Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Winter Access Forum Hiking in winter months

Quick question if anyone has a second for some insight

What recommendations do you you have for someone wanting to hike up a distance (day use) up the Mt Whitney trail in the winter months, not all the way up, though?

I do have micro-spikes, hiking poles and a pick axe, etc.

I'm not sure of what will be the response, maybe ranging from "don't go" to "yeah, just take micro-spikes"

Thanks

If you're not travelling long distances to get to the mountain...

For gear, I'd add snowshoes. Make sure your poles have snow baskets.

There are only a couple of places (the steeper slope up to Bighorn Park, the slope up to Mirror Lake and then the traverse below Trail Camp) where it may be necessary to have crampons...and then, obviously, the slope up to Trail Crest.

Go up as far as you feel comfortable...the next time up, you'll be familiar, and it will seem easier...

Keep in mind that if you're not familiar with the trail, it can be very frustrating because a lot of Yahoos go up and put tracks all over the place... (Hint, some of the .gpx files out there are pretty good...)

appreciate the feedback, followed your advice.

Another question:

When do they close the gates up Mt Whitney Road? Every winter, all winter? Right after a snow until the roads can get cleared?

How can one find out when the gates are closed?

Thanks

https://www.inyocounty.us/services/public-works/news/inyo-county-road-openclosed-status

I don't know how it really works, but the gate up the road (before what I call the Rockfall Zone) usually gets locked after the first deep snow. The Road Closed sign also usually is pulled out onto the road at the same time. I've only seen the lower gate locked once.

The road isn't plowed in the winter. They'll start to plow and clear the rockfall in Spring when it's time for the WPS to open.