Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Thor Peak?

A couple of questions.

This last Monday I was on Thor Peak with a friend. We ascended from Lower Boyscout Lake. Tried to summit Whitney the day before, but due to several bizzare circumstances, got to the gully way too late, and the slushy snow felt like I was walking through cement. That was alright though, because the mountain's not going anywhere, and neither am I. Did Thor Peak the next day, and it was a blast. Great views; which brings me to my question.

I was checking permit availability on the Inyo website, and was wondering if the picture of Whitney on that site was taken from Thor Peak?

My second question relates to day-use permits. Is a day-use permit required for the north fork of lone pine creek, essentially the mountaineer's route. I ask because the last time I was at the visitor's center, the ranger said the overnight permits for the north fork were all taken for July and August. I would love to see "if" I could do the route as a day hike. If so, I could do russell as well without worrying about permits. That's a big "if" though, but worth a try.

Has anyone had the blueberry pie at the Alabama Cafe? My climbing buddy from this last trip said it was great. I need to get some.

Day use permits are required to go above Lower Boy Scout Lake in the North Fork drainage. The permits are the same as the day use permits for the Main Mt. Whitney Trail, so subject to the same quota.

Before last year, day use in the North Fork was unregulated.

Thanks Steve C,

Yeah, I checked with the Visitor Center, and the ranger who answered initially said no day use permit required for the North fork, than I told her I had heard otherwise, and she went and checked, and sure enough she retracted the original statement and said that a day use permit is required. It's essentially out of the same pool as the main trail day use quota. It seems to me like they should be different just like the overnight, considering how many want a permit for the main trail; leaving nothing for those who want to do the MR. But I guess there's probably a good reason for it. Is there?

I might drive down there next week anyway and hope for a cancellation. Or maybe i can do a Hogback drainage around Tulainyo Lake up Russell and along the Whitney-Russell ridge to Whitney. Probably just go to Shasta. No quota I think.

I never understood why MT and MR have the same quota. Tried to get passes for MR and there are not too many slots left. Finally was able to reserve 5 overnight for October--anyway my purpose of this post is to confirm no quota on Shasta.

Also will be there--flying out of LA Thursday for a Friday/Saturday climb.