Some people say that you can’t really call yourself a hiker unless you’ve broken 10,000 feet. Whether you agree with this or not, if you are passionate about your time in the mountains it can’t help but gnaw at you. So it was with the Jordan Brothers, who decided to take the tough economy head on and find a way to experience some high-altitude camping and hiking with a goal of spending less than $100/person for the entire weekend. The result? See for yourself in this video, where the hosts show you that you can’t use money as an excuse for staying indoors or, even worse, below 10,000 feet!
While the trip ended up being painful, arduous, and a bit dangerous at times, it was worth it to see amazing, rugged scenery and lots of Western wildlife. There were bighorn sheep in the distance (they were too far away to catch on camera), and make sure to look for the footage of a mule deer doe, a golden eagle in flight, and a gathering of American coots on Cottonwood Lake 4!
To take this trip yourself:
Drive from LA, San Francisco, San Diego, or Lake Tahoe to the town of Lone Pine, CA. There are lots of places to camp, several national park stations, and a handful of gas stations and restaurants at an elevation of 3,700 feet. From there, you’ll enter the park at Whitney Portal Road and drive to the Cottonwood Lakes trailpost on a windy, crazy road that will bring you up to 10,000 feet.
Be prepared for any weather at any time. We were greeted by a snowstorm at the trailhead, where we stored our food in bear lockers. YOU HAVE TO CLEAN OUT YOUR CAR AND MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING IS VISIBLE OR BLACK BEARS WILL TEAR IT APART! It’s also mandatory that you rent or bring your own bear canister to store your food on the trail to keep the bears away.
Dress warm, because there are no fires allowed in the park. You can bring a camp stove, but it might just be extra weight when you’ll already be gasping for breath!
Be on the lookout for black bears and mountain lions. Remember that homo sapiens is not equipped to outrun, outjump, or outfight any of these predators…we have to outhink them! Always be aware of your surroundings and keep your eyes open!
If you get a chance, be sure to climb onto the large boulders and check out the “marmot bathrooms”, areas where these rodents repeatedly visit to “do their thing”. The yellow-bellied marmot is a close cousin of the groundhog, aka the woodchuck, but thanks to its affinity for living around rocks and boulders, it is affectionately known as the “rockchuck”! Less cute is the fact that it is credited by many historians as being the primary carrier that spread bubonic plague….
The thin air and cold temperatures at high altitudes will likely affect most of us. It certainly affected the JBs! Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and if you feel nauseous, lightheaded, or have a serious headache, make sure you do what the JBs didn’t and turn back at all costs!
Get the high-resolution version here.
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