Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Double Check First Timer

Hi, I’m new to this portal and to Whitney. I want a double check. I’m fairly competent in winter mountaineering skills, craps, ice axe/self arrest, snowshoes etc. I’m planning a late April climb, and since my climbing buds are busy (or soft), I’m planning on going it alone. Erring to the side of caution, I’m thinking about the Whitney route. My plan is to drive as close to the portal (from what I’ve read I can get there), hike in and set up camp. Spend a day hiking, enjoying the splendor, and getting acclimated. Hit the hay early, depart 3:00 am ish return 6:00pm ish and either hike out or spend another night. I will need a camping permit but if I go prior to 5/1, I do not need a hiking permit. Am I on track? Did I miss anything? Thanks in advance.

You can drive to the Portal, so there is no hiking in/out at this time.

By this time of the year, it's usually warm enought that most snow down low will melt out fairly quickly (unless we have an April Miracle like last year).

If you overnight above the Portal, you're supposed to issue yourself a permit at the Visitor's Center in town (after hours). I believe that it is staffed year-round now, so if you arrive in Lone Pine during business hours, stop in and have them issue you one.

Read the trip reports. From what I'm reading from this past weekend, if you've got the skills, the MR side is easier right now.

Yes, the new Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitors Center is open from 8-5 every day:
If you make it there after they close you can get a self-issue permit by the information booth just down Route 136 past the gate.

Mark, there's no route called the Whitney Route. You have a choice of the Main Trail or the Mountaineer's Route. Do you know which one you want to take?

Hi and thanks for all you responses.
Richard – as a point of clarification, when you say skill, I read the MR as fairly steep, some exposed faces, some ice and snow and some rock scrambling. Is that about right?
When you say the MR is easier, in what way?
Fred – permitting sounds pretty straight forward and I can sort it out. I hate bureaucratic detail and try not to overlook them.
Kurt – thanks for the correction. I was thinking the Main Trail, but am trying to it sort out.
Again any insights are greatly appreciated.

MR requires a few more skills than the Main Trail. Route finding skills are needed as the trip up the North Fork to the actual MR is a climbers trail which lately is much more defined than it used to be, but may still pose some challenges if you are not skilled at route finding.Other than that, your insights are correct in terms of rock scrambling, being comfortable with short sections of exposure, i.e., the ledges, the final 400ft of the MR, possibly some ice, etc.If you are erring on the side of caution, I would probably not do the MR solo.

The main difference right now is that there is a well-defined "boot track" on the MR so that all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. There is no route-finding capability required at this time, if you can follow a "use" trail in the lower NF drainage. If you head up the Main Trail, you will be breaking trail from just beyond Trail Camp up to the summit (unless someone went up after HikerLaura's group).

The MR is technically more challenging, but from a physical standpoint, it is "easier" right now. (There may also be "technical" difficulties on the west side of the crest due to wind-packed snow covering the trail. If that is the case, the difficulties are similar.)

From what I read in you original post, you have the axe and crampon skills required for winter mountaineering.

I doubt there are snow issues west of the crest now.

Also: http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002904#000000