Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board WPSMB Group MR Climb, Second Edition?

Drive safe Fish - and have fun once you're there. Looking forward to the TR.

Here is an April fool who is still hoping we can make it on the 1st!

According to both dmatt and the NWS mountain weather next week looks good!

It's supposed to hit near 90 degrees here in the desert and Whitney looks like it will have fairly warm weather as well...

I was going to say I'll be down at the beach, but I don't want to pull a Scully...

See you on Friday. (BTW, Bman as the decision maker for this outing can state that we'll meet at the AH Cafe... )

Now you're making it hard to keep with my plan of sleeping at the Portal on Thursday night. It was an easy decision as long as McD's was the meeting point.

Still, I think a head start and one night at altitude will be to my advantage, so I'll plan to see you all when you get to the Portal.

Current weather forecast by NOAA for 12,000' just east of Whitney is looking good, though they show clouds coming in Saturday:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 38.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 20.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 30.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 25.

[quote=JimQPublic
Still, I think a head start and one night at altitude will be to my advantage, so I'll plan to see you all when you get to the Portal.
[/quote]

I am planning on going up to the portal on Thursday night as well for a night well spent at altitude. See you there.

AH doesn't open till 7:00AM, last time I checked.

We saw 2 avalanches happen yesterday on Baldy, one in the center of the bowl, and 2 others that had happened yesterday on south facing chutes. Shin and Asbufra have photos on their photo link.

Hey guys, couple of things.

First, I woke up this morning with a touch of a sore throat. Don't yet know if it's going to get a hold of me but it makes my attendance this weekend iffy.

Second, I'd probably recommend those not already higher up the road to meet at Micky D's about 5am Friday morning. Primary reason is that they'll be open and the AH Cafe (as Tracie pointed out) will not be. I'll also recommend the early start on accounta the weather that both Richard and Jim mentioned - its getting warm.

Starting today, high temps along the road are slated to be well into the 50's. That could be good and melt off a lot of the road and mean that people can drive much further up it should they choose. However, it'll mean whatever snow is up there is going to get real soft real quick. Soft snow sucks. Soft, deep snow with full packs sucks donkey balls.

So, back to the (somewhat) early start. I'll continue with the 5am Micky D's meet ideally heading up the road by 5:15-5:20 putting everyone as far up the road as they care to drive with boots and packs on shortly after 6am.

As mentioned in an early post, if we have to walk the road, I'd set LBSL as "base camp." If the road is clear as far as the Portal campground (doubt it would have melted off much higher?) we could consider UBSL or Frog Pond.

Saturday should probably be an early start as well. Forecast highs up high are supposed to be about 30 but with the amount of snow that's supposed to be up there, we don't want the hill below Iceberg Lake moving under us!

Those are my thoughts. Anyone else?

B

Oh, I might suggest the Alabama Hills Cafe for dinner Thursday evening though...

I'm not parking MY car anywhere on that road in these conditions...as much as I hate walking up that with a pack, I think I would hate seeing my car smashed by a boulder even more. I'm not sure where on that road it's safe to park that's above the hairpin turn.

BMan, I sure hope you feel better.

Thanks Tracie.

In point of fact:

Weekdays 0600
Weekends 0700.

BTW, I knew we made the right choice in making BMan the decision maker.

Sorry everyone, but I'm not going to be able to make this one. There was a death in the family and I have a funeral to attend on Friday. I wish I could go but can't do it this time.

Have fun everyone and be safe!

Very sorry, Ryan. Sending thoughts & prayers your way...

I am in hardcore PT right now trying to get my left knee in mountain climbing condition. Very long story short, I saw an Orthopedic Surgeon recently due to serious issues I'd had on steep descents. After viewing x-rays and MRI, he told me verbatim I should not continue climbing mountains and might consider other pastimes. I've had three injuries on my left knee and with the active lifestyle I've lead, my knee is paying the price (regardless, I would not trade one second of my active lifestyle...). My only trouble is coming down the mountain but as you all well know, that is the most important part of climbing... just ask Ed Viesturs. I am staying positive, motivated and believe I will keep climbing. Obviously won't make this MR climb but still planning on Pico de Orizaba. It is my goal to stand with the 'crew' on Orizaba's summit!

Stay safe and only good stories (unless it's an April fools joke)...

Ryan, very sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers out to your family.

MC, hope you heal soon. Get ready for Orizaba!

As for me I'm likely out too. If anything changes I'll check the meeting spots. Hopefully the snow is good until mid to late May so that some hikes (day or overnight) on both the MR and MT are possible.

No way! Who's gonna drag my sorry ass up the mountain?

Packing now. How did a lightweight o'nighter turn into two pages of gear list? I plan to leave from work tomorrow but I may flake and wait 'till Thursday AM if I can't get my stuff together tonight.

I'll check in at the Hostel to see if anyone is hanging around then head up to the Portal Thursday afternoon.

Dude, yeaaaaaa! I"m not even going but I'm going to name this "unofficial climb" The Scolly Climb! Maybe it's contagious??????

Yeti

went up to the store this afternoon. Road is clear of snow up to the lowest camp sites. No go beyond that if you drive.

I walked it - took some pix on the way up:

first obstacle:


the "Big One" above the switchback


this patch of snow seen around 1pm was mostly gone by 4pm
[img]
http://didnt.doit.wisc.edu/outdoor/gallery/forum_pix/portal_hike_1/DSC_0100_melting_patch.jpg[/img]

some smaller boulders higher up


this was the tightest spot on the way up, but the ranger came by in his big pickup and moved one boulder so now it's easier to get through this tightest spot on the road


and here the pavement ends


the store


I'll head back up tomorrow earlier in the day and go higher up the trail. Snow was ok to walk on even late in the day, slushy, but mostly solid enough to carry weight.

I'm hanging at the hostel through tomorrow night. Was going to head up to the Portal some time on Thursday as well. I may be up there before you - look for bright orange in the snow. Not sure where to camp, but I saw a few sites nearly clear of snow along the road, or I may camp near the store, where there is running water.

Peter,

Thanks for checking out the road.

I look forward to hearing stories of those kids on the trail. Give me a call Thursday morning if you want to coordinate.

Jim
dial threeten .sixfarty .sixeleventhree