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I have a question, which may contain an obvious answer so forgive me. I am hoping to get in this summer, and during my due diligence process have learned HM, at 10,000+ elevation, is one of the best areas to get acclimated. But how come Lone Pine Lake, also at 10,000 ft, is rarely mentioned as an option to camp at as well, considering this isn't within the zone and its right on the trail? What am I missing? Thanks!
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You can camp there... mentioned in this thread Whitney Portal Store Message Board But you need a Main Trail overnight permit according to the thread for camping.
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Here is a pracical reason for not camping at LP Lake. You have to hike a couple of miles and gain about 1500 feet to get to LP Lake. Camping at HM is much more convenient, and has developed, level sites. Your car will only be a few feet away, you have potable water, etc. Also, at HM you have a much larger area for day hikes if you spend some time getting acclimated. LP Lake is far enough away from Whitney Portal to make it somewhat inconvenient for acclimation purposes.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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... But how come Lone Pine Lake, also at 10,000 ft, is rarely mentioned as an option to camp at as well, considering this isn't within the zone and its right on the trail? What am I missing? Thanks! Here is what I wrote in the Orientation Notes and the Wilderness Permit Options about the subject: Note: Lone Pine Lake is a common stop for people who just want to get a glimpse of the trail. People can day hike up to the lake without a [day hike] permit, because it is outside of the Whitney Zone. Nonetheless, a main trail overnight permit is still required to camp near the lake, because the lake is in the John Muir Wilderness. Although you technically could hike just up to Lone Pine Lake on an overnight hike, you still would have to pay the $15 per person reservation fee if you wanted to reserve an overnight permit for the main trail. Most of the people with main trail overnight permits camp their first night at either Outpost Camp or Trail Camp. If you reserve a main trail overnight permit and then decide when you arrive that you want to camp an extra night at Lone Pine Lake, check at the Visitors Center when you pick up your permit to see if there are openings on the previous day. Overnight permits are good for 14 days, so changing the entry date on your permit should not be a problem in most cases. 1. People are required to have an overnight permit to stay overnight in the Golden Trout, John Muir, Ansel Adams and Hoover Wildernesses. That means you need to get a Main Mt. Whitney Trail overnight permit to stay overnight at Lone Pine Lake since the lake is inside the John Muir Wilderness (the Whitney Zone is irrelevant in this case). Although most people hiking the main trail stay overnight at either Outpost Camp or Trail Camp, there are no additional restrictions when staying at Lone Pine Lake or Consultation Lake. Just camp at least 100 feet away from the lake and any established trails. Note: Camping is prohibited at Mirror Lake and Trailside Meadow.
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Joined: May 2007
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In a word - mosquitoes. Whenever I'm on the main trail and pass near that lake, I put on a burst of speed. Serious bug problem. But, to each his own.
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Yep, the mossies were out in force when I camped there on my last night of the HST last July.
On the other hand, I've been there in September with nary a skeeter in sight.
IMHO it's just too far from the summit and too close to the TH. If I'm going to the trouble of packing overnight gear I want to cover some ground before I set up my tent.
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Note: Lone Pine Lake is a common stop for people who just want to get a glimpse of the trail. People can day hike up to the lake without a [day hike] permit, because it is outside of the Whitney Zone. Nonetheless, a main trail overnight permit is still required to camp near the lake, because the lake is in the John Muir Wilderness. Although you technically could hike just up to Lone Pine Lake on an overnight hike, you still would have to pay the $15 per person reservation fee if you wanted to reserve an overnight permit for the main trail. Most of the people with main trail overnight permits camp their first night at either Outpost Camp or Trail Camp. If you reserve a main trail overnight permit and then decide when you arrive that you want to camp an extra night at Lone Pine Lake, check at the Visitors Center when you pick up your permit to see if there are openings on the previous day.Overnight permits are good for 14 days, so changing the entry date on your permit should not be a problem in most cases. Sorry if I'm beating this topic to death, but if I'm understanding correctly, I could show up and ask for an unused permit from the previous day? I realize an overnight permit is good for 14 days but doesn't the entry date for each permit the important part and have to correspond to the actual entry date and not the day before (or a week before for that matter)?
"That which we gain too easily we esteem too lightly" Thomas Paine
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John, what I think was meant, was the day previous to the entry date of the already-reserved permit. That 'previous day" would have to not have happened yet.
I'd think a scenario might be a person who shows up a couple of days before their permit (wisely), and makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to go camp at LPL.
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Sorry if it appears as if I am giving pat answers, but it is standard practice for people to show up one or two days early for their permits, since there is a pickup deadline: Note: You cannot pick up your wilderness permit at the visitors center more than two days before your entry date. Reservations are also subject to cancellation (and the permit space can be reissued) if permits are not picked up by the required time, so plan your trip accordingly. In 2007, the pickup deadline is noon on the day before the hike for day hike reservations and 10 am on the day of the hike for overnight reservations. ... The text that you were questioning was based on the following Lone Pine Lake report: Whitney Permits - Pleasant Surprise. If you show up at the Vistors Center the afternoon before your planned entry date, you may be able to enter that afternoon on a cancellation. Of course if you take that cancellation, you create another cancellation that somebody else can use on the following day. As noted in Note 6 of the Wilderness Permit Options, in most cases your permit sheet is not printed out until after you arrive at the Visitors Center, so changes can be made then if there is space. I was not trying to imply that you can change your entry date once a permit is issued at the Visitors Center. If you have a better way of stating that fact send me a private message (using the menu bar).
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Sorry if it appears as if I am giving pat answers, but it is standard practice for people to show up one or two days early for their permits, since there is a pickup deadline: Note: You cannot pick up your wilderness permit at the visitors center more than two days before your entry date. Reservations are also subject to cancellation (and the permit space can be reissued) if permits are not picked up by the required time, so plan your trip accordingly. In 2007, the pickup deadline is noon on the day before the hike for day hike reservations and 10 am on the day of the hike for overnight reservations. ... The text that you were questioning was based on the following Lone Pine Lake report: Whitney Permits - Pleasant Surprise. If you show up at the Vistors Center the afternoon before your planned entry date, you may be able to enter that afternoon on a cancellation. Of course if you take that cancellation, you create another cancellation that somebody else can use on the following day. As noted in Note 6 of the Wilderness Permit Options, in most cases your permit sheet is not printed out until after you arrive at the Visitors Center, so changes can be made then if there is space. I was not trying to imply that you can change your entry date once a permit is issued at the Visitors Center. If you have a better way of stating that fact send me a private message (using the menu bar). Ken & Fred, Thanks for the clarification. Just got a bit muddled in the the wording (or just wishful thinking) - I guess my cabin fever is worse than I thought as it's starting to affect my reading skills  !
"That which we gain too easily we esteem too lightly" Thomas Paine
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When I first started hiking around Mt. whitney, I used to drive up to Horseshoe Meadows to get the elevation effect. After a while I found it wasn't really that much better then staying at Whitney Portal Campground or Lone Pine Campground.
Personally, I don't think your body can adjust overnight to 10,000 feet, so the advantage of the extra elevation may not be as much as you think. Especially for those of us who live close to sea level.
What helps the most is to prepare yourself with hikes of gradually higher elevation in the months before you attempt Mt. Whitney. If that is not possible, spend two nights at Lone Pine Campground or Whitney Portal campground, with a take your time hike up to Lone Pine lake or Meysan Lake Canyon during the day.
If you do that, you will be better off then driving all the way up to Horseshoe Meadows for only one. night.
One side note: Horseshoe meadows for two nights with a hike out into the Cotton lakes Basin is a very nice way to prepare and adjust. Then it is worth the drive up there.
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Ok so now we are talking what if's. The reason to get here a day or so before is to calm down find the bathroom, the trail head and talk with folks as they come down the trail and figure a trip to the desert to pick up your permit the day before,
Or show up at 3AM blast out of the car thinking that the unopened permit letter will say .... can't find the trailhead and really need to unload the last several days of fast food and can't find the bathroom because the light was turned off by the last person- OH it maybe out of paper because the 1AM start crowd took it for mountain money.
Lone Pine Lake is the jewel of the trail , great place to fish and hangout, weekends many local take the trip to fish and swim .
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OH it maybe out of paper because the 1AM start crowd took it for mountain money Toilet paper is mountain money? LOL! 
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really need to unload the last several days of fast food and can't find the bathroom because the light was turned off by the last person. ! tea through the nose and all over the key board! Lone Pine Lake is the jewel of the trail yes, so true. i spent some time there last year the day before my day hike - it is so beautiful. i suspect many day hikers miss it for a variety of reasons. their loss.
Last edited by bsmith; 04/04/09 12:01 AM.
bsmith
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