The Little Dwarfs off to summit. Final Day. 17.5 miles. 34,218 steps.

Whitney Portal with the whole GANG!  JMT COMPLETE :)

Joan and I slept together, Kathleen cowboyed as well as Hank and Xan.  It was an interesting night as we all knew it would be a short one.  Plan was to get up and be on trail no later than 3:30.  It sounds like most of the others here are doing the same.

With Petzyl's on, we bundled up for the cold ascent up from Guitar Lake.  It was kind of strange doing this big climb to Trail Crest in the dark.  You had to just focus on your footing, because falling was not an option.  We all looked like little dwarfs from Snow White climbing up the mtn with our head lamps on.

After, what seemed an endless climb, we reached Trail Summit.  It was really cold now as dawn was just approaching.  Needed some sunshine for sure.  Dropped our packs alongside with many others and started our last 1.9 miles to the top of Whitney.  Joan and I walked together.  She didn't feel so good. Saw a few other hikers that were in the same predicament as Joan.  She pushed on for quite a bit and then decided it was best for her to turn around and drop in elevation.

I summited around 7:15 and the sun was shining.  

Made my phone calls!!! to my family.  Sorry not to be able to talk with Shane as he is still on a fire in the Klamath.  So excited to be up here and DONE.

What a grand adventure this has been.  But still have to get down off this BIG MTN.  I remember the last time I hiked down and it's not a pleasurable experience as you drop 4000 ft over a period of what seems like endless walking.  Not too mention that I feel like a ZOMBIE from being awake since 3am.

Whitney Portal can't come soon enough.  It does and Kevin and Bodie greet me at the scale.  Weighed in at 24 lbs!  Pretty good for my first Lightweight backpacking experience.  I think Rik and Paul would be happy!!!!!

After a lot of story telling and meeting up with all the others, we headed down to Lone Pine to stay at the Dow Villa and eat and drink and be merry.  Too bad I'm sooooooo tired.

Pizza and the Saloon was a great spot to bid our farewell's to all.

What a trip.

Now it's time to go GLAMPING in our Airstream as we head off to British Columbia for a road trip.  It will include a visit to the Trout Lake Valley Buddist Monastery that helped Kevin with his knee issues last year on his BIG PCT walk. Then back to his finish line in British Columbia.

and maybe just a little bit of hiking ............................

The Sky Pilot