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

The "hill from hell" at the Cables turned me back on almost this exact date last year (went back on July 1 and it was gone). My question is this: I'm going up this Saturday and curious how cut the steps are now getting around/over that spot? Last year, the boot path stayed close to the edge (not scary for many but I wasn't comfortable), and am curious if you feel someone with a moderate (healthy) fear of sketchy situations will be able get past this one? I'll have all the necessary gear.

We are a party of 5 coming up from the JMT and descending to Whitney Portal on 6/28. Please post your observations on the cables/ice. We have several new backpackers in the group and don't want to attempt the cables unless they are safe for novice hikers with microspikes (if needed) and trekking poles. We will alert them to the exposure on the cables. Good picture of the cables posted recently. It will be much appreciated if you can let us know when you get off the mtn.

A couple of photos of New Army Pass:


From Long Lake.



Same as it ever was...About the same as what I encountered last summer...Didn't go all the way up because of sore feet and Hokas...wasn't about to try and kick steps with those shoes...If I recall correctly, it's about 25-30' of snow and then a few easy bouldering moves to get up...

Only a few remaining snowfields below...the major PITA was at Long Lake...Loads on muddy trail, too...

A couple of comments from the peanut gallery:
-The "technical" moves described are going to be that much more difficult with an overnight pack on vs. a daypack...
-It was 71 degrees at nearly 10k' yesterday at about 6:00pm yesterday...ice/snow can't survive these conditions for very long...

Not sure where he fell but I suspect on the switchbacks. Hope he makes a full recovery.
https://signalscv.com/2025/06/hart-high-student-suffers-fall-at-mount-whitney-fighting-for-life/

That's the day I was up there finishing up my Cottonwood Pass to Whitney trip...
I pretty sure I saw them as I was heading down towards the JMT Junction...
I hope he gets well.

I had read that it was in the area of the ten or so switchbacks between the Whitney Zone sign and just before you reach Bighorn Park. The helicopter recovered him at Lone Pine Lake.

We often go up at night and this is the first area that I have to start being more attentive to my steps.

Praying for a full recovery. Had to be an incredible thing to do with your child and to see it end like this is tragic.

Yes, hoping for a full recovery. Sad accident.

The photo looks strange. His ice axe should be in his uphill hand, even if he is left-handed. His grip on the head should be further forward. I would have a trekking pole in the other hand, myself, and no leash. Perhaps it was lack of experience, perhaps it was the disorientation his father described.

If they were on the descent from Bighorn Park, there was no snow involved...

Injury on Mt Whitney
At 7:58PM on June 10, Inyo Search & Rescue (SAR) received a call from hikers on Mt Whitney.
The group reported that they had been on their way down in the dark when one of them seemingly walked off a switchback and tumbled 300 feet down a steep slope. They stated that he was bleeding and in a very altered mental state. The location of the incident was on Mt Whitney’s Main Trail, along the steep switchbacks between Lone Pine Lake and Outpost Camp – 3.25 miles from the trailhead.
Inyo SAR assembled 8 rescuers in Bishop, while CHP Inland Air Operations mobilized their helicopter H-80 in Apple Valley.
They all met at the Lone Pine airport at 10:30PM, then 2 rescuers were flown to Lone Pine Lake from where they hiked uphill towards the incident site. Meanwhile, 4 rescuers made their way up on foot, bringing a wheeled litter, just in case the helicopter rescue didn’t work out. 2 rescuers stayed behind at the airport to coordinate all field groups.
Inyo SAR reached the subject at 00:06AM and assessed the patient’s injuries before transferring him into a full-body splint and a SKED (a lightweight litter). Due to the seriousness of the injuries, they decided that an immediate evacuation was important. Thanks to a few bystanders who helped with carrying the litter, they brought the patient to the helicopter at Lone Pine Lake by 1:10AM.
At 1:19AM, H-80 landed at Lone Pine airport and transferred the patient to an ambulance by Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department who took him to Southern Inyo Hospital.
All 6 field rescuers hiked to Whitney Portal and returned to Bishop by about 4:00AM.
We’d like to thank all bystanders who helped with this rescue and wish the patient a speedy recovery.
Please note that we don’t know what lead to the subject’s accident and speculations won’t help anybody. Always be prepared to spend a lot more time out there than you bargained for – accidents can happen to anyone.
Inyo SAR is an all-volunteer, professional nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization operating in cooperation with and under the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office. Our ability to provide life-saving search and rescue services depends on generous donations. Inyosar.com