Whale Peak - July 2002 - Gibson Lake and Whale Peak @ 13,078 feet.  This was my first 13er,

and my first mountain above about 12,300.  I had hiked to Gibson Lake once before, but this

time there was no snow, and the hike was much easier.  After reading at the lake for nearly an

hour, I decided to tackle Whale Peak.  I went cross-country, straight up the crevasse north of

the lake.  It took me nearly 2 hours to make the .4 miles and 1100 feet of elevation gain.  It

also took me nearly an hour just to come back off of it.  I didn't experience any altitude issues,

although I did experience vertigo a couple of times on the steep slopes near the top.  I did get

too much sun...I'll have to take the sunscreen from now on.