Who:
Gerard Lewis
Angeles Chapter Outings Leader
Where:
Northridge, CA
An excited group of nine people gathered together at the Mt. Whitney Portal Campground Thursday night for a long weekend trip to the summit of Mt. Mallory. The trip was an experience trip for students and sponsored by the Angeles Chapter's Wilderness Travel Course. The course is a ten-week educational course that teaches participants how to safely travel in the desert and mountain wilderness areas.
Friday morning we all arose to a nice morning hike up along the no nonsense Meysan Lake trail to Grass Lake. Since we did not see anyone else that day, it was strange to think that just over the ridge to our west was the ever-popular main trail to Mt. Whitney. Setting up camp and being able to enjoy the alpine vistas that would challenge us the next day was nice. Feasting on a dinner theme of taco night, our group conversed into the night sharing previous outdoor experiences.
Saturday we arose to scattered clouds as we began for our objective for the day, a climb of Mt. Mallory. Leaving the trail and climbing above our camp, we encountered lush green meadows and lakes blooming with wildflowers surrounded by large granite slabs and steep ridges. Keeping an eye on what was now a changing sky, we began working our way towards the rock slopes above Meysan Lake.
As we climbed higher, we discovered that our wet winter had still left significant snow that prevented us from reaching our objective. As if synchronized with our decision, suddenly the skies began darkening and shortly rain began to fall. Making a hasty retreat we chose a shorter direct route back to our camp. That night, however afforded us an opportunity to enjoy a cloudless sky for stargazing. Sunday morning we leisurely broke camp and began our hike back down to the trailhead where halfway down were met by rain and hail. In conditions like this, we all appreciated the valuable education learned from the course.
