Let the Training Begin...We Got Mount Whitney!

East Face of Mount Whitney
seen from the Whitney Portal

Mount Whitney here we come! I'm excited to share that we were granted our permits and will be kicking off the mountaineering this summer with some serious elevation in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

A few months ago my dear friend Melissa mentioned she was entering the lottery to climb Mount Whitney with her husband and in-laws this summer. My interest was immediately peeked, as I knew Mount Whitney was one of the most accessible training options from San Diego. Standing at just over 14,500 feet, Mount Whitney is the tallest peak in the contiguous United States and is about a 6-hour drive from San Diego. Needless to say, Whitney is the perfect training hike to get Rich and I into some serious elevation prior to heading to Africa. Unfortunately, you can not just show up and climb Mount Whitney-- you need to apply with your group for a permit. So, Melissa was very sweet and offered to coordinate our groups' application, and we just got word that we got the permits! Our climb date is set for July 24th, 2011. We're still working out the details in terms of when to head up there, where to stay and just exactly what we need to make the climb, but I'm definitely glad to be going with a group, especially since Melissa and her in-laws have attempted Whitney before. Unfortunately they had to turn back last summer due to a build up of snow close to the summit that they weren't planning on, so we're hoping this year the weather is better and we can all reach the summit together!

Michelle and I at the closing
 ceremonies for the 3-Day Walk

In addition to climbing with Melissa and Chance, our good friend Michelle will also be climbing. Michelle and I did the 3-Day for Breast Cancer walk together and she's one of our best friends. I'm excited to be taking on another adventure with her and also looking forward to long training sessions together again... you'd think we'd be sick of each other after 60 miles of walking, but I guess not!

Anyways, not only am I pumped to be getting in such a great training opportunity before the big Kili climb, I'm also thrilled to be doing it with dear friends. Mount Whitney was one of the things on my California "bucket list" of things to do before we move in September and I'm so glad it's worked out. I'll definitely post updates as we begin to plan the training and equipment search!

Melissa & Chance, Rich and I, and Michelle and Justin on NYE 2010...who knew 7 months later we'd be climbing Mount Whitney together!