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The above picture was taken on Monday the 24th. The location is, of course, at the 6400’ level, about three miles from Whitney Portal. The guidelines seemed a little more insistent than usual, but the Road Closed sign was off to the side, and a way to drive between the dirt berms was obvious. So we went ahead, and climbed Thor Peak. Several other vehicles were parked up there that day.
Thinking the situation was unchanged, three of us then made plans for a Whitney day climb. We drove up last night, intending to car camp at the Portal and get a 6 AM start. But now there was considerably more dirt on the "drivethrough," and the sign was now smack dab in the middle. There was no way to get past without moving the sign, and we didn’t want to do that. Starting up from there was out of the question, so we went home.
Hopefully, this is temporary. Perhaps the roadwork they are currently doing involves men and equipment that can't be operated safely unless they have the area to themselves. Or it could be because of some ongoing film work (we did see some filming trucks lower on the road). If either of these is correct, they should soon take away the dirt and move the sign back where it was.
In the past, the Road Closed sign--placed so as to not block progress--seemed to indicate that you were just being forewarned. Go up at your own risk: If you got snowed in or a boulder fell on your car, don’t depend on the county to bail you out. There used to be a gate just below the first switchback that they closed in winter, but it was removed years ago. If they really wanted to keep you out, the gate would still be there.
But if this is a new "get tough" policy, climbers are terribly inconvenienced and will go elsewhere. In turn, local businesses suffer. And to what end? To keep people from driving on a perfectly good road until stopped by snow? Perhaps someone who lives in the area could speak with someone in charge at the Inyo NF office in Bishop, or CalTrans, and get the real scoop.
There needs to be a way to keep people informed, so they won't spend several needless hours on the road and have their plans ruined. INF could have something analogous to their http://www.dvnha.org/morning_report/Morning.pdf Perhaps Doug could keep us updated via this board. Shining his web cam on this area 24/7 would be better than nothing.
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Afterthought: On Monday there were still a couple of giant boulders on the road, which would require some heavy duty blasting. In this case it makes sense to block the road, to prevent people from driving up outside of working hours and parking too close to the blasting areas. This is a plausible explanation, and I hope it's the case.
Still, there should be a way of making the situation known, so people (like me!) won't make unnecessary drives up and back. And on a different note, I do not understand why the road closure point can't be moved uphill from time to time, as the snow melts and conditions improve.
Last edited by Bob R; 03/29/08 11:52 PM. Reason: An afterthought
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I just called the Easter Sierra Interagency Center to try and gather more information. After finally convincing the guy that it was different the the "winter closure" that you could always drive beyond, he explained he had no idea. He was aware of the dirt berms being there, but not that the road truly was closed for a period of time.
I am flying out next Friday from the Midwest to climb and hope to not have to change my plans. Hopefully somebody in the know can get some better information.
Bob, I love the picture of you sitting by the sign at night...classic.
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In Colorado there are separate legal distinctions between roads that are "Unmaintained, Travel At Your Own Risk" and "Road Closed". The road may be closed to protect you, work crews or the road, but if closed, if you are caught you will be ticketed. Maybe California has too many lawyers to work this out. Instead, California roads that are not being maintained are marked closed, and the state reserves the right to prosecute you to protect the state from liability. Then when there are full closures because the bridge is out or an avalanche has buried the road the sign still says the same thing. I have to give the road crews credit that they do try to place the signs and dirt piles as a legally non-binding hint at which is the case. This ambiguity carries into springtime each year when the road crews come up the Portal road to clear snow and rocks and perform repairs. The best way to tell if this has begun when you make a late night arrival past the closed signs to the top of the road is if there are no cars around, but there were below the sign or if the cars at the top all have tickets on their windshields. Either one would make my very nervous. In the past, there have been reports of ticketing starting a day or two before the roads need to be clear for the work crews. This may be accompanied by viewings of flashing lights on the mountain sides west of Lone Pine. At the end of the work period the road may be opened. The state also plays this cat and mouse game on the road to Bodie. This sign is placed between the locked gate and the 40 foot wide clear dirt pullout that extends on both sides the gate. I don't think vehicles longer than 35 feet from kingpin to axle could get by.  Note that these are functions of our state, not federal government. Be sure to ask the right people. If you find out who they are, please tell us. Isn't California special? Dale B. Dalrymple http://dbdimages.comFor more of what I found past the Bodie sign: http://dbdimages.smugmug.com/gallery/1591637_Cg8ZD/2/142657199_RVHf2
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I was unlucky enough to drive up today thinking I'd be doing a little ski camping. This was a huge BUMMER!! 
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I was unlucky enough to drive up today thinking I'd be doing a little ski camping. This was a huge BUMMER!! ? ? you had to turn back? ? there wasn't enough snow? ? you didn't want to walk an additional 3 miles? ?
Last edited by bsmith; 03/29/08 01:44 PM.
bsmith
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? you didn't want to walk an additional 3 miles?
Other than ski boots, the only shoes I bothered to bring were flip-flops. I wasn't prepared to walk up 3 miles and 2000' vertical feet of dry pavement with overnight gear + skis.
Last edited by romanandrey; 03/29/08 03:06 PM.
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Has anyone been able to find out how long the road will be closed?
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ah, makes sense now. thanks for the clarification. i didn't think there was anyone here who would be of the type to park as close to the front door of the fitness center as possible vs parking out in left field and walking the 'extra' distance.. 
bsmith
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Visitor's Center guy said maybe Monday for the Open date. Gets earlier each year, doesn't it? bsmith -- if you prefer to climb Whitney's 14ers from the closure point, you're hardier stock than me. 
Last edited by romanandrey; 03/29/08 07:11 PM.
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It is not a little thing to start from the bottom of the hill, down by the road closed sign. Having done so during the winter, I would have to say it is a lot harder. It takes 3-4 hours just to get to the portal, where you normally park your car. Add to that the increase in effort for every peak up by Mt. Whitney area in the winter, even if you are fortunate to get up to the area of the Whitney portal campground/ Meysan Lake trailhead. Who wants to start at the bottom of the hill? Certainly not me.
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It is not a little thing to start from the bottom of the hill, down by the road closed sign. Having done so during the winter, I would have to say it is a lot harder. I'll second that. I did exactly that in March of 2006..what a bad idea that was. Pretty demoralizing to walk up that first road switchback. That said though...for someone coming from the east coast it is a good, gradual introduction to the sheer scale of things. I can remember rounding the corner after the road turns up the canyon and saying on the video-tape: "Man..the scale is unbelievable.."  Me at the first pull-off..clueless and smiling..  Chris
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bsmith -- if you prefer to climb Whitney's 14ers from the closure point, you're hardier stock than me. i don't know if that's true or not! i think i got hung up on the word 'prepared'. i dress to drive, and i dress to arrive; ie., prepared for weather conditions in between arrive and destination points as well as weather conditions at the destination point.
bsmith
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It is not a little thing to start from the bottom of the hill, down by the road closed sign. Having done so during the winter, I would have to say it is a lot harder. I'll second that. I did exactly that in March of 2006..what a bad idea that was. Pretty demoralizing to walk up that first road switchback. That said though...for someone coming from the east coast it is a good, gradual introduction to the sheer scale of things. I can remember rounding the corner after the road turns up the canyon and saying on the video-tape: "Man..the scale is unbelievable.." Me at the first pull-off..clueless and smiling.. Chris chris, did ya make it? didn't you adapt to the circumstances? don't ya have some stories? aren't you still alive? sure it's nice to drive right up as far as you can, but if you take the time to go there - and have the time to spend - and you're prepared for come what may - and fully understanding the additional 2k gain and 3 miles length at greater-than-your-normal altitude - why not add the gain and distance? you've come this far! and think of all the other people you won't see! if you're prepared. but that's just me.
bsmith
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bump....
Anyone have any updates....I am heading out and two days and hoping to know what the road situation is before I arrive. I am going to try calling today and see if I can get some info from the visitor's center, but they don't always tend to be in the know.
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On my way up on Sunday (30th) for a climb of Mt. Alice, I stopped at the Lone Pine Visitor Center. The ranger told me that they had hoped to have the road opened late last week, but it didn't happen. Said "maybe Monday or Tuesday; Friday for sure."
And, regarding all that early road work that was done up there last month, it was paid for by Paramount Pictures--shooting a movie of some sort. Thank you, Paramount!
When I have called the Visitor Center looking for information, they have always been very helpful; even transferring my call to the main INF office in Bishop if necessary. But you're right: They don't always have the latest info. The Bishop number is (760) 873-2400 if you want to try them.
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Great Bob, thanks so much for your help. I definitely agree they have always been very pleasant and helpful and I'm sure like many things, it just takes a few extra days for the information to work it's way around.
I am very happy to save a few miles and couple thousand feet at the start of my trip with a full pack.
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So I just got off the phone with the office in Bishop and they didn't have any information and transferred me to the Visitor's Center. They told me that you can't drive around the sign (possibly the usual speech) and the road will be open Mid-May.
I guess the answer you get is totally dependent on who you talk to. I am starting to like the idea of Doug moving the webcam down to the road closed sign......
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When I've inquired in the past, they (the VC) have told me the goal is to have all the trailhead roads open in time for the opening of fishing season. I don't know the exact day, but I think it's in mid-May. So, I was elated when I read Bob R's post about NLT this Friday.
Back to reality, I think. Maybe if Laura reads this and is in the LP area for a client, she will buzz up and check it out.
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Hey, Kevin! Well, no clients in the area at the moment, but I do have a free afternoon today... I'll see what I can do. What did DocRodneyDog call me, the roving reporter?? I'll just talk nice to the work crews and see what info I can dredge out. -L 
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Laura you would be my new hero if you found this out...I am flying out tomorrow and need to mentally prepare to hike that extra distance, I am just too fragile to have that sprung on me when I reach the trailhead Friday morning Anyone else heading up this weekend? My partner and I will be up there Fri-Sun camping at UBSL and summit attempt on Saturday and Carillon on Sunday.
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