Mt. Whitney, 14,494, Bests Woman, 90

Altitude sickness, fatigue and the threat of lightning storms beat down 90-year-old Hulda Crooks’ attempt to climb 14,494-foot-high Mt. Whitney, forcing her to turn back 2 1/2 miles short of the summit Wednesday.

Crooks, who had climbed the rugged trail to the top of the Sierra Nevada peak 22 times before, made it as far as Trail Crest Pass at 13,777 feet by noon but could go no farther. Even after a cup of hot soup and a half-hour nap she couldn’t overcome her fatigue and dizziness.

Weak and exhausted, she told fellow climbers: “I made it as far as I could this time, I’ll come back up again, but I don’t think I can ever make it to the top again.”

At the completion of this ascent, the mountain-climbing great-grandmother was to have been officially recognized by the Inyo National Forest as the oldest person ever to reach the Mt. Whitney summit, according to Ranger Craig Frank. He noted, however, that “actually when she did it last year, she was the oldest to make the top. So we may give her a plaque anyway.”

Crooks, widow of a Loma Linda University medical professor, started climbing after her husband died in 1950 and likes to point out that she has reached the summit of 97 peaks. She started this year’s climb early Sunday morning from this trail head at the 8,300-foot elevation and originally planned to make it to the crest on Tuesday.

A vegetarian and retired medical school research analyst, Crooks brought with her a score of Loma Linda friends and supporters who carried her supplies, tents and personal gear. One of those climbing with her was Dr. Roy Zutzy, 62, a cardiologist from the university and her personal physician who told reporters, “She’s in better shape than I am.”

At the outset of the rigorous climb, Crooks set a steady pace, walking slowly and resting often.

“I listen to my body talk. I know when it is time to sit down. . . . Never overextend yourself,” she said.

On Monday the party had reached 12,000 feet and Crooks, suffering from altitude sickness and fatigue, took her own advice and called for a day of rest for Tuesday at Trail Camp.

Among those climbing with the Crooks party were news photographers and Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Highland). The congressman left Crooks behind on Tuesday, climbed to the summit and then raced down the mountain to catch a charter jet in Lone Pine. Two staff aides stayed543319400while he flew to Washington.

Mt. Whitney, located on the Sierra crest 200 miles north of Los Angeles, is the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 states. The 11-mile-long trail rises 6,200 feet to the summit, the equivalent of climbing to the top of a 500-story skyscraper.

On both Monday and Tuesday heavy thunderheads built up over Mt. Whitney and the area was rocked by lighting storms that posed a serious threat to climbers on the upper reaches of the trail. But Wednesday dawned clear and Crooks set out for the top, apparently well rested and in good spirits.

From their base camp, it is five miles to the summit. They made it up the 96 switchbacks that open out onto a spiny ridge called Trail Crest Pass at 13,777 feet. From there, the John Muir Trail forks off into the wilderness and the Mt. Whitney Trail lifts another 717 feet in the next 2 1/2 miles and rounds off at the summit.

Small Sips of Water

At such high elevations, most hikers suffer headaches, nausea and other symptoms of high-altitude sickness. Crooks had told reporters at the start of the climb that she thought she could make the summit if she “took it easy” and sipped small amounts of water to keep from dehydrating.

But there were unforeseen problems. In some of the steepest places, the trail had been wiped out and they had to scramble up vertical chutes, making the climb more difficult than expected. When they got to Trail Crest, Crooks was exhausted.

She called for a rest. After friends warmed her a cup of hot soup, she napped for 30 minutes, but even this didn’t refresh her and the decision was made to turn back. Some of her companions were disappointed and wept.

Crooks, on the other hand, walked up the trail a few more yards and, looking west into Sequoia National Park wilderness, exclaimed, “Oh, what a beautiful view.”

As the party started down the trail, it began to rain and once again thunder was heard in the mountains.

On three previous occasions, Crooks had been turned back by weather, but this is the first time her physical condition has been a major factor forcing her to quit, according to friends.

But Hulda Crooks is not giving up just yet. Said Inyo National Forest Ranger Craig Frank: “She told us she’ll be back next year.”

Al Seib reported from Mt. Whitney and Ronald B. Taylor from Los Angeles.