Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Newbie Itinerary 2/3 July for Critique!

Dear all

I’m a first timer, and have an overnight permit for July 2nd / 3rd.
Here is my tentative plan, in order to be critiqued by those with more experience!

I’m flying in from Canada, but due to an overseas business trip, there won’t be any time for acclimatization before flying to Vegas on June 30th. My proposed schedule is:

June 30th: Fly to Vegas, arrive evening.
July 1st. Drive to Lone pine and check in hotel. Take an acclimatization hike (3 hrs or so?) up the cottonwood pass trailhead to approx. 11000 feet

July 2nd. 7am start from whitney portal to Outpost camp. Set up camp, have lunch and then acclimatization hike to trail camp. Hang out for an hour or so and back to Outpost.

July 3rd. 4am start from Outpost, hopefully summit and back, taking down camp as I pass through Outpost camp.


I was hoping to travel light from Outpost camp (bringing a separate summit pack), using trekking poles, 3 season boots and carrying 6 point instep crampons. However reading the forum daily it appears I’ll need at least my ice axe, if not my 12 pointers (and therefore my much heavier crampon compatible boots). I plan on approx 3 ½ litres of fluid carried from Trail camp.

I’ve suffered from moderate AMS before at 14000ft, (but also been up Kili with no issues), so I’ll be taking it fairly steadily, knowing that I haven’t had time to acclimatize properly, and being rather conservative as I’ll be traveling alone, on an unknown trail.

Any clarification on the following issues would be appreciated.

Will six point instep crampons plus ice axe be ok if I need to ascend by the chute ?

If the switchbacks are in use by then, will instep crampons be ok ?

I suspect by that date that some groups will be using switchbacks, and some the chute? What are the pro’s and con’s at this time of the year?

Is the chute easy to find from Trail camp ?

As I’ll be flying in from Canada I can’t carry fuel, and have a tight schedule on arrival. Is there a hardware store in Lone Pine that sells Meths ( methyl hydrate) for my Trangia alcohol stove ?

Does my itinerary look feasible for a first timer (although I’m a fit and experienced hiker) on Whitney?

Many thanks for reading this. I look forward to checking any trip reports closer to the time.

Jonathan.

Hi Some tips on Vegas to Lone Pine study the maps and you can save about an hour by taking State line Road out of Parahump do not go to Shoshone .

I would not go past outpost on 2 July hang out there and rest. By July switchbacks will be open and about ant kind of footware will be fine with your background. I would use poles as always and watch for black ice.

Stove fuel or esbbit tablets are sold around town or the Hostel/ Portal last year people were have trouble taking stoves on the flight so check that soon? Thanks Doug

I think I take the same road as Doug, but know it as Bell Vista. It's just north of the center of Parhump. It's a good road, but the NV state police monitor it, so watch your speed. When you get to CA127 (Amargosa), make a right then a quick left on CA190.

Is that the road with no name on most maps, between CA 190 and NV 160? Usually in grey, with access to Devil's Hole and Ash Meadows? "Good road" as in paved? I've never taken it since the grey unnamed roads on most maps are dirt/gravel. I'll be making the Vegas-Sierra drive in a couple of weeks, and just might try this route if that's the case. Sure beats US 95 to the north and then down to Death Valley Junction.

It might well be. There should be a street sign (Bell Vista) in Pahrump. The coordinates for the intersection are N36.26364 W116.00292 in datum WGS 84. The road itself is good - leaving Pahrump there are a few stop signs before the open road, but as I said in my earlier post - it's often patrolled, especially as you near the CA border. It's paved highway - no gravel.

This shortcut is not quite as obvious heading back to Pahrump via CA190. Make a right onto CA120 and then a quick left onto Ash Meadows Rd also called State Line. I don't know where it becomes Bell Vista, but I think the road is known by all 3 names. Whether this is germaine or not - I've noticed that border roads between NV and CA are often re-numbered when you cross state lines, so CA127 becomes NV393, etc. It does the same thing in the north, with OR. US highways maintain the same number.

BTW - in Amargosa there's a neat funky old opera house. It has an interesting history.

I assume that you plan to spend the first night in Las Vegas.
I assume that you will bring your camping gear with you.

For me sleeping the first night as high as possible considerably speeds up acclimatization.
Have you considered camping the first night somewhere in Springs Mountains e.g. near Mt. Charleston trailhead instead of Las Vegas hotel?

Thanks Kevin - it almost has to be that mystery road on the map. One way to find out, so I'll probably give it a shot. Do you recall if you saw any signage for the Devil's Hole - a small section of DVNP in NV offset from the rest of the park?

I don't recall one way or the other. But, it shouldn't be too hard to find as you approach the CA border.

Thanks for the input. I'll certainly make a note of the driving directions. That extra hour saved will be put to good use acclimatising on arrival (or an hour extra in bed in Vegas).

I'm arriving pretty late in Vegas (8.45pm) and by the time I get my rental car and checked into the hotel it will be time to crash out. It would have been good to camp near Mt. Charleston but it's not really feasible. I could forego my hotel in Lone pine and camp at Whitney portal however.

I'll be watching the trip reports with avid interest, heavy boots / light boots; Poles / Ice axe, Crampons / No Crampons.. Just too many variables with only 10 days to go...

Cheers
Jonathan.

Just wanted to say that I tried this route a couple of weeks ago going Vegas-LP, then back again last Sunday. Very good route, and definitely knocks significant mileage and time off the drive. I can't figure why it's not designated in any atlas I have. The only bummer is the lower speed limit on the Cali side, but still a much quicker drive than the other two options from Vegas through Death Valley. Thanks Doug and Kevin!

There's a speed limit?

As you know, I had my family with me. Otherwise . . .