Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Sage Flat - More Damage...

I rode up towards the Olancha Pass Trailhead, but was stopped by a washout a few hundred yards from the parking area...




Here's what the crest looks like at Olancha Peak...



Here's what it looks like from the Haiwee Canyon Trailhead...



I didn't do any hiking because I was whipped by the riding conditions...I've never done so many stream crossings in a day in my life...and just about every one of them required way too much focus to stay upright...

I was going to try and ride (off-road) up to Lone Pine, but the Powerline Road / (?) SE768 was washed out at Summit Creek (way too deep and wide to even attempt a crossing...and I was already way too frustrated by detours...)

This IS going to be a challenging year in the backcountry...

Richard, You always have such great pictures, thanks for posting. What kind if camera are you using? Yes, I know there is much more than 'the camera' involved in the great photos you post.

Back in the day, when I didn't care about a few extra pounds of weight, I was shooting with a Canon DSLR...these days, it's just an iPhone.

Last summer, I bought a Canon mirrorless, but I'm just too lazy these days.

Thanks.

Tried the ride to Lone Pine (off-road) again...

No photos this time.

Significantly less water flowing down off the mountains down south...

Summit Creek (stopped me again) was flowing much less, but the road cut is too deep for a safe crossing...

I could have made it around the creek, but I would have had to ride at least a quarter mile on the 395 shoulder (against traffic...no thanks).

Hopefully, DWP will get this section of the Power Line Road repaired before the summer heat.

Snow up on the crest was significantly less too...

So, I did another "Off-road to Lone Pine" attempt yesterday...
(Found my cooling vest, so it wasn't too uncomfortable in the heat.)

Finally made it past the wash-out at Summit Creek (still not repaired)...no water running in the creek...
With a lot more effort than I was willing to put in, I could have crossed the wash-out at Olancha Creek...this was 56 miles of off-road in...I used the creek water to refill the cooling vest, wet the neck gaitor and skull cap, and headed home...(108 degrees...65+ mpg with the 'lil 150...)