Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Ride from Whitney Portal to Yosemite

On Aug. 4th a friend and I will be dropping our car at the Whitney Portal and looking for a ride up to Yosemite. We're thru hiking the JMT beginning Aug. 6th. we need to be in Yosemite on the 4th to pick up our permits. Any suggestions on how to get up to Yosemite after dropping our car?

Thanks,

Todd.

Check the topic, "Using bus/train/shuttle service" in the "Orientation notes for Whitney first timers" link (on the left).

Todd,
I've always hitch-hiked, and found it to be a very enjoyable part of my JMT experience. People on the eastern side of the Sierra are pretty willing to offer assistance, especially north of Bishop. Personally, I don't understand why people hassle with the public transport system, but I am sure there are many reading this thinking this guy is nuts to take the risk of riding with a stranger. Maybe, but it's always worked for me.

Todd,

Yup, thumbing off the portal is fairly easy, although my experience has always been that it's the little old lady in the banged up toyota corolla, rather than the fat guy in the shiny, EMPTY truck, that will stop and pick you up. I've done it a bunch of times and never walked much further than that first bend in the road, before getting a ride.

It's also a good idea to just hang out a while at the store and chat up the folks to see if you can get a ride.

IF you're not in a hurry, it's also a good idea to call ahead to the Dow Villa and get one of the cheap rooms ($55-60) and get in that hot tub. nice way to end a great trip.

it's also not too bad thumbing on 395.

bob

almost forgot that detail . . . I've done the thumb up 395 to yosemite every time. As I said in the last post, get yourself down to Lone Pine. I usually hobble into the Portal about noon, beer up, call the Dow Villa and then start walking. never takes long to get a ride.

Assuming you drop your car at the portal, or leave it in Lone Pine and spend the night, if you get an early start, you can be in Yosemite Valley by evening, but with two it might be a little tougher. if you've got the time, I would suggest getting as far as Mammoth. spend the night there and in the morning you can catch the 7 a.m. YARTS shuttle to the Valley. you'll be there about noon. sure thing.

Hitch-hiking with a pack on 395 is a piece of cake, but...

A few thoughts:
A destination sign - (Big, readable letters helps)...also a smile.
Standing up (not sitting down) in front of your visible pack indicates you have character...seems to show that you are going somewhere rather than drifting.
If your ride decides to stop at a 7 - 11 and asks you to "run in" for them while they wait...take your pack out of the car/truck with you...I learned this last valuable lesson the hard way. Better to lose your ride than lose your gear.

Thanks guys for the input. I had considered thumbing it, but wasn't sure how easy that would be. We'll consider that. We can't wait to get out to the mountains and get on the trail. thanks again,

todd.

A few other thoughts learned over the years about hitch hiking in California -
- State laws actually specifically state: hitch hiking in California (technically, standing in the roadway with a thumb out) is illegal...Standing up on a curb though is not.
- Bath/shower first
- If you happen to be carrying any "illegal substances" with you (God forbid), put them in a brown paper bag and throw them about 15 feet up the road...if police just happen to stop and check you out...it is just one more piece of road trash, easily scooped up again before accepting any ride offered.