Saturday July 30th, we arrive at Whitney Portal in the evening

a little rain and then bed time.

(M) = Photo by Marcus

I was reading the bear policy violation on the car (M)

In bed by 10:30 for our 4AM wake up call. The skys clear and the starts are bright!

On the main trail just before 5:30AM

Mt. Whitney and the Keeler needles are barely visible

The horizon glows just before leaving the main trail

(E) = Photo by Eli

Marcus at the first crossing on the Whitney Mountaineering Route

Eli flying across the first crossing

The sun makes her apearance around 6AM a little before the ledges

Marcus and Matt start up the drainage (E)

Marcus and Eli cruise up the Ebersbacher ledges below the Lower Boy Scout lake drainage

(M)

Matt and Marcus at the top of the ledges (E)

Eli at Lower Boy Scout Lake (M)

The cliffs and Whitney above LBSL (E)

We leave the traditional MR and head up the cliffs above LBSL instead of the boulder field and gain altitude much faster.

From the cliff above LBSL

(E)

A pinical below Mt. Carillon

Examining the quick way down to the boulder field (E)

(E)

Gaining a lil more altitude (E)

Marcus climbs above Clyde Meadow (E)

(E)

Above Frog Pond (M)

Marcus takes a picture of Eli at a snak break (M)

Eli takes one of us, just below the bench below Carillon (E)

After a couple thousand food haul up granite slabs, we reach the Carillon saddle and get our first glimps at Mt. Russell

Mt. Whitney from the Carillon saddle

We reach the Carillon saddle and see our destination (E)

(M)

We take a short rest in the notch of the saddle and gaze at the knife edge of the East Arete route we're about to traverse

Lake below Russell to the north (M)

Tulainyo Lake nearly 1000' below us to the north. Not many people see that lake in person.

Approaching the knife edge. Over 13k' and feeling the altitude (and loaded with Advil)

The saddle above Tulainyo we wanted to down climb... we'll be back for you. (M)

Iceberg lake and the route up to the notch on the MR (M)

Eli in one of the many sections where the route was only a few feet wide with vertical cliffs on either side. Check your vertigo at the door boys and girls.

(M)

Looking back at the Carillon saddle (E)

Obligatory shoe picture.

A couple hundred feet below ths summit now

Narrow spot (E)

Looking back at the saddle and Mt. Carillon to the east.