East Whitney Rock Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Your Backpacking Guide to the High Sierras Peak 1290 beyond Wanda Lake, Evolution Basin
Leavit Peak in December with Snow Plume

East Mt Whitney

Snow plume blowing off Southeast Flank of Leavitt Peak as I find my way down towards where the road is plowed at the marine base.

Lake Wanda

 

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Terms and Conditions of Use

TahoetoWhitney.com
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Terms and Conditions
Established
March 9th, 2011.

Privacy Policy
Established
August 21st, 2015.
Modified
April 23, 2016.

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Trails Disclaimer

Without limiting the Warranty Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability above, before undertaking any outdoor activity described on these sites, it is your personal and exclusive responsibility to ensure that the activity is appropriate for you, that you have researched the activity description, and that you have proper training, equipment, and physical conditioning to safely participate in the planned activity. The physical and conditioning activities described on these sites may not be for everyone. Before beginning any physical activities, exercise, stretching program, or activities described on this site you should consult a doctor. TahoetoWhitney and contributors to these sites are not responsible for any harm to persons or property that results from your use of these sites, including without limitation, use of any content on these sites.

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Privacy Policy

Bottom Line
Social Use of Visitor Information
Information from Members Registering and Visitors Adding Comments

The personal information collected from members is generally limited to name and email address. Your name is whatever you say it is, and most folks use trail names of some sort, but I need a good email address to talk to you!

The server logs collect IP addresses and records on-site activity.

This information will be used to send updates, news, "backpacker alerts," and solicit answers to questions about backpacking from other members and visitors that Tahoe to Whitney cannot answer.

I have begun to significantly expand querying members for gear use and trails experience to strengthen the forums.

This member-visitor information will not be sold, transferred, or used for other purposes than those associated with enhancing and improving the member and visitor's backpacking experience, and the operations of Tahoe to Whitney.

LATEST NEWS
Tahoe to Whitney removing Google Analytics:
It will take time...

Your Information

Tahoe to Whitney is here to present information about backpacking the High Sierra and backpacking in general. Tahoe to Whitney is not interested in collecting your information, except as necessary for the basic technical and social operations of the websites.

Update

April 23 2016
I have removed Google Analytics from the Tahoe to Whitney.ORG Website.

I have begun to remove Google Analytics from the .COM site.

 

Technical
GOOGLE ANALYTICS & GOOGLE GENERALLY
Tahoe to Whitney uses Google Analytics, which collects information about users to provide statistical analysis. I don't know that I trust Google, let alone any corporate entity with my or your information. That makes me feel vulnerable.

Google search engine also delivers the majority of my visitors.

Understanding that Google Analytics is deployed universally on a huge percentage of websites makes understanding just how effectively Google is tracking you important. Understand that
YOU ARE BEING TRACKED.
Here are the relevant Google Privacy Policies.

Here's Google Analytics Privacy Policy
recap
No data, "collected," by me, (cookies?) is analyized by me or anyone, nor sold.

No personally identifiable data is collected, sold, nor Shared.

Tahoe to Whitney owns the analytics data, but is too stupid to use it for myself!

Tahoe to Whitney does not share!

Google Privacy Policy

Update

April 23 2016
I have removed Google Analytics from the Tahoe to Whitney.ORG Website.

I have begun to remove Google Analytics from the .COM site.

UW computer scientists reveal history of third-party web tracking,
University of Washington, August 15, 2016.

GOOGLE IS EVIL
My personal understanding is that Google is trying to learn everything they can about everyone to make themselves the best advertisers in the world. That's pretty clear.

As best I can tell, Google will use info bringing you to and through Tahoe to Whitney to adjust the "profile" they have built of your internet activity. I'd have to get a law degree to know that for sure, from reading all their policies.

But, I'm completely convinced they are spying on you to precisely adjust their understanding...
(queue-up scary music, cut to NSA "big data" monster rising out of the shadows)...

...of the most effective way to organize and market your preferences to ad vendors who will then sell your profile to product vendors. I am also sure that all of Google's data is freely available for government inspection.

Drawing the Line
It seems the line between "good" and "bad" data collection is determined both by the uses of the collector and the eye of the collected. Google claims they do not to cross that line, the line in "search" preserving privacy while providing access to the best information answering the user's query.

Google requires this credibility to maintain as much collection as possible.

That's a fine line.

I believe that Google has crossed that line, the line of Evil, in multiple known and even more unknown ways. Google has spawned its evil twin, Gog.

First, and most fundamentally, Gog has stopped providing the best answers to questions. Instead of being and presenting an index of human knowledge Gog has become little more than a vast catalogue of all the commercial crap their clients are trying to sell you.

Gog's rush to vend crap has pushed the organization and presentation of knowledge into a backseat position.

In short, Gog appears too corrupt to actually present honest answers to honest questions, which is the whole point of "search" in the first place.

Second, Gog's collection and storage of personal data is a clear violation of every American's 4th Amendment Rights. More disturbingly, the Gog uses this information to distort each user's ability to get honest answers for their specific queries, instead providing them with "answers" tailored to their perceived preferences.

Gog has created an echo chamber where everyone hears what they want, rather than what is. You hear what Gog wants you to hear. That is a very big problem.

You can exercise choice in where the line of Gog data collection lays.
You can do nothing, or you can continue to use Gog, but attempt to shield your privacy. Or you can stop using Gog, or only use Gog through such anonymization tools as Tor, as I do.

TOR PROJECT BROWSER

I search Gog through Tor, then paste my search results URL in the address bar of my regular browser to bring me directly to the desired site without Gog having any knowledge or ability to monitor.

Gog cannot track my arrival onto my desired website even if Gog Analytics are installed as my "regular" browsers only allow Java and Flash to operate with my permission. Gog needs your Java running to track you.

How to Avoid all Trackers
Generally
Google Analytics cannot collect information if Java Script is disabled. I believe it fails if cookies are disabled, such as through "anonymous" browsing. Many browsers also allow you to disable scripts (such as Java) from running, and even offer ad-ons giving you the power to turn Google Analytics on and off.

All of these are good ideas for you to deploy, as I have on my personal browsers.

And of course we have products like Ghostery and Ad Buster Plus which disables tracking and scripts, even going so far as blocking secondary servers from loading content into the web page you are visiting.

I also deploy these anti-tracking and second-server blocking programs on my browsers.

What the Heck is Going On?
"SECONDARY SERVERS"
Your web browsing, your "traffic" is being handled by the server "hosting" the specific website you have browsed to, Tahoe to Whitney, in this case.

Most websites allow servers other than their own to "host" commercial content onto and through the original web page your browsed to. I consider these as "secondary servers," and I am hostile by nature to this type of advertising.

--One Page--
Too Many Commercial Servers
Secondary servers always piss me off. I hate getting served content from six commercial servers when I browse to one website. How can you tell? Besides slowing down your browser, all the different pages being served-up by the one page you actually visited will each set cookies in your browser.

These secondary servers are notorious for being security nightmares, and well as fountains of pop-up crap, nasty banner ads, and poor taste advertising.

NOT HERE
You only visit one site when you visit TahoetoWhitney: Mine.
I will protect your data, not vend it, and keep your information as meaningless to Gog as I can.

Yet I have legitimate needs to understand hikers visiting my sites.

Tahoe to Whitney
Technical
The web server Tahoe to Whitney is hosted on collects visitor information in standard server logs. This includes IP address, pages visited, time on pages, and so on. The server feeds identifying information to your browser which is set in a "cookie."
The server then notes on what pages this "cookie" visits and for how long.

This is standard practice for all websites on the Web.

Honestly, I have not been able to access the logs... I am working on getting AWstats set up, but this tech shit is killing me. Hell, writing the friking guide is killing me, while trying to learn the back-end tech necessities as I go.

Cookies
Browsers Set Cookies for Websites they Visit

Tahoe to Whitney .ORG informs cookies for members' sign-in.
Members cannot sign in if cookies are not enabled. It also tracks visitor actions on Tahoe to Whitney .ORG. Cookies help log visitor activity.

Tahoe to Whitney .COM informs cookies to keep track of visitors actions,
which are logged.

Tahoe to Whitney does not use or track your browsing activity off of our Tahoe to Whitney sites, but only tracks your activity on our sites for our own information and security.

Tahoe to Whitney suggests that you delete all cookies after leaving each website you visit, including Tahoe to Whitney. This prevents unauthorized third parties from accessing and potentially exploiting information from your cookies.

Direction of the Learning Curve
The whole point and goal of Tahoe to Whitney's technical collection of information is to understand visitor behavior to better present Tahoe to Whitney on the Web, and protect both you and Tahoe to Whitney against malicious actors, spammers, and the illicit collection or use of visitor information.

Nothing I do here is about gathering information about you, except your interactions with TahoetoWhitney, and that to ascertain site metrics more than anything else.

I am here for backpackers. I got your back, to the best of my sad technical abilities.

Security
Tahoe to Whitney .COM is currently moving to institute SSL security.
(Substantially completed by late Jan., 2016.)

DONE!

Tahoe to Whitney .ORG is slated for this SSL security upgrade when I can afford it.

June, 2018
.Org DONE!

As Tahoe to Whitney is not transactional, involving no buying and selling over the web, the whole point of SSL is to prevent your browser and subsequently your computer from being hijacked while browsing Tahoe to Whitney. SSL is to make TahoetoWhitney a secure place for browsing.

An island of Sunny Security in the stormy seas of Internet Insecurity.

Well, SSL is a defense against low and mid level web-criminals. A truly informed and well-funded adversary is capable of defeating these security defenses.

Advertisers
and
Advertising Policy
Tahoe to Whitney is in the "construction" phase, and currently runs no ads.

Tahoe to Whitney will not run "off-site" ads from servers not our own. All Tahoe to Whitney ads will be based on our own server, and honestly provide links to advertisers products and services, rather than allowing them to access your browsing information by allowing off-site servers.

You will be able to trust you are only going to, and getting content served from, Tahoe to Whitney servers when you browse Tahoe to Whitney.

UW computer scientists reveal history of third-party web tracking,
University of Washington, August 15, 2016.

Visitor Information
The totals of visitor traffic to TahoetoWhitney, visitor behavior on Tahoe to Whitney, and the demographic breakdown of visitors will be shared with potential advertisers. I am proud of you all. We are part of one hell of a skilled, fit, experienced, and adventurous group of folks here.

No individual information about this traffic will ever be shared with anyone, without them pulling me into court kicking and screaming, then likely to jail.

I know that secret courts, general search warrants, and secret general warrants are illegal in the real United States of America. Nor are kidnapping and torture permitted by our Constitution.

Hell, this was supposed to be a democratic republic with no nobility...

NONETHELESS
I will need to generate statistics to quantify value for advertising. I promise to do that without endangering any user's privacy.

I will protect you from illegal warrants. How?

You will know when they throw me in jail for refusing to respond to general/secret warrants. I do not comply with illegal actions.

Those are "NO-NOs" in our country.

Social Use of Visitor Information
Information from Members registering and Visitors adding Comments
The personal information I collect from members is generally limited to name and email address. Your name is whatever you say it is, and most folks use trail names of some sort, but I need a good email address to talk to you! The server logs collect IP and on-site activity.

This information will be used to send updates, news, "backpacker alerts," and solicit answers to questions about backpacking from other members and visitors that Tahoe to Whitney cannot answer.

I have begun to significantly expand querying members for gear use and trails experience to strengthen the forums.

This member-visitor information will not be sold, transferred, or used for other purposes than those associated with enhancing and improving the member and visitor's backpacking experience, and the operations of Tahoe to Whitney.

The Bottom Line

Though I am collecting the typical, "cookie," and IP information any server picks up from visitors, I am not, "spying," on you, nor will I allow others to do so, to the best of myabilities.

All of my efforts are dedicated towards improving your High Sierra backpacking experience...

Happy Trails!

 


Trails Disclaimer Redux

I want to reemphasize this point

Without limiting the Warranty Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability above, before undertaking any outdoor activity described on these sites, it is your personal and exclusive responsibility to ensure that the activity is appropriate for you, that you have researched the activity description, and that you have proper training, proper equipment, and proper physical conditioning to safely participate in the planned activity.
The physical and conditioning activities described on these sites may not be for everyone. Before beginning any physical activities, exercise, stretching program, or activities described on this site you should consult a doctor.
TahoetoWhitney and contributors to these sites are not responsible for any harm to persons or property that results from your use of these sites, including without limitation, use of any content on these sites.

Personal Note

On a more personal note, my goal is to get you going backpacking. I completely agree with, and will defend the legal disclaimer above, but I do want you to see the wonders in nature, and within yourself.
But, you MUST begin this venture with a full understanding of the inherent risks and dangers of wilderness travel. Let's try to put them into layman's terms, to the extent I'm capable: I don't want you to hurt yourself.

Backpacking is Dangerous

From the dangerous conditions and drivers on the High Sierra Roads and Highways on your way up to your trailhead at Lake Tahoe, to a random rock fall landing on your head when you are finally exiting Mount Whitney, backpacking involves a wide range of serious dangers to your life, limb, and property.

Backpacking involves hard physical work across rough terrain that is inherently dangerous. You can die, break your body up, or damage your gear.

Backpacking itself presents multi-faceted challenges to your health and metabolic safety. From maintaining the fundamental physical exertion levels required for the time and distance of your trip while preventing overheating, physical breakdown, and exhaustion on the trail, to keeping yourself warm, properly fed, and secure in camp against weather, animals, and insect-borne disease, backpacking presents real dangers to your basic health and welfare.

Failure to maintain your basic physical security against exhaustion and weather is a deadly combination.

In the meantime you have the daily dangers of lightening strikes, dangerous fords, getting lost, and falling off a slippery trail aside a long drop over a cliff.

Learning to properly confront each of these situations, and other unexpected dangers inherent in wilderness travel, involves serious risks and the danger of accident, injury, and death.

So don't bite off more than you can chew. When you do bite off a piece of the trail, understand that backpacking is dangerous. Stay within yourself by doing trips appropriate to your skill level, your gear capacity, and your experience levels.

Even when you are doing everything "right," things can go very wrong.

Any failure of planning, judgment, or fitness on your part will be very costly to your comfort, can be very painful, dehabilitating if not deadly, and may endanger other hikers and any personnel called out to rescue you, or retrieve your body.

So I'll tell you this personally: Beware! Danger walks with you down every trail.

Warning
Backpacking is Dangerous!

Trailhead

Contact Alex

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Bear at the Silver King ford Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney
Our guide to the Sierra Crest, including the Tahoe to Yosemite, the Pacific Crest and the John Muir Trails
Coyote at Round Top Lake on Ice
© Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Crown Jewel of the Pacific Crest Trail