Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 2024

I just (5/8/24) called and talked to a ranger at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center just south of Lone Pine asking about the use of the Ursack in the Whitney Zone. She indicated that Ursacks are approved but not recommended just as the ranger at the White Mountain Visitor Center did last year. Apologies but I don't know the "geography" very well in the area. Have to do some homework on the Whitney Zone, Inyo, and Sequoia. She did state that Ursacks are not approved in the Sequoia area and that the summit of Whitney is in Sequoia. Usrsacks are approved at Trail Camp which is in the Whitney Zone. No one would take an Ursack to the top anyway so it seems that Ursacks are practically speaking approved in the Whitney Zone. We will use odor proof Opsacks in the Ursack.

So looks like you have the permission, however be aware that the tree line basically stops halfway between outpost camp and trail camp. There will be no tree to hang from (maybe you can get creative with some boulders?) Also, watch out for those marmots in August!

Yeah, I was too lazy to write that SEKI ain't Inyo, (so the rules could be different).

Jeff M mentioned the stick and boulder top method in another thread...There are plenty of Large Boulders at Trail Camp.

(Looking up Dr. Eric Westman might be worth a bit of your time in regard to your health issues...Lifestyle and diet can fix a lot of today's common problems...)

Using a hiking pole cantilevered from the top of a boulder to hang stuff works well---as long as it's outside the migration period...

Now Jeff is this a modus ponen /modus tollen or just the old dicto simplister?

Let's examine!

Bears (much like locusts) will swarm to a food source during migration.
There is a bear swarm in the photo of Trail Camp.
Trail Camp is a food source during bear migration.
(Modus ponens)

Bears have been known to eat hikers.
There are no hikers in the photo.
The bears have eaten all the hikers.
(Modus tellens)

Are bears a problem at Trail Camp?
I saw a photo of a bear swarm at Trail Camp.
Yes, bears are there all the time and they're a problem, so take a reliable bear canister...
(Dicto simpliciter)

How many bears will be at Trail Camp on August 28?

Ah... I see what you're saying, Jeff: Everyone should take the Mountaineer's Route.

Turning to the authoritative source- THE MOUNT WHITNEY GUIDE by Doug Thompson with Elisabeth Newbold:

Third Edition (2019) p.71 "Bears can come up from the creek, down the hill, out of the bushes or down the road- in other words, from every direction."

Second Edition (2003) p.75 "Bears ate our car," complains a hiker from Lancaster on July 2, 2000.

BTW: Congrats to the Thompsons on beginning their 37th SEASON operating the Whitney Portal Store. That's what I call STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE. Tens of thousands of hikers and climbers have benefitted from your WISDOM and HELP. Thanks.

Jim

Either that or train extra hard and do Rattlesnake Hill. (Or train even harder and attempt Sugarloaf Mountain...)

A line from Bob R popped into my head...

"8 sheets of TP for a day."
(and I might be quoting that number too high...:-)

That'll get your load light enough...

Richard,

I just reviewed Bob R's equipment lists (to which I refer frequently). You are spot on! The lists all mention "8 sheets per day."

I VISUALIZE Bob accompanying you on your outings this season.

Travel safely fellows.

Jim

Anyone have any details or were on the mountain during the search and rescue earlier this week?

There's a report on the Inyo Co Sheriff's FB site. If that's the date you were referring to :-( ...

I no longer remember, it seems like an eternity, but I remember my 4-day trip with Bob R from Horseshoe Meadows to the Portal. Bob brought a friend along, and Richard P met us at the Trans above Guitar Lake. Richard had left Cottonwood Trailhead that morning and met us that evening at our campsite. Another typical Richard hike.

Anyway, at one point, I lifted Bob's pack and it felt like 20 pounds. I couldn't believe it. How does he do it?

By the way, I was, except for Bob R and his friend Ron, the only non-PhD hiker. Bob with his PhD in physics from Stanford, and Ron with his PhD in chemical engineering. On the hike, I asked Ron what he did, and his response was, I work with energetic materials. Not knowing what that meant, I asked again. His response was, I develop nuclear triggers for the atomic bomb. I then asked, did you know Edward Teller. He responded, Oh, Ed was in the next building.

Interesting trip to say the least. Great memories.

paul

Regarding the accident on Mt Whitney, here is a link to Outside Magazine: https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-ad...y-winter-storm/

That was a few anxious moments reading thru the report...
The 2 climbers I met on the summit on 05.06 were prepping to simul-rappel the Final 400'...glad it wasn't them...bummer for the 2 that did perish...makes me glad that I've stayed true to avoiding that side of the mountain under the current conditions...

More than a few have stated that the conditions on The Final 400' are sketchy...

Anyone know if its the Class 3/4 climb or the traverse that's the sketchy part? Or both? And what's making it sketch? Ice? Usually I take the MR, but I've been able to manage to do Final 400 by sticking to the class 3/4 climbing and finding dry rock. Is that not an option right now? Love snow; not a big fan of ice.

Heading up Tuesday next week and debating changing to the normal Whitney route. Any update/advice/info appreciated!

The only details that I remember of the conversation with the 2 climbers is that they exited The Final 400' via Wayne's Chimney...



which is at the top of the "right rib."

The guys were surprised when I explained the layout of The Final 400' and asked if they saw whether the chimney was cleared of snow...they stated that's where they climbed out to the summit plateau...



I remember telling them that once you get it there, you know you're not going to die...

Hi Richard!

Huge bummer on the two that lost their lives

Since you've been avoiding that side of the mountain, which trails did you have success climbing on the john muir side?

Thanks,

Karsten