Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Crabtree to Meysan Lake

I and two adults are taking 7 Scouts beginning Sunday from Cottonwood to Whitney. We could not get the ever sought after Trail Crest exit permit. Our plan is to hope that there will be enough walk up permits available so we can change the permit to Whitney Portal to Cottonwood withg spending the first night at Consulation Lake and night two at Guitar Lake climbing Whitney on day three.

I am looking at alternatives as we really don't want to walk out the same way we came in if we have to do Cottonwood. How is the route Crabtree to Crabtree Pass to Arc Pass and between Mallory and Irvine? Would it be too much for 15 year olds with full packs?

Like I said, I hope for some permits to open up so we can do Portal to Cottonwood.

> Our plan is to hope that there will be enough walk up permits available so we can change the permit to Whitney Portal to Cottonwood

You have another option: Ten Trail Crest exit permits are reserved for walk-in requests. I believe they are passed out, though, to the earliest walk-ins, even JMT hikers coming down from as far away as Devils Postpile. So there may not be 10 available.

However, consider asking for available Trail Crest exit permits across several days: your expected exit date, plus a day before and one after. You might be able to break the group up and exit different days, then gather again at Consultation Lk for the last night.

I sure hope you can get the right permits.

Thanks I like the thought of breaking into two groups for two separate days. We will have two stoves and that is doable.