Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Winter Access Forum Driving Conditions

My team and I are planning an attempt on MR beginning the weekend of Jan 22. Does anybody have details about the driving conditions. According to the Ranger Station the "Closed Road" sign is up about 8.5 miles in. How far beyond that can you get with 4WD and chains? If you park your vehicle beyond the closure are you subject to fines and being towed, or is it kind of a go ahead at your own risk?

Is there generally a lot of winter traffic that might be willing to give us a "hitch" up to the portal?

Thanks for the info!

Sphazo

My team and I are planning an attempt on MR beginning the weekend of Jan 22. Does anybody have details about the driving conditions. According to the Ranger Station the "Closed Road" sign is up about 8.5 miles in. How far beyond that can you get with 4WD and chains?

The last two times up to the Portal (on foot) there were 4WD vehicles parked at the trailhead. None were using chains that I could see. There was only a short (150-250') section that was iced up on the lower switchback that I couldn't make it past in a Sentra. If this melts out, you'll be able to make it to at least the end of the first switchback in any vehicle.

If you park your vehicle beyond the closure are you subject to fines and being towed, or is it kind of a go ahead at your own risk?

Miller's Towing charges $285/hr to come up there and pull you out, so it's an expensive mistake if you get stuck. The only citation I've ever heard about was to someone who parked on the road.

Is there generally a lot of winter traffic that might be willing to give us a "hitch" up to the portal?

No. There is some, but you might end up waiting a long time for a vehicle that can make it all the way up.

Thanks for the info!

Sphazo

Our vehicle was the big white suburban parked at the trailhead. We did not need chains to make it up or down, although we obviously had 4wd. Most of the road is fine with only a few icy sections. On the upper portions of the road there is snow with some deep ruts to negotiate, but it's not much of a problem. I would think you would be fine in a high clearance 4wd vehicle with good tires, with chains as backup if needed.

This was last weekend, so things may have changed by now...