Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney Portal Road Closure

I just called the ranger station and the road is now closed at the start of the switchbacks...so about 6 miles out from the trail head. is this normal this early in the winter season?

J

This year two big storms have brought snow early to the portal. I would guess that is the reason the road is closed, not the date on the calendar. Back on the 21st Doug Sr. talked about 1 foot of snow at the portal. Now there is even more.

I did the MR on 9/25 - check out how cold it was then from the pictures of the ice slab and ice waterfalls from among the photos at:

http://members30.clubphoto.com/anthony841532/owner-6d5d-1.phtml

Rather than trudge up 6 miles of snow covered road to get to the portal, can one instead take a snowmobile? If yes, is there a place in Lone Pine to rent one?

Tromping down a snowy road prior to tackling the MR is not my idea of a backwoods idyll.