Summer climb of Mount Whitney

We had six hours to pack and leave on our journey to the highest summit on Mainland US. , Mt. Whitney. We wasted no time in buying everything we needed for the trip which was food, food and more food! The plan was finalized only the day before we left, with little time left for planning and packing. The confusion is evident from Phantom's face!

Note that these photos are taken by everyone in the group. You might also find names such as 'Aneeshra', 'Phantom', 'Babua' in the description, as providing descriptions too is a team effort.

What lies beyond the horizon is but what lies before it. Landscape on our way to the Inyo National Forest to pay a visit to the world's oldest living trees (more later). The horizon was decked with peaks, most of them higher than 12000 ft.

Sun is bright at high-altitudes. Our car turned into a solar cooker, chocolates busted out of their packets and oranges came at the verge of exploding!

We had an extra day before the climb, so we went on a small hike in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, some 70 miles from Lone Pine.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, located in the White Mountains of California, is home to the oldest known living trees on earth, the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Pinus longaeva. The oldest tree, nicknamed 'Methuselah', is more than 4,750 years old, and is not marked to ensure added protection from vandals. The grove lies in the Inyo National Forest, between 3,000-3,300 m (10,000-11,000 feet) above sea level.

With Arms wide open, under the sunlight, welcome to this world....

The puffy dragon looking down.

Almost clear sky with overhead sun made it a difficult day to hike, but occasional shadows trying to provide a little comfort

In the arms of mother Nature. Aneeshra believed this was the oldest tree alive!!

One of Phantoms attempt at art

A closeup shot of the Bristlecone Pine