June 11, 2018 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

Mission’s SPOT checked in from the top of Mt. Whitney this morning at 8:16 am.  He started the ascent at about 4:15 am.  He will send his photos when transmission is possible but for now, Granny Hat will share a little of what she knows about Mt. Whitney.  It is the tallest mountain in California and the highest summit in the contiguous United States, standing at 14,505 feet (4,421 m).  The west slope of the mountain is in Sequoia National Park and the east slope is in Inyo National Forest.  The mountain’s summit is the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail which travels north for 211.9 miles to Happy Isles in Yosemite National Park.  In July 1864, the peak was named after Josiah Whitney by members of the California Geological Survey.  Whitney served as the State Geologist of California and was the benefactor of the survey.

Nearly 21 years ago, Mission’s dad led a Mt. Whitney backpacking expedition in August that included Christopher Miser, Melody Miser, April Miser/Souseley, Kerwin Grivey, Keith Badger. David Hiskey and Blair Hiskey.  Mission had to stay home because he wasn’t born yet.  His older sisters Corrie Miser Hallock and Candace Miser Blanton couldn’t go either because they were too young and they weren’t happy about it. Dad was a little worried, the baby was due just a month after the backpack.  Plan B was my sweet, supportive neighbor Kelly May, who outfitted her big black Suburban for a hospital run just in case.  Dad had his first analog cell phone with him and when they reached the summit of Mt. Whitney he called me to find out if all was well and it was.  Kelly and I never got to execute our Suburban run to the hospital, Mission was born on September 9.  Those analog phones though, just get them to the highest point and they would work.  Mission’s fancy new IPhone wouldn’t place a call today from the top, that’s progress for you.

Granny Hat will post pictures when they arrive.  For now here are a couple stock photo images of Mt. Whitney.  I think it probably looked like the second one today.  There is still quite a bit of snow up in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

Mission crossed Walker Creek, Wallace Creek and tomorrow will be headed up toward Forester Pass, the highest pass on the PCT at 13,153 feet.  Stephan’s SPOT device just checked in with his customary greeting:

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You

Psalm 139