Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Pre-Whitney hikes

We're hiking Whitney from the portal on Tuesday, August 9. Day before we'll take a short hike up at Horseshoe Meadow, but also want to find another nearby 3-5 mile hike at altitude two days in advance. Got suggestions?

People often hike up the Whitney trail to Lone Pine Lake as a warmup. It familiarizes them with the trail start which is often in the dark.

Horseshoe Meadow area has two parking areas and trailheads.

Horseshoe Meadow which as some fine passes not too far in.

Cottonwood Lakes which has several lakes a few miles in, the lakes might be longer than 3-5 miles round trip.

All of the Horseshoe Meadow/Cottonwood Lakes hiking is over 10,000 feet altitude.

Another nice warmup hike is the Tuttle Creak Ashram an easy uphill walk but not at altitude.

Good luck and enjoy you Whitney hike.

Larry,

I like the suggestion of asbufra to start at the TH (8360') and hike up towards Lone Pine Lake (10050'). Some day hikers pass through this area in the dark, both going up AND down the Mountain! The Whitney Portal Store is a few feet from the TH and is Ground Zero for the latest info on the Main Trail and Climbing Routes. Digest the latest info (and maybe a pancake) to develop a strategy for your Mt Whitney hike.

If you want a warm up hike with more solitude, consider hiking up the Meysan Trail in the next canyon to the south. The TH for the Meysan Trail starts in the Family Campground down the Portal Road. There is a pull out on the Road for hikers heading up the Meysan Trail.

I am heading over Kearsarge Pass on August 9 and, like you, will be focusing on the weather forecast/conditions a few days before heading out.

Jim

Horseshoe Meadow is a great option. Another candidate is the nearby Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest out of Big Pine. The Visitor's Center is at 10,000 feet. See their websites for ideas:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5129900

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=70821&actid=50

If you're in the Bishop area you can hike up the trail to Bishop Pass. Long lake is 2 miles from the trail head: 9,800' to 10,800'. If you want a bit more, consider Chocolate peak. Another 1.5 miles, and the peak is 11,600'.

Exited over Bishop Pass Monday evening (four days ago) as "monsoon conditions" were starting to ramp up. Beware! The mosquitos were so fierce along Bishop Creek that I pushed on in the dark to South Lake and slept in the parking lot (near the bear boxes where there was some relief from the mosquitos).

Jim

Thank you all!

Weather forecast seems problematic at this time - thundershowers for the 8th and 9th. Keeping our eyes on it. Any thoughts?

Larry,

In addition to the forecast, other issues are

(1) What is the condition of the trail?

(2) Is the Portal Road open? If so, where can I safely park?

(3) If I can drive up the Road to start my hike, what are the chances the Road will close during my hike (rockfall, mudslide,...)?

(4)Can I find satisfaction in hiking part of the way up the trail and enjoy the awesome scenery, but then turn around? (By the way, this is excellent training and acclimatization.) Maybe return later in the season.

(4) Does the group I am hiking with have a plan (agreed upon before the hike) for contingencies?

I have pushed the start of my hike over Kearsarge Pass back a day from Aug 9 to Aug 10 without disrupting my backcountry objectives. Can you delay your Mt Whitney hike, if the forecast remains unfavorable? On rec.gov Mt Whitney permits are regularly becoming available.

If the weather is unfavorable on Aug, 11 I will cancel. I'm not walking into deteriorating conditions!

A problem for us is when a day or two before the hike the weather forecast is "50/50."Then, perhaps those with marginal fitness, skills, equipment, enthusiasm should defer to a later date. Those who might cautiously start the hike are those who are fit, motivated, and are accustomed to and equipped for operating in adverse conditions (construction worker from Montana, longshoreman from Leningrad, SEKI backcountry ranger).

Let's see how things play out. I guarantee you we are not alone!

Jim

Thanks Jim. All great points to think about. I've summitted Whitney once in two days, and turned back a second time at a ranger's suggestion because of expected 60mph winds on the crest. My motto remains: summitting is optional, a safe return mandatory.

We're a go ... and on time! Have a great hike, and thanks for the wisdom.