Mount Whitney climb, among the 10 most difficult in the country. Pictures. Detail

This 10 mile climb to the Mount Whitney portal is rated among the 10 most difficult in the country for cyclists. Having just done the worst of it, and staying in the afternoon sun as long as possible to gather energy these are the key metrics.

PS. It is 7 in the evening, just saw the camp host in this almost entirely empty large Campground, Bill, my friend. Tonight is the last night that it is open. LOL. Who knew? Just 2 months left to the shortest day of the year. And yet we 900 pound payload climbed 4200 ft, 12 miles, 54-64 energy equivalent miles, good Sun but the final two hours were lost to the Rocky Mountains blocking the Sun, and the first two hours were lost to the sloppiness on the part of the operator, ending the day yesterday about 400 Watts down in the batteries. Yet we were able to complete the climb, cook 44 oz of hot water for coffee tonight and in the morning, and 3 cans of beans, tomatoes, and pasta for dinner, with 40% of the energy still in the batteries. Point being, this vehicle is extremely able now. Thanks to extraordinary dedication by the operator and help from a few friends. Oh, and some help from Creator whatever that is. I mean really, this is the last night it's open and this is the night we arrive? And although the operator was careful, this is a uniquely difficult climb, and two-thirds of the way the vehicle stopped. James was shocked to discover that one of the two controllers was much too hot to touch. Normally not a problem but on this climb he had allowed the ventilation on that controller to be blocked by a tarp after 10 minutes it was still too hot to touch. An absolute miracle that didn't burn up. Almost the same thing with the primary motor. Creator, or Hunger Games sponsors, whatever, decided to cut us some slack. Maybe because 67 year old stage 4 cancer survivor James did his part? He did the energy equivalent of cycling himself up this 1 of 10 or one of five most difficult bicycle climbs in the country, carrying his weight, and letting the sun and the motors carry the rest.