Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Trail conditions 11/24/13

Whitney Portal road. Well!! My Jeep front and back axle locks on and 2 sets of chains and I couldn't even get to trail head parking, 32 inches of snow, made it to second camp site. Hiked in to just before picnic area before trail head parking thanks to snow shoe trail we followed! Around 3 feet soft powder! Even snow shoe hikers only made it a mile into trail, to much snow and too soft and deep. So we set up the tent in camp #2 at Ravine campsite! 25 degrees at 8:30pm. Tested out 32 degree down bag with liner, to cold, packed up and came home. Snow shoe guy stated 4 feet or hip high snow mile into trail.

Hi Thanks for the great report .These early storms are a wild card with the wind one never can tell where the drifting starts and how deep , several days of sun the 4' will go to 18 inches in the sun but on the shadow side(north Facing we can see it sit for weeks like fine sugar and no pack. Again glad you are safe and was able to enjoy the Ravine campground . Your tracks up and down the road will help the next group ..Please others going up stay in one set of tracks this will lay down a path on a hard surface , but then again if you want the full experience wade through the power.


Thanks Doug

Your welcome Dour Sr. I'll be up again. Until then have a wonderful day.

dtaylor, I know you are disappointed- been reading your posts pre-attempt... have always toted a 20 degree bag - never been too hot or too cold in it in the Sierras (June)... next attempt you will bag the summitt!

Hmm. Thinking back to a night spent just below Iceberg Lake last March. Temps were -10F. Was very glad for my -10F Western Mountaineering Bag plus two pads and an expedition tent....