Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Will post when the weather changes!

Did you check the hubcap story I told you a few years ago? Dog will fetch a 47 Buick Roadmaster 4 holer cap off the wall and bring back to the counter,Or was it Packard Clipper?

My new neighbors would neither confirm nor deny that story. Meanwhile, I'm determined to set the record for most ascents of Red Hill.

So, are you dun movin'?

Went up to the Portal Saturday , road ICY and upper gate locked .Snow in the Portal drifts about 2 ' non event but we have had melt so ice is the base now on much of the road.
Saw two other people the short time we were there,Out of the 32 years (winters) I have not had a trip up that didn't cross paths with people . One trip very cold , deep drifts and at the store I had planned to turn around , but no I spot a tent by the waterfall. I thought maybe trouble so I walk over and find a guy sitting on the table in the picnic area,ask if he was OK he replied want some tea? Then explained he was a Doctor from Russia and missed the cold.

We have had other events that didn't turn out well in
the winter so understand the conditions can be very harsh also limited hours of sunlight so cold and icy on the North facing slopes. Offset by South facing slopes with a chance of rockfall/wet slides during the day.
Please if you are searching for a last minute gift for a winter hiker give a copy of Hypothermia,Frostbite, and Cold Injuries by Gordon GIESBRECHT, James Wilkerson Note the Convict Lake event some years ago.
Or for the short read to To Build a Fire by Jack London.,

and don't forget "The Little Match Girl" by Hans Christian Andersen

Interesting webcam images today.

A little more snow the last few days and may have storms till Friday ,looks like socal might get more.
Things to watch the next month speed limits in the town's are back so don't speed in the area. Tourism kick off meeting 16 Jan.
Bob Rockwell gathering Jan 11.
Shins 600 when we get solid update on Baldy.


We wish every one a great Holiday season ,Hope to see you over the winter or for Sure next summer. From the Portal Crew

Big week Portal , Ashram and the Summit of the week Have you ever been to the North Summit of well don't go I couldn't find a way down worse than that thing N/O rattlesnake that some people climb.
65 degrees sun and clear sky , so watch for rocks and rolls in the Hills

Now I'm intrigued. I'll have to attempt Well Don't Go Peak this summer.

I've learned that when Doug says don't go it is to hard you DON'T GO.

I think Doug sometimes mixes up Class 2 and Class 5.

Hey Doug, based on your experience how does a low snow season such as this year affect the difficulty of ascending MR in the winter. I have been thinking about going in March and am looking for more information in this regard.

Thanks in advance,
shyguy

Hey great question the snow level is backwards of what you would expect for conditions , heavy /deep snow packed makes the NF a cake walk smooth ramp no boulder fields, land mines to avoid and avoid the ledges, and cut distance to a straight hike to Iceberg then up the packed chute from iceberg to the notch ,the back 400 will have solid snow and again straight shot to the summit .Just a good winter mountaineering trip.
Now a light snow year none of the above. First canyon tree wells /rock wells,boulder fields, dead end false trails, ledges iffy, trees loaded and leaning over the area of travel till after lower boysscout lake and chance for wet slides since new systems will be layed over icy wind blown slopes , Basic assumption is plan for slow travel,camp low reduce the weight you carry to the upper elevations since you will post hole in the afternoon ,and travel early mornings ,first light to hit the snow as it is still crusty and may support your weight.
Hope for guide trips laying a course that you can use STAY IN THAT TRACK it will not only make your trip eaiser but helps build the base for others a thousand tracks make it hard for the ones that come next and creates false tracks since many are first timers and not sure where to go.

Look at the webcam and focus on the flat mountain in the center of the photo this is Thor , just to the right and a little lower you can see the Mountaineers path from about halfway to the area before LBSL and above UBSL this will also give you a clue on snow level.
We have had strong storms late season and can dump several feet of wet heavy snow so plan a few extra days as it can take a day or two to walk down from even UBSL! Confirmed from a guide that quite after one of those adventures.

Look on the threads for the NF and you will get a good cross section of conditions .Thanks

Hey I just read the last post , surprised it just didn't say take a jacket and snacks,It must be a great climb that mountaineering route! For many that may not know one of the legend guides would meet his clients with that opening remark, smoking a camel and looked like he needed a guide book to get up the hill.
OK so sometime the Trail permits will be going out, watching Thor (the flat slope in the center of the webcam image )the snow at 12,000' mostly melted, this means has turned into ice in the shaded areas and streams will be running /with some water running on the trail.3-4 areas to watch : North Fork , crossing 1/2 mile up the trail, Log bridge 2 miles up the trail, Outpost camp area 3.5 miles up then the outlet of Mirror Lake 4 Miles . Switchback will have snow and ice in the shaded areas ( cable section for sure several more weeks) some PCT hikers doing the summit from the west with little or no problems.

Bugs will be bad this season as we have had late rain/snow and hot days , Sunscreen and sun glasses , long pants and long sleeve upper will help keep the sun off. OK notice the water problems above and water at 6 miles Trail camp (not the standing water with the chance of a few wag bags floating in it) but the inlet several hundreds a few feet wester'ly flowing into the area and around switchback 22-25 you will see water flowing down the trail , search for a spot it comes out of the rocks and resupply.

Mask/ face covering required in INYO County so please have one ready to use when you are in the stores or see someone coming up/down the trail. Give each other at least 10 ' as one passes , step off the trail if needed ,if it is in a safe area to do so , watch the wind direction and stay on the" wind "side if you can , you want the other persons breath to be taken away from you. Since hiking with a load or hard uphill people will be breathing hard and the 6' thing might not be enough distance. Ok so don't share food , water, phones, "stuff" with others , try to keep a safe space as you hike. Outdoors much less chance to get exposed but it can happen , my thoughts are by close contact and sharing , say for example the summit register box and the ONE PEN inside that everyone will use?? I hope the register box is closed , OH and the signs left at the top would be another source of contact .
Think about Whitney as a nice place that has travelers from all 50 states and some international travelers. Add to that some may have the once in a lifetime chance to get a Whitney Permit and be a little sick or not aware they are infected and come to the area,No hugs, no hand shakes,So Mask/face covering ,distancing,hand washing , sanitizers are YOUR last lines of defense.

I will post as the road opens and when permits may start to be released. Thanks stay safe .

So, when will the Hostel open. I miss my $7 showers. It's not very pleasant to use your hose out behind the Hostel for a quick rinsing.

So, I was up in Lone Pine this past Monday through Thursday. I hiked out of Horseshoe Meadows, Cottonwood Pass, and Onion Valley, Kearsarge Pass.

Lots of PCT and JMT hikers out of Onion Valley.

paul