Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 2024

I wanted a Bob type photo...but......

Bob never missed an opportunity like that.

I agree with Hightineray... Bob would have a photo of a kiss to make us all jealous.

Good job Richard..... Those are the kind of hikes I am used to reading about you.

Do I need to replenish your account at the store for more burgers?

Great reading.

paul

The cancellation system isn't working? That's the only way I get a permit anymore.

I don't know if/how the cancellations work...

But, based on the number of people I see on the trails, I don't think that permits are returning to availability at the numbers they should...

(Opinion again) I don't think the Rec.gov managers care to make it better...I think there needs to be a mansatory check-in a few days prior (not just if you print it, you're using it...I'd bet many of those people don't use their permit)...no check-in results in an available permit...who cares if a few more people end up on the trail if "no check-in" people show up too...

I asked the rec.gov chatbot this:

Regarding Mt. Whitney permits, what is the difference between "walk-up" and "available"?

The chatbot's reply:

"What date would you like to check in at Wall Creek Cabin? (Ex. Jan 3rd, 2022)"

I’ll never refuse free food….

Flushing the legs out on TP/CP Loop…want to start towards WP tomorrow…permit allowing…

Crisp Blue Sky all the way from RC this morning …no smoke is really nice…

It's not free. You have to work for it by providing detailed, and exciting trail reports.

I'll be up next week for day hiking. I'll stop by the store, and hopefully see Doug (?).

Paul

Another post to follow...
First some good news...
Doug is going to be up at the Portal Friday-Monday...
Younger Management has stated he is not allowed to work...
Story telling set to begin...

I hope both Dougs are there on Sept 14

Hi Richard. Have you ever been to the Seven Teacups?

https://www.tastecaliforniatravel.com/se...nd-springville/

Harvey

Mt. Whitney A Harder way - 08.06-07.2024
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Most interesting "fact" ... not a single person I talked to over 2 days was from CA...and I'm old...so I can BS...a lot...

One of the most interesting quotes..."I'm on my daily commute." from one of the NPS Trail Workers (as he blew past) heading out to the lower west-side switchbacks...

Finishing the trip...I was leap-frogging a young guy on the way to Guitar Lake...we said a few words as we passed and I asked what they were finishing...Piute Pass to Whitney Portal..."Want to see some shortcuts on the way down?"...kind of like "hell yeah, but we have to ask Dad" Turned out it was a group of four from WI...

I had the most excellent person following (dude was strong...he let me lead) me up west side switchbacks...conversation was so facinating that we hit the last 4 without even feeling it (common comment was amazement that we were at the Junction)...

I went to summit alone (196 by me revised inaccurate counting).

Dad was good with trying the alternate routes...to keep the potential bush-whacking out we did the Trail Camp - Trailside Meadow and the Slabs down past Bighorn Park - Lone Pine Lake switchbacks. They were Thrilled...

OK, so here's the trip...
Monday was a shake-out up at my favorite altitude training spot...Trail Pass / Cottonwood Pass Loop.
Tuesday was up over Army Pass...down to Soldier Lakes...up the Miter Basin...over Crabtree Pass (still snow at the top)...down the Crabtree Lakes drainage...

Ran out of daylight and couldn't find my headlamp so it was "this it the spot for the night" (probably a mile shy of the PCT).

Lowlight of the trip...not making Crabtree Meadow and passing by way too early to visit with Christine at the Ranger Station...

Here are some photos:


Army Pass.



Heading up into the Miter Basin.



One of about a billion beautiful cascades.



Sky Blue Lake.



One of many tarns.



Crabtree Lakes Drainage.



Traversing one of the Crabtree Lakes.



Evening Alpine Glow.



Past Sunset.

Day 2:
=====



Timberline Lake.



Storm Damage.



Whitney Summit.



Sierra Crest.



Trail Crest View East.



One last look west.



Sierra Crest.


Big thanks to Jim...this really was a case of if he can do it...I can do it...just work out harder...

And thanks Paul for another most-excellent Bacon Cheese Burger at the WPS...even drank a beer this time.

Did you get a picture holding the sign over your head ?

Hey on the route using the crabtree drainage I always think faster than going up the sand slope if you are traveling light
.
On that tarn picture the only time I ever self arrested we were doing an early season trip and the tarn was clear but the side slopes very still covered with snow/ice ,we were traversing about 50' above water level when I slipped I had the ax out and did the drill , this slope angle and conditions I never would have expected a fall!

Great pictures and report Richard.
Going up to the store for the weekend and not much to update on health just the old people problems , should have a tune up in the future.

Hey Doc, calling Springville and Kernville close together is a bit of a stretch...I go thru Kernville a lot because it's on the Sherman Pass Loop that I do regularly...can't recall ever passing thru Springville, but I rarely do "West Side" stuff.

First I've ever heard of this hike.


Doug, completely agree that the Dreaded Sand Hill is the short route, but then you miss the "bottom" of the Crabtree Drainage...and if you like seeing cascades, this is on the list with the Miter Basin and Wallace Creek for beautiful ones...not to mention what you see if you go direct from Trail Camp to Trailside Meadow.

BTW...amazing the number of people who asked if I knew Crazy Jack...

What's he really like?

Still Crazy As Ever.

So, instead of a Thru-Hike of the JMT, I'm thinking Section HIkes with variations...

Next up (maybe...depending): Cleaver Col or Russell/ Carillion Pass...down Wallace Creek...up Wright Creek...over Rockwell Pass to the Shepherd Pass Trail...to the Junction Pass Trail...then the JMT to the Kearsarge Pass Trail out...

I've never been on the Junction Pass Trail, or Wright Creek, but have looked down on the lakes from Tawny Point with Bob.


Found this regarding the Jucction Pass Trail:
"A discerning navigator will be able to largely remain on the faint remnants of the old JMT; regardless, this section will mostly feel like the horrendous talus and scree that it is."

And a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgEUmrssrqE&t=456s

Watching the dude scree ski the south side of Junction has me wanting to stay on the JMT over Forester...Does anyone know if the south side trail still exists?

Any advice, or potential gotchas?

Hey all, can anyone report the last available water source going up the main trail? I'm planning to go up this week and i have a 1L squeeze bottle filter, but also a more bulky, heavier platypus system.

Thanks!!

-kp

The spring on the Switchbacks is still flowing very stongly.