a breeze and clear skies. We could see the peak, and soon we were going to be there. I was going to be the highest person under 20 in the contiguous United States!

Approaching the summit of Mt. Whitney. That’s Mt. Hale in my immediate background.

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