DUO'S TRIAL BY SAND, SNOW OVER.

Byline: Romy Jacobson Daily News Staff Writer

``Save The Children'' was the message Holly and Jennifer Freeman wrote on the registration list at Mount Whitney's 14,495-foot summit at the completion of their 18-day ordeal.

The sisters made their 125-mile trek from the floor of Death Valley to the top of Mount Whitney to raise pledges for the Children's Center of the Antelope Valley, a United Way agency that treats abused children.

``It was quite an accomplishment, a lot of aches and pains and sore feet,'' said 27-year-old Holly. ``But it wasn't anything compared to what those children go through. I'd do it again in a minute.''

The Freeman sisters, both experienced hikers and campers, started Sept. 20 at Badwater, the lowest point in the United States at 282 feet below sea level, and Wednesday at 1 p.m. reached the top of Whitney, at 14,495 feet the highest point in the United States outside Alaska.

They were exposed to temperatures ranging from 118 degrees to minus-10 degrees on their odyssey, and came close to running out of water in the barren, broken mountains west of Death Valley.

``We were boxed into a canyon looking for the way out,'' said Jennifer, a dance instructor. ``It was the first time I felt fear for my life.''

``It's an awful feeling to be thirsty like that,'' said Holly, a sheet metal worker. ``I never want to be thirsty again.''

When tropical storm Nora drenched Death Valley five days into their hike, the women were halted in Nightmare Canyon for two days because of poor visibility and dangerous hiking conditions.

``It was a tough canyon, 200 foot falls, really scary stuff,'' commented Jennifer.

They dug for water in Rainbow Canyon, and had to use ice axes to chop footholds in a 50-yard ice wall on the climb up Mount Whitney.

``Whitney was tough. I underestimated it,'' said 24-year-old Jennifer, who first climbed Mount Whitney - in the summer - at age 8. ``The elevation, altitude, got to me and my sister. The last two miles to the summit was tough.''

``You walk a couple of feet and you feel like you've run a marathon,'' said Holly.

Their father, Jerry Freeman, who with photojournalist Lee Bergthold was the first to hike cross-country from Death Valley to Whitney in 1989, said the women encountered bizarre conditions: extreme heat in Death Valley, heavy rain from a tropical storm, snow and ice on Mount Whitney.

``I think they've combined their sense of adventure with a just cause,'' Jerry Freeman said. ``It matched the difficulty that Lee and I (faced) in 1989 . . . I feel that they've made a significant accomplishment. It's a plus for women.''

``I hope enough people have heard or at least recognize our cause,'' said Holly.

``I think it's important to conquer that (child abuse) issue. Let's protect our young. I want people to know you can make a difference,'' said Jennifer.

More than $700 in pledges have come in so far to the Children's Center, said Ingrid Chapman, resource development director.

``We feel that's a respectable amount. The Children's Center is happy with that,'' Chapman said.

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Photo: (1-2--color) Above, Holly, left, and Jennifer Freeman cool their heels after a grueling trek. The sisters, below, completed the journey in 18 days.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News