Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Road to portal

Hi does anyone know if road to portal is open, and how are the snow conditions on the trail

Hi The low snow season will trick many people this year,above 11,000'conditions will be icy and snow covered trail, you may find clear sections on the south facing sections but any area facing north ( this would cover most of the trail from trail camp to trail crest ) expect ice and snow.
As you enter into the Canyon on the Portal road look South/ westerly and up the canyon you can see most of the switchback area above trail camp, this area is still snow covered, also check the webcam and the large flat area in the center is Thor, this summit is 12,000' we use this as indication of what it looks like at 12,000 and above. And the last area we check is the Meysan canyon you look into this canyon as you drive the last mile (look left) and what we call the fingers will give a clear view of what the snow pack is doing. These fingers top out just below 13,000.

Now the road. We started loading supplies in last week and the County and Forest Service are clearing the road , I would expect some more work on the Parking lots and winter damage clean up but on Sunday at least 50 cars in the lots.

We will have several more storms before summer even with the drought. Don't trust thinking summer is here. Several years ago we had 10" at the Portal June 19 and last year 1 1/2' the first week of August between trail crest and the summit.

So, if I'm ignoring the details correctly...?

I just got down from Mt. Whitney yesterday. The Road Closed sign was set aside but it's still there. It may be open at the moment but they could put that sign back up if we see more storms. They also seem to do work on the road during April and it appears they've already started.

Ah, yes - the Blizzard of 5 August 2014. I remember it well. Crazy Jack survived it in a makeshift cardboard shelter.

If you want another blizzard this summer, make sure you come when Bets and I are there. We seem to draw cloud cover lately.

Jeff made a funny. A funny funny. A sadly true funny.

Hi Jeff is silly he hasn't heard of last weekends rescue for the person that burned his feet warming them. I was accused of not posting about rescues? Don't put your feet in the fire, do not put your feet in the fire with your boots on.Can you even have a fire to put your feet in?

Trip to Lone Pine Lake today checking the snow level, for most consider no snow to the Lake but several short section the trail is covered for up to 100' distance with ice/ snow.Logs are dry and the stream is ice free, LP Lake is still frozen but has that milky color so will be clearing soon.

Really?

Can I start working on the 24 more that I need to get to tweo hundred? I want them to be easy...

Lets see, once a week for the next six months and its in the bag! I hope to notch up my first dozen by the end of the season. Actually, I hope to get a couple more than that but stuff happens.

Doug - does this mean that the road is open? Or at least that the gate isn't closed/locked? I showed up on April 18th last year intending to day-hike Mountaineers Route, only to find that the trip was going to be twice the distance because of a freshly installed, very burly padlocked gate barricading the road. This was less than ideal, and frankly is the primary reason I haven't been back up this winter yet. Just curious if I come up in a couple weeks if I'm going to be frustrated yet again, or if I can actually get up to the portal parking lot by car instead of hiking 4 miles up a clear road?

Thanks!

Hi we plan to open this week, not sure on food yet but getting close thanks Doug

What passed as winter flew by like a tiny wet snowball. Good News Doug!

So what can you tell me about the Horseshoe Meadows Road to Cottonwood lakes campground, open yet?

Not according to this: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/inyo/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5192379

Thanks Akichow

Yes, thanks for the link.....Now I know where to check camp and road statuses.

paul

Per Inyo County Roads Department, they are working on the road to Horseshoe Meadows now - clearing rocks, patching, etc. They said to check back at the beginning of April because it might be open then; so it is not open yet.

I also checked on the Road to Big Meadow in the Domelands area recently and was told that road might be open as early as mid-April this year.

The Portal Road is very much open and in superb condition thanks to the county workers. Yesterday (April 1) many people were hiking (even with small children) up to Lone Pine Lake. The lake is still frozen and it was quite chilly as the sun faded.

Numerous parties were camping in the Lone Pine Campground (still no fee). The Concessionaire was working in the Lone Pine Campground and he said it is now OK to camp at the Trail Head walk-in campground (also still no fee yet). Certainly there is no need to bring firewood.

Looking forward to another season on the Mountain.

Jim