Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney Message Board Group Hike – Saturday, 9/27

After last year's successful Whitney Message Board Group Hike up Thor Peak, I received quite a few emails asking about this year's hike.

Well, the crystal ball has spoken; another hike is in store for this year. The date is Saturday, September 27. The only remaining question, what will be our destination?

With the help of a friend, I have put together a possible list of climbs with some comments from which we can choose from. For me, I would like something challenging, interesting and central to the Portal area so we don’t have to travel too far. What are your thoughts?

I hope this works for all of us.

Thanks

paul

1. Meysan Canyon: is a logical choice. Going up to LeConte-Mallory plateau is very loose and tedious without snow. There is the waterfall route from Meysan Lake to Irvine, and once there you have your choice of left to Mallory or right to Irvine. The left to Mallory has a badly loose and steep section. But right to Irvine is nice, and descent via the NE ridge is fun. But it is ambitious for a day--6000'--would need an early start.

2. Candlelight: from Meysan Canyon is nice, and about 4500'--a little more than Thor.

3. Langley: is good. Easier than Irvine. We could go up Army Pass and descend via The Fin route.

4. Gould: although it isn't terribly exciting; except for the fun class 3 summit block. 3800 vertical feet.

And maybe:

5. Dragon. The rescue group teaches a basic mountaineering class each summer, and Dragon is a day climb. For the stronger students, traverse over to Gould and descend the Kearsarge Pass trail.

I had a great time last year. I've calendared in the date.

Penciled in. I'll be checking for updates. Thanks!

MC

If MC is in then JS is in!!!!!

What about the route to Candlelight Peak which starts at Lone Pine Lake, on the north side. It includes some class three climbing, but it sure would be exciting. They took a rope, but hardly needed it. Bob R took this route in these photos, and might be willing to act as tour guide.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockwellb/sets/72157600839642500/

If you go all the way to the summit, you can return via one of the northbound descent routes to the Mt Whitney Trail.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1228420569061435028SZMAzK

If some did not want to climb the more difficult slab crux section to the summit of Candlelight, they could follow the east ridge down to the Whitney Portal campground area. An example would be this trip up to the east ridge by Kashcraft, when he followed the east ridge all the way down.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1227949651061435028CSoSTt

The question I would have is this, "does a descent into the Whitney zone require a Whitney Permit?" I believe that ALL day passes for that day are taken.

I believe all the routes mentioned in my original posting don't require a Whitney zone permit.

Maybe someone with more experience than I can chime in.

Thanks.... Sounds like a good route.

paul

Then I will have to do my best to ink this one in! I need to coordinate it with a trip to OC to visit my family. So far, it's looking good. Would love to see you on a mountain again!

Thanks, JS!!!
MC

Hey Paul,

It's up to the group, I'd love to do Dragon but I guess it's up to how many people are coming.

Meysan Lake's TH Quota is 10 a day only 6 can be reserved
Dragon Peak is the same. And Langley is 60 a day. Check my math on the inyo website but I think it's right....

Hey Jeff..... I believe that the numbers that you quote are for hikers seeking overnight permits in the various areas, day hikers are not included in that category...... I am not an expert on Inyo rules, so if someone has a different understanding, please post because it's important to avoid limitations.... the more the merrier. Last year's group was fun to hike with and made the trip so much more enjoyable.

I tried to select routes that didn't have quotas because I knew that we might have up to 20 participates..... last year the number was around 18(?).

So, if those routes mentioned above did not have a quota, which route would interest you?

Thanks

Paul

I don't know the answer to that question. Looking at the Mt. Whitney zone map, it is obvious all the northern descent routes from Candlelight and Mt. Irvine come through the Whitney zone. With the new emphasis on having a permit if you are inside the zone, that might be a problem.

One could return via the Meysan Lake Canyon. However, I suspect it is emotionally painfull to walk from the Whitney Portal campground back up to the waiting car at Whitney Portal.

Only if the beer-dar fails, which is rare. It's like a tractor beam...

"That's no moon... it's a SPACE STATION!"

Moose, don't tease the hikers. We're a vulnerable group. And, by the way, you were suppose to join us last year, but didn't. If you don't join us again this year, we expect another bottle of wine waiting for us on top of whatever peak we climb.

paul

Ahhh, Paulie... sooooo sssssssseeeennnnsssiiitttiiivvvee... But I think you missed the champagne shower I took at Pizza Factory that night!

All teasing aside, it's on the calendar. There, I said it. When is it again? Sorry, it's been a crazy week!

But I was..... the cork shot across the room. Didn't it hit Snow Nymph or someone....... and the bottle erupted like a geyser. Didn’t you get pulled over when you walked out of the Pizza Factory? I think they renamed the room, “Moose Memorial Shower” and made it a historical landmark.

Fun times had by all!!!

paul

I meant only that after a 4-5 hours up and 2 hours down hike you end up in civilization again. Then it dawns on you you still need to walk up hill 20 minutes to your car parked at the portal. I just hate that, walking up hill on the way down. Any chance they will add a bus shuttle from the campground to the portal for those of us with emotional weakness from our hike.

I have it on my calendar, in ink. Am curious as to what it will be, although there are never any bad choices where mountaineering is concerned. Too bad that Paul will be making his decision from the various email and message board inputs--these things are much more intelligently settled around a table, over a few cold beers.

I hope that this time it will be a climb I don't know. I am always eager to learn new things.

Bob

Bob,

A climb you don't know? That makes me wonder - what remains on your to-do list? (Or is it private?) The group hikers could simply choose a climb from your list, simplifying the decision making...

We (Paul and I) have reserved (3) campsites at the Portal campground for Friday & Saturday, 9/26 & 9/27 by the Meysan Lakes Trailhead. These are for group hikers to use.
Each site holds (6) people. If you are interested then PM me and I'll hold a spot for you. No obligation at this point - we can split the costs when we get up there in Sept. Obviously if our hike ends up being somewhere else, we can drop the sites. The idea was to get some sites while they are still available.

A great meal at the Portal store will be only minutes away!

- Phil

I'm in!!

By the way, if your willing to bump it to 9/28 there are 28 day use permits available for the Whitney Zone.