Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board getting there

My daughter and I are coming down in late October to climb and I was wondering if anyone knew the best place to fly into from Seattle. I can get to Fresno or would Las Vegas be better? Thanks for the info.

See Picking an airport in the Orientation Notes thread. Las Vegas is pretty popular because there is less traffic congestion (for the number of flights servicing the airport) than in LA. Fresno is a lot harder to get to by air and is on the opposite side of the Sierra Nevada from Lone Pine. (If you look at a map of California, there is no road through the Sierra Nevada between Bakersfield and Manteca. Also, Tioga Pass could be closed by the end of October). I assume that you are not planning a Trans-Sierra backpacking trip on the High Sierra Trail (HST).

Fresno is extremely expensive to fly into because it has so little air traffic -- kind of a vicious cycle. I am heading to Seattle, and I am driving to San Jose to save $$.

If you are coming from Seattle, consider Reno. It is a straight shot south on 395 to Lone Pine, and it will be one of the most scenic drives you will ever take.

Vegas to Lone Pine 4 hrs -
Death Valley views, or even go through Red Rock while you are in Vegas.

Reno to Lone Pine 5 hrs -
agree with Steve. The Owens valley with the snow-capped Sierras is a spectacular drive. Harvey