I have climbed the tallest mountain in the continental USA in one day

Thank you! For the many wishes – to me for climbing Whitney, to the team for dedicating to this project, and more importantly, to everyone helping make Hospital for Hope a reality.

With two days after the official kick-off, we have already raised ~$2,000, which is 2% of our goal. We need and welcome any financial support. If you would like to be further involved, do let us know, we have a list of suggested projects and would also definitely support you in developing a good idea that fits your time and interests: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dg3gz6z_222c8qhpvcf&hl=en.

Balance Sheet of climbing Mt Whitney in one day:


• Exhausting. Thrilling. Beautiful.
• Photos (also embedded above): http://picasaweb.google.com/amgarg/20080709MtWhitney?authkey=JpWLbhvuqmI
• Training and taking it seriously pay off.
• Partner in crime: Tim Grow, marathonist and Olympics trial caliber, amazing room-mate for 4 years who deserves even more kudos (he flew in from Spain 12 hours before)
• 20 miles, starting at 8,000 feet, highest point at 14,500 feet.
• Total hiking time: 14.5 hours; 8 going up, 6.5 coming down.
• Total water intake: 10 quarts (~10 liters); each climber had roughly half.
• Total food-intake: 1 bagel, 1 sandwich, 7 Cliff bars, 2 trail mix bags; each climber had roughly half.
• Numerous potential injuries, including a mildly sprained ankle and a nose bleed.
• Two episodes of severe dehydration, each climber had one.
• Full-blown altitude sickness, with all its effects, especially dizziness and splitting headache.
• Walking down narrow ledges where each side was a sheer 3,000 feet drop.
• 14 hours driving, 7 hours each way.
• Respectfully conquered a left knee that has torn ligaments three times.
• Thoughts. On Life. On Fragility and Fear. On Family and Friends. On Faith and Future.