Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board One more week!

Hi Will be here till Sunday night and then start the moving out on Monday.
Most distance hikers are picking up the cars .The parking lot is a change over each day with short term hikers and photo workshop groups .

Watching the missing hiker post . We tell the hikers coming in we are in the period of the season that can cause fatal accidents , Classic set ups from the past few weeks where we had summer days and folks are still watching the weather reports that talk about storms several days out and we will see the storm move in early.

The nice couple last week that had read about the weather and conditions told me that they would bypass the boulder area above Lower Boys Scout Lake and take the slabs to the North and other details that they had gleaned from a mountaineering site. These details are very good information for mid August but not now .The day they planned to leave we had a high in the Portals of 28 and very high winds on the ridge.I thought that going up the main trail and staying the night at Outpost talking with the groups coming down the next morning was a better option to summit than try the mountaineers route with new snow and no reports of anyone reaching the summit.

Any ideal what would you use the ice ax for with the 3 inches of snow ?


I didn't see Chris before he headed North but he left me a note Thanking us for spending the winter with him last year and if I plan on hiking up Whitney take a jacket and some snacks.

Be safe Doug

Watching the Summer season come to an end makes me sad, and the seasonal closing of the Whitney Store unambiguously punctuates that reality, just as did going over the Tioga Pass yesterday for perhaps the last time this year. Yes, endings bring new beginnings, and I realize that the snowy Sierra are themselves something to behold and treasure, and perhaps even venture into. For me, though, this last hiking season was like no other, and I am sorry to see it twinkle out.

I find some comfort in knowing that the Whitney Hostel continues to help folks find the Sierra magic through winter. And hopefully the adventures and photographs of Richard P. and others will continue to offer a window into that magic when road conditions make the trip more difficult for us long-distance Sierra wannabees.

Doug, like others have said so many times, again, thanks for all you do to help make these experiences accessible!

I echo those sentiments. Thank you so much, Doug. You are awesome!

Joyce

Hi Doug Sr. and everyone with WPS,
Thank you very much for an enjoyable 2012 season.
Please enjoy your 6 months of hibernation.
Don't forget to set the alarm clock right.
See you all in 2013.
Shin

On the bright side, now eight months to plan the next summer adventures(s). Hmm...JMT? HST? JMT? HST? Such tough choices, what is one to do?

Doug, the mountain won't change but our experience of the mountain will be different when you retire. I hope you have a long, wonderful retirement. I hope I meet you on a trail next year! Thanks for everything. Burt

Doug and Earlene and the rest of the Whitney Portal Store and Whitney Hostel crew - THANK YOU for your hospitality and I hope to see you all soon. Wishing Myles and Amy grand adventures on the "Whale" and can't wait to hear about it.

Thanks for a great summer, Doug and Crew. Enjoy!

Brent N

I get "SAD" (seasonal affective disorder) when the Portal Store closes....

Anyhoo....to "Dungaree" Doug and Earlene, it was great seeing both of you this past July 22-25, 2012. The upgrades (flat screen) to the private room at the hostel were fantastic. At least my wife and I got our burger and fries. Dang if we didn't get the Portal Pancakes the day after our hike on July 26.

In the meantime, my stomach grumbles as it waits for May 2013 or July 2013 or August 2013.

If you and Earlene do retire, my wife and I wish you the best. You will be missed, but not and never forgotten.

In the event you both don't, I am bringing my "@ti2d" and we will be bringing pizza boxes for the pancakes in 2013.

Doug,
it was good talking with you yesterday. I'm glad that I got to stop in and visit on your last day.

It's good to see that you have a couple of generations lined up to keep the legacy going.
Best,
Tom

Have a beautiful winter, Doug. Thought about you all day as you were packing up the Portal. Wishing you peace and happiness in the coming years. It was a great pleasure seeing you and crew last month. Also great to meet your son and grandson at the Portal. Torches are meant to be passed. That said, the torch lighters will always be a part of all they created. ALWAYS.

I am dreaming of Whitney, snow and good times this spring.

Thank you, Doug, for being you. No words can truly describe my gratitude...
MC

Thanks for the wonderful experience this summer. It had been about 7 years since I had been back to the area and all the memories/feelings of why I used to come so often surged back at the first sight of the Peak. Doug, thanks for all the advice, for the patience and for being kind. To the rest of the portal crew and the generous folks at Lone Pine, thanks for showing an out of place dude from the midwest an incredible time. Thanks for the memories. Hope to see you next season.

-F