Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 2025

The Quota System doesn't start until May 1...

There kinda is, but yes, online only... If you miss the initial lottery in Feb, there is a 'secondary' lottery where they release the permits that weren't confirmed/paid for. Check the rec.gov site for Whitney permits you will see a tab that says 'important dates'. So next week April 22 is when that happens. You will need to be cued up & ready to pull the trigger right at 0700 PST they will be gone in 10 mins... If you miss that lottery then you will have to check online every day, or around the time you want to go, during permit season to see what might be available. The problem with that is usually whatever they post is the next day or at best only a few days out. I've been pretty lucky getting permits this way...

Doug went up and checked the Culvert area and the paving is ongoing and looks like most of the equipment used for the project has moved out ,so we could be getting close to THAT section opening. The area above the lower parking lot /first closure was still in place several days ago and active road work above and the Hard closure was in place . Expect that to be the case for the next few days.

We may start working on opening of the store and campground next week , will know more Tuesday.

For the Early May permit hikers plan on snow travel above 10,000' snow is clearing as normal and we should see the ( "'500') a week melt as always the south facing areas will clear very quickly shaded areas very slow to clear and above 12,000 trailcamp the trail is on the side of a north facing slope and will hold snow longer also this area will have a different melt cycle as the snow changes from "state to state" , look it up ! a good read and helps explain mountain weather.

Don't forget jackets and snacks !!

Thank you for the update, Doug Sr.

Hopefully know more Tuesday!

If anyone manages to get a glimpse of the final 400 of the mountaineer's route, please share your findings!

Hi, we secured permits in the unclaimed lottery today for October 25th. Wondering if this time of year is drastically different than early May time frame (so right around now).

We went for the summit last May 5th and the conditions were bluebird day, cold weather, snow for 80% of the hike, crampons, and cold weather gear. Wondering if the weather is similar in late October?

We had issues like frozen camelback tubes and filters but were able to get through that and ultimately ran into one person with altitude sickness at the base of the Switchbacks/the chute.

Wondering if we are in for a similar experience?

Thank you to anyone who has details on this!

Road opened today to lower gate you don't need to use detour

Thanks Doug for the info.

After driving the detour a couple weeks ago, I wasn't about to drive it again.

Any word on the lower gate opening date? I'll probably wait to drive up to Lone Pine until Horseshoe Meadows is open, at least to the last gate.

paul

The lower gate is closed and locked Sign posted on the gate says open April 31 ,

The road crew is working on the road .

Hi everyone! I have never posted on a forum before so hopefully I am doing everything right.

Anyways, I am going to attempt this hike for the first time. I had a group that wanted to join but I was the only one to secure a permit. My permit is for June 27th day use. Ideally, I would like to try and join a group if anyone knows anyone please reach out. I am fairly confident in my hiking abilities, but some company would give me some peace of mind undoubtedly. Happy trails y'all!

Hi bobby hill,

Here are a few thoughts:

(1) Many of the truly motivated members of the group that would like to join you for a day hike on June 27 will likely be able to secure a permit during the next two months.

(2) You note, "some company would give me some peace of mind undoubtedly." Maybe. Be careful who you team up with. Is the group really going to work together as a team?

(3) Assuming the conditions on the mountain are OK, you will always be encountering other folks on the trail the entire day (as well as a few rangers, possibly).

(4) Whether in a group or not, do your homework: Train, acclimatize, do a thorough study of the Trail and the Mountain.

(5) Just before you start, do not hesitate to drop in at the Whitney Portal Store at the Trailhead and ask questions. Also, in the parking lot talk to hikers coming off the Mountain.

Do not hesitate to post a conditions update here after your outing. Others can learn from your observations/experience.

Best,

Jim

Morning hope everyone is well. Looking forward to the upcoming season. Is the Witney road still going to open on time with all the new snow? What about to Horseshoe meadow? We have a Langley trip planned May 26-27 camping at high lake or Long Lake if we can make it. Also have a day hike on Witney Planed for May 29th. I don't think it would be possible or advisable to do Horseshoe Meadow to Witney portal? Any thoughts would be super welcomed. Thanks in advance for any info. Have a great day.

Any updates on trail conditions and remaining snow?

I just run to the top of Mount Whitney today. I departed at 6.30am. Here some updates:
Snow from Bighorn Park (snow patches before) to the summit. Crispy in the morning till 11.00am then slushy.
The road is open and the store as well.
Cheers

If anybody gets eyes on or learns about the current conditions of the final 400 of Mountaineer's route, please share! Heading up in a week.

Bit windy today last person came in and said wind knocked him down twice around trailside meadow , another group left Iceberg yesterday and thought they would be out of the wind near upper but one tent blew apart last night so they came down Portal is gusty and warm for this time of year hitting 60 so we are still having melt on the lower elevation.

Hikers also having high wind at trailcamp and coming down .

THis system may last several more days , high wind and strong gust so check NOAA 7 day forecast click on the map and search 13 miles w/o Lone Pine that gets you the 12,000' weather.

Store and campground open now full food on Thursday

Went up main trail last night to take advantage of that low wind and clear skies window.

Haven’t seen much detailed beta shared this spring so here’s what I saw.

Water crossings are mellow, the one at the top of outpost camp was the most full, but passable on barely submerged rocks.

Off and on snow shenanigans with route and trail finding around Lone Pine lake and Mirror lake. Constant snow past mirror lake. The bootpack stampede continues from there all the way up through trail camp and the chute up to trail crest.

Looked at the switchbacks while going up and down the chute and there doesn’t appear to be bootpack yet. Looks like a few people attempted up as far as the cables then footprints lead from there over to and up the chute.

Chute itself has solid bootpack in several obvious paths. Snow from Lone Pine lake to trail crest is softish from all the late spring snow. Firm but not hard at night, soft in the day but didn’t post hole at all (started 5pm, returned around 11am on account of helping stranded hikers).

Trail from trail crest to Whitney’s boulder slope has solid bootpack the whole way and while there’s some sloped drifts, nothing is too sketchy. Boulder slope has rock and snow with bootpack the whole way to the summit.

It’s still very much rigid boot / crampon / ice axe / helmet season IMO but I was dismayed with the amount of people attempting with running shoes, micro-spikes, and trekking poles or nothing. (I feel like there isn’t the appropriate education around this mountain like Shasta for instance that has public social channels always communicating trail conditions, snow conditions, avalanche warnings, and gear requirements.)

John,

Thanks for this very useful conditions update!

Your observation of the apparent poor preparation of many hikers seems to be a frequent observation. Unfortunately, the consequences can be severe. A year ago this week, a young lady from my small Sacramento Valley city and her boyfriend died on the mountain. And these were not the only fatalities on Mt Whitney last year.

Hope you have a great summer.

Jim

Thanks all for the very informative thread. Hoping someone can help me with a few questions (and apologize in advance if these are somewhere in another thread:
1. How realistic is it to get a day hike pass for two people for a day over the next two weeks?
2. It looks like snow at higher elevation. Would we need snowshoes? Crampons?
3. Any other gear specific for this time of year?
4. We did rim to rim last summer in <11 hours. Plan for a 12 hour day?
5. Anything else that may be helpful for a first time Whitney hiker (both very fit and have done all the >10k foot hikes around SoCal)?

Hi jgoz,

(1) For the next two weeks, there are currently 263 Mt Whitney day hike permits available on rec.gov.

(2) Crampons and an ice axe will likely be needed, as well as solid experience in their use.

(3) I like hiking poles for walking on low angle snow and creek crossings. There is more daylight now, but I would still have extra batteries for my headlamp.

(4) R2R involves walking on an excellent trail with a stop at the half way point for a lemonade and some food at the Phantom Ranch. On Mt Whitney for the next two weeks. there will be lengthy stretches where there will no visible trail and the Whitney Summit Shelter neither sells food nor provisions.

(5) Study and gain a thorough understanding of where you want to go. Be prepared for an unintended overnight bivy on the Mountain.

These are just a few of the things that immediately come to mind. I am sure there are others which could useful. Hopefully, other WPSMB members chime in to give thoughts on your five questions.

When you return from the Mountain, please give an update on conditions. It will be very useful to others. Thanks.

Jim

Jim,

Extremely helpful! Thanks for the response and all on this forum as it is full of great information. I'll definitely share our experience and details about the trail conditions upon our return.

jgoz