Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Snow Plows on roads to trailhead ?

If it snows Friday, do they clear the roads to Onion Valley campground and Horseshow Meadows campground ? How often ?Visitors Center said they do, but I'm not sure about that.

thanks

Mike,

I'm not sure it'll be a big issue as far as the roads being closed but they do try to clear them. How often is something I've never been given a good answer on. The Sierra got a little dusting today that I noticed looking up from Bishop. The clouds have started to clear and tomorrow I guess we're supposed to get a little more. If you want to be safe about it throw in your tire chains but my guess is you'll be fine.

Keep checking the Cal Trans web site www.dot.ca.gov or call at (800) 427-road. You can also try the Bishop office of Cal Trans at (760) 872-0601 and see if they can tell you anything.

I hope that helps. Have a great weekend!

Kurt,

How well do they maintain the road'(s) to White Mountain? I plan on driving up to White next Thursday to climb that on Friday as a practice for Whitney on Saturday night/Sunday Morning start?

I have the chains but my guess is that some of the snow will melt between now and then, leaving only mushy conditions in the dirt section at the end of the payment by the Bristle Cone National Forest?

Any thoughts about the road up or the conditions before the observatory?

I don't think they do much plowing up there at all. I just poked my head out of my office and looked up at the Whites and they are socked in. I'm guessing that whatever falls will melt slowly this time of year however I don't expect too much to fall. Our boy dmatt thinks the storm will hover more over the western side of the Sierra leaving less snowfall on the eastern slopes. I'm guessing that means the Whites will receive even less. If dmatt's forecast holds up the temps are supposed to warm up a bit next week and that might help things too.

I'm leaving for Tibet tomorrow night so I won't be of much help to follow up with a report in the aftermath of this system. I'm sure as the time gets closer though someone should be able to chime in and give an update.

Thanks Kurt, enjoy Tibet and all the climbing you plan on doing, be safe and send us pictures whenever you get the chance?

I won't be able to send pics during the trip but afterwards I'll certainly be posting them upon my return!

Have a wonderful trip, Kurt!
How long are you over there?

CaT

I do not know of an instance where I've seen road plowed beyond the winter barrier on Whitney Portal Rd, which is where changes direction from east/west to north/south.

There have been times I have been on the MMWT when it was snowing like crazy and not a flake fell on the Whitney Portal.

Don't know if this helps, but this summer, signs went up on the Glacier Lodge Road "Roads cleared between 8-4". They used to go up earlier if needed. Cal Trans is really good around here about keeping them clear, so I think you'll be okay.

Today the Mts. above Big Pine got a hefty dose of the white stuff. Chalfant got lots of rain, lightning and thunder and as it cooled, the Whites got some snow just before sunset tonight.

Hopefully we get more of this kind of weather - we need the snowpack and rain!

Thanks for posting this Celeste. Some friends and I were thinking of doing Langley tomorrow, and getting an uptodate weather report today has been a bit difficult for some reason. There were flurries on the mountains early, around daybreak, further south, but no real precip.

Kurt the heck with pictures a seminar at A16...mark

I'll be gone about 3 weeks. I'm looking forward to it.



It's already in the works. Look on A16's web site for slide show dates in early November. Of course its another opportunity for a group hike up Baldy too

I'd like to be there to see the slide show, so please add me to your email list or please post it here so we can join you for the occasion and the hike up Baldy. Does the group go up the Ski Hut Trial or the Bear Canyon Trail?

And thanks again for looking out your back door at the weather.

I plan to call Bishop CalTrans on Tuesday for an update of the White Mountain roads.

No worries. I'm always happy to check the local conditions.

Slide show dates and Baldy hike will be posted here and on Mt. Whitney.info. Looking forward to it!