Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board We made it, too!

Tom R, Tom S, Mike, Dan and me (Bob) from Ridgecrest, and Geno from Alta Vista, reached the summit via the main trail yesterday, the 19th. I took some pictures; see them at http://members12.clubphoto.com/robert634908/1110559 . I even got some shots of Walter R's group: aka the Young Tigers.

But our trip was more liesurely. We took two easy days of snowshoeing to get from just below the Meysan parking spot on the Portal road to the bench around 12,400' above Trail Camp, on the 18th. The weather was beautiful.

As we usually do on this annual outing, we climbed the chute to Trail Crest using crampons and ice axes. Stashing them there, we continued on with ski poles to the summit. Geno and Mike also climbed Mt. Muir. The snow in the chute was just fine for safe and quick glissading back down, and we all took advantage of it. Round trip from camp was 6 hours.

We saw the British guy Walter mentioned. He was going up the chute to Trail Crest about the time we were glissading down. He was wearing running shoes and shorts, no pack, and had a pole like the Black Diamond Whippet/Flicklock. I hope he made it back safely!

Got back to the cars in 3:45 from camp, for a less-than-strenuous 9 1/2 hour day.

Hey Bob,

Great to see you made yet another trip up there. I'm itching to get out that way.

Tom and I went up to do Langley at the beginning of November. We camped out at Cottonwood Lakes. When we woke up the next morning, the snow was REALLY coming down (we thought we had at least another day). Due to our inexperience, and difficulty finding any trail in snow - we headed out.

We then drove out to Death Valley and did Wildrose Peak. The same storm that hit the Sierra's hit DV as we were going up. We got wind blasted like I couldn't believe - barely standing at the top, but made the easy 4 miles to the summit. I have new respect for inclement weather.

How is the road up to Horseshoe Meadows right now? We stashed some stuff in a "special spot" up there and forgot it. I wouldn't mind taking a ride out that way just to see what it's like in the winter.

Your friend,

Scott Driza

Nice to hear from you, Scott. I did Wildrose myself two weeks ago. Upon reaching the summit we kept going north. Climbed over Bald Peak and a couple of other bumps, then headed for the Emigrant Pass road where we had stashed a vehicle. Nike hike. I also climbed Telescope in mid-December. Needed ice ax but not crampons.

I can only guess about the Horseshoe Meadows road since I haven't been there since last fall. But it gets a "road closed" sign like the Portal road does, at about the 5600' level. You can easily drive around the signs.

The difference with the HM road, though, is that there is also a gate - and you can't drive around it. They seem to put the sign up the same time as on the Portal road, but leave the gate open. Later, when snow becomes a real issue, they close and lock the gate.

OK, that's the background. Based on prior years, I'm almost positive that the sign is up now but the gate is probably not yet closed. With 4WD you should be able to drive a few miles past it, but will be stopped by deep snow far short of HM. You could call the Lone Pine Ranger Station - they should know about the gate.

Stay in touch, and especially if you plan to go up Whitney again this summer.

Bob