Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney in October

Hello - I'm summiting Whitney with a few friends the first weekend in October.

Does anyone know if the solar toilets will be still open in October? I have a few girlfriends joining me that would appreciate a clean solar toilet (lol).

How's the water situation up there right now?
Does anyone know that water situation at the following places?

Trail Camp
Trailside meadow
Outpost Camp

Thanks and Cheers.

Zamboni,
The outhouse at Trail Camp is closed. There is voluntary "pack out your poop" program ongoing and the FS has wag bag dispensers at the trailheads. Water will be no problem at the places you listed. Have fun.

The solar toilets at Outpost Camp and Trail Camp were both open last Sunday. The Forest Service would prefer that you not use them but that you "carry out your own poop". There are privacy screens installed near both solar toilets and there are receptacles at both places where you can "deposit your poop" if you are squeamish about carying it out.

Thanks for the info. Privacy Screens are a great idea especially for Trail Camp. I've been exposed a few times when day hikers have walked up on me.
And YES I was FAR away from the trail. I abide by the rules.

I friend and I are going the last week in October. Does anyone know what we might expect for weather? We have everything we need for any condition but dont want to over pack.

My group is going on 9/21 and I just sent everone this update by email for the last 24 hours.

Hey Guys: Check this out – For the 24 hours from 11:30 PM on 9/2/2004 to 11:30 PM on 9/3/2004, the low at 14,246 elevation (White Mountain Peak), was only 14.0 degrees Fahrenheit, and the high was 29.7; and we are going to 14,498 feet (Mt. Whitney’s peak). Looking at the historical records, there is a good chance the weather will warm up a little by our hike date (9/21/2004, beginning at 4:00 AM), but if not, be alerted, that exertion at those temps and that altitude can be dangerous – hypothermia being the main concern. Fresno’s high and low temps were 88 and 61 during that time. I was hoping to avoid needing a balaclava, but now I am going to buy one. We may also run into snow and rain – so be prepared for that too.