Doug , I cut up straight to the second switchback . There were tire tracks all the way up to Lone Pine Campground . There was a single wide track was very clear all the way to the Whitney Trailhead . The tracks went up the main trail , I wonder how far a snow machine could go ?
I did not follow as I was there for something else . The Store looked fine , all windows tightly sealed with your covers .
I had some fun on a small ice fall S/W of the fish pond . There was between 12 and 18 inches of snow on the road . Plenty of new rocks on the road on the way down . The first switchback looked easy to drive to in a good 4X4 with only an inch of snow on the hard ice . Beyond the the first switchback the snow was at least one foot in depth .
I thought this report might be of some use here .
The date of my wander was 12/31/ 12 , all subject to change now !!