Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board How can you tell when you've made it to Trail Camp?

Is there a sign? Is it visible now? Are there any obvious landmarks?

Thanks!

Dan

Unfortunately, I could tell by the aroma. The solar outhouse let you know you had arrived.

There will be a large "pond" to your right and a flat area with a rise to the left. I can't recall any other signs.

PS: Since I now see you are going soon, the odor will probably not be present. the pond will also probably be obscured by snow (others may know - some guy turned around on the backside traverse just last week and will know if water is available at Trail Camp or if melting snow is necessary)

Hopefully, an altimeter that has been calibrated will tell you that Trail Camp is pretty close to the 12,000 foot level give or take maybe a 100 feet.

Good luck

Look at Bob R's <A href="http://members12.clubphoto.com/robert634908/2353168/guest.phtml">photo 39.1</A>. The trail opens up around the lake and you see Trail Crest in the distance (just above the x in the photo).

When you see a bunch of tents, you are at Trail Camp. If you find yourself trudging up a series of 97 switchbacks, you are past it. It would be useful to get a map of the trail and look at the major landmarks: Lone Pine Lake, Bighorn Park, Outpost Camp, Mirror Lake, Trailside Meadows, Consultation Lake, Trail Camp, 97 switchbacks, Trail Crest, John Muir trail junction, the Summit.