Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board The Portal Road. Opening Day, Open or Closed?

Hi, I was wondering if Doug, or some of you guys that spend some time up on MT Whitney early in the season can answer a question. I realize there are many variables in the equation, but what's your rough guess as to when the road will be clear and open up to the Portal store? A buddy of mine got his Whitney overnight permit notice. The bad news is that it's for MAY first. He ask me if I wanted to go with him, and I was wondering what the chances are that the road would be open by then. Any thoughts?
Thanks !!

The road will definalty be open by May. Just a reminder. The road never closes you just have to have a vehicle that can make it through the snow and rock. Thats about it.
Matt

Au contraire -- the road *does* officially close during the winter months. Having a 4WD that can get you around and past the "road closed" sign doesn't change that. There was another post on here recently by a veteran message board member who almost got cited by the CHP for having bypassed the "road closed" sign to drive up to the Portal. See the thread titled "Be careful parking at Portal" for details.

CHP or not this is still the most ignored sign in California.

Bill

If they really wanted to close the road would have a gate completely blocking the road. Most people that climb Whitney during the winter months have a lot of mountaineering experience so they don't have to worry about unprepared people going up there. Unlike in Southern California, when they will close some of the roads due to snow. Thats just my opinion on why the road is not officially closed.
Matt

I've driven beyond the sign myself almost to the Portal in mid-March 2003 (along with everyone else that was up there that day). No gate needed to be official. Everywhere else in the country, a simple "road closed" sign somewhere in the middle of the road is all that is needed, which is the case here.

When we drove up there last March, I do recall keeping one wary eye toward all the overhanging potential rockfall as I drove around all the rocks *already* on the road (many of the rocks already on the ground were large enough to do serious damage to you and your vehicle). All the mountaineering experience in the world won't keep one of these from falling on your car as you're driving to or from the Portal.