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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
4/10/2016
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I know Viejas Mountain is located outside of the Anza Borrego Desert but thought everyone would be interested in this hike.
We are planning on hiking to the top of Mount Whitney in September so this was the first of our training hikes.
While the distance is relatively short I would rate this as a moderately difficult hike due to the quick elevation gain and the loose rocks on the narrow trail. The peak tops out at 4189 feet and once at the top you are treated to spectacular 360' views.
We reached the summit in a little over an hour with a watchful eye on the incoming rain clouds.
Here are some of the trip pictures 
Hidden trail-head at Viejas Mountain
Mary looking west towards El Cajon Mountain
Looking down towards the Viejas Casino from high atop Viejas Mountain
1938 Geodetic Marker at the summit of Viejas Mountain
Closeup of Geodetic Survey Mark
Wind shelter at the top of Viejas Mountain
Storm clouds looked close enough to touch
edited by surfponto on 4/10/2016
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hikerdmb Posts: 423
4/10/2016
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Whitney is a good goal. Have you done it before?
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
4/10/2016
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No it will be a first time for both of us.
Plan on doing it in a day and being in Lone PIne for dinner at 5PM post hike 
hikerdmb wrote:
Whitney is a good goal. Have you done it before?
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rockhopper Posts: 668
4/10/2016
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I too do local hikes in preparation for a greater goal. My first and only time on Whitney was in back in 1987. It's a great hike. We climbed it from the west side coming up from the Kern river basin after coming over Shepard pass from the north. Climbed Mt Tyndall and Mt Williamson two other 14 teeners also. So when we summit Whitney, here are these 5 Germans speaking German and all smoking cigarettes. Go figure?
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
4/10/2016
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Ha Ha great story ....
Don't think I will be smoking a cigarette at the summit
rockhopper wrote:
I too do local hikes in preparation for a greater goal. My first and only time on Whitney was in back in 1987. It's a great hike. We climbed it from the west side coming up from the Kern river basin after coming over Shepard pass from the north. Climbed Mt Tyndall and Mt Williamson two other 14 teeners also. So when we summit Whitney, here are these 5 Germans speaking German and all smoking cigarettes. Go figure?
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ziphius Posts: 911
4/10/2016
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Nice trip Bob. Good luck on Whitney. Word is that Langley is less crowded (but not as high).
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
4/11/2016
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Bob, you already have your permits, you got space in the lottery? We used to do the mountaineers route when it was permit free but now you need one for any ascent (apparently). We also did Langley one year, I almost preferred it, much less of a crowd. If you have time, I recommend spending a day or two up at the portal or doing a couple of day hikes up to lone pine lake to get used to the altitude. Leave early, 2-3am.
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rockhopper Posts: 668
4/11/2016
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Agree, Langley is a great hike. Just barely over 14,000 ft. When I solo'd it, there was no one there, anywhere up , at the top or down so it's a pretty empty peak but right next door (south) of Whitney. I have a great shot of Whitney from Langley but need to scan it. I'll hunt thru my piles of stuff. BTW we never did hiking permits for anything back then. Just fishing permits. :-)
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
4/14/2016
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Thanks Daren
Missed out on the lottery so had to choose an available date. Will be late September, so hopefully we won't have an early winter up there. 
Plan was to stay the day before in Lone Pine then leave around 2AM like you said so we can summit and get back to Lone Pine for dinner.
That's the plan anyway.....
dsefcik wrote:
Bob, you already have your permits, you got space in the lottery? We used to do the mountaineers route when it was permit free but now you need one for any ascent (apparently). We also did Langley one year, I almost preferred it, much less of a crowd. If you have time, I recommend spending a day or two up at the portal or doing a couple of day hikes up to lone pine lake to get used to the altitude. Leave early, 2-3am.
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
4/14/2016
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Would like to see that picture .....
Doing Whitney for a "Bucket List" thing 
rockhopper wrote:
Agree, Langley is a great hike. Just barely over 14,000 ft. When I solo'd it, there was no one there, anywhere up , at the top or down so it's a pretty empty peak but right next door (south) of Whitney. I have a great shot of Whitney from Langley but need to scan it. I'll hunt thru my piles of stuff. BTW we never did hiking permits for anything back then. Just fishing permits. :-)
edited by surfponto on 4/14/2016
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
4/14/2016
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Thanks. I am a fast hiker so hopefully will leave the crowd behind.
ziphius wrote:
Nice trip Bob. Good luck on Whitney. Word is that Langley is less crowded (but not as high).
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rockhopper Posts: 668
4/15/2016
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Hi Surf,
I found the pics! From June 1986. I climbed Whitney the following year in 1987.
Photo taken from Mt Langley elev.14,042 ft. looking at Mt Whitney elev. 14,505 ft. , Mt Tyndall elev. 14,025 ft. and Mt Williamson elev. 14,494 ft beyond a scant 11 feet lower than Whitney!
Cheers
Photo taken from Arc Pass looking north at Mt Whitney
edited by rockhopper on 4/15/2016
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
4/16/2016
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Love rockhopper's old photos..thanks for posting..!
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
4/16/2016
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Awesome photos.
I need to start training 
edited by surfponto on 4/16/2016
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
4/16/2016
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Make sure to bring your wrestling masks....
and make time to visit alabama hills
and always remember who's #1
it will be hot
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edited by dsefcik on 4/16/2016
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