Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Road to White Mountain

We are planning on doing a training hike up White Mountain this Saturday. We will be driving up from OC. My question is regarding the condition of White Mountain Road beyond Schulman Grove. Is it passable with a standard passenger car? I have a 4 wheel drive Excursion that I could take up there but I would prefer not to unless it is necessary. Anyone been up there recently? Thanks,

RV

I have seen Volvo sedans up there as well as Honda sedans. Take the Excursion. It will be a bumpy 18 miles. The Excursion can handle it. You may want to opt for the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. At 10,000+ feet and 4.5 miles, it is a good leisurely hike. Saves you 36 miles of wear and tear on your standard passenger car should you decide to take it. If you want, hike the loop twice! It's worth it! I guarantee it!

If you have the time, go all the way to White Mtn. You can sleep in the parking lot at the trail head, get up early the next morning and go for the summit at just over 14,000'. The view from the top is of the entire eastern Sierra and is just breathtaking. Plus, it is great for acclimating. We have done the four mile loop at the Bristlecone Pine area but it is usually quite hot. If you do the hike up White Mtn., remember, there is NO water on the trail. You must pack your own. Last year when we started at 4:00am, the coyotes were howling out there making for a great experience. And yes, take that Excursion. That road can get some serious washboard on some of the hills. Good luck!

I know the road well. You can do it in a passenger car if you take it slow, but both posters above me are right. There are long stretches of bumpy washboard that will be more enjoyable with the Excursion...but you don't need 4WD.

Do White Mountain! It is one of my favorite hikes. Usually pretty quiet trail, especially if you start early. We saw a huge herd of bighorn sheep just shy of the summit last year.

Grandview Campground on road down is a nice place to sleep on your way back. Nice crowd of folks stay up there, and the stars can't be beat.

I would take the Excursion, unless you want to spend a lot of time driving. There were a few cars up there.

White Mtn & Mt Barcroft on Saturday: http://community.webshots.com/album/552703421sQgqPR

I was up there 2 weeks ago and have to agree with the above. I even saw a Mercedes crusing down the road, not that I would recommend that. Lots of bumps on the road. Not the kind that is going to rock your car back and forth, but the kind that will shake you up.

Short answer to will a passenger car make it? Sure, as long as there's no foul weather and the road doesn't get real muddy. When we camped at the trailhead there was noone there.

Hint: Right next to the trailhead, just below the gate, there's a small campsite with a firepit. I don't know what the fire regulations are, so you'll have to check with the rangers prior to going. We didn't know about it until the following morning!

As far as whether to go all the way to White Mountain... definitely. This area is one of the most unique I've seen in California. You get to this huge expanse nearly 12,000 feet above the Owen's Valley with rolling grass fields. Amazing!

Gusto

This board is amazing! Thanks everyone. Excursion it is. I'll pay for the extra gas. I'm really looking forward to seeing this area and hiking up this mountain. Thanks again,

RV

I would also make sure your spare tire is inflated, or you prepared to change a tire. In places the road isn’t just washboard, it is rocky and has been known to slice tires.

If you are going to have an open flame you need to get a permit at the ranger station in Bishop. They are free, and good for at least several days. Make sure you check out those starts at night. White Mtn. has the second clearest atmosphere in the country so you see what is really up there! Have a great time.

> Is it passable with a standard passenger car?

I've been, at least twice, all the way up to Barcroft lab in a Honda Civic. And once up to a
saddle just before the upper bristlecone grove where got a flat. Did manage to get all the way down to Bishop on a sub-size spare. So the road is not that bad although it tends to bite into your tires...

l

All this talk about White Mountain has me wanting to go back.One of my favorites.Thin,clean,crisp air with a nice 14 miler and spectacular views and a night at Grandview star gazing with a near frozen bottle of Patron.Be there in 3 weeks.Have fun all.See you on the mountain.And just drive your car,truck,suv slow and easy,watch for rocks.