Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Getting from the Portal back to Horseshoe Meadows?

A small group of 3 hikers would like to try the New Army Pass route instead of the MWT (Been there) to the summit and back down to the portal. We really want to only take one vehicle and cannot seem to overcome the challenge of how we can get back to the car parked at Horseshoe Meadows. Our plan is to summit on Thursday, Sept 24th which would be the same day we would need to return to the car.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I had this same issue a few weeks ago when I did the same trip you have planned. Our solution was to park at the portal then hitch a ride to Horseshoe Meadows. Took us about 15 minutes of waiting to get a ride down to the Horseshoe Meadows turnoff then about 10 minutes of waiting before we caught a ride up to Horseshoe Meadows. By doing the shuttle before the trip, our car was waiting for us and we didn't have to get a ride while we were still stinky from the hike.

Excellent suggestion and I actually hadn't thought of that option.

Thank you

Danny, On another note, how long did you take to complete the hike? Just curious.
Thanks again.

CMACH,

Day 1: Pick up permits in Lone Pine at 8:30, Drive to Portal, hitch to Cottonwood Lakes TH, then hike to Cottonwood lake #3.

Day 2: Climb Army Pass and camp near Rock Creek crossing.

Day 3: Hike to Guitar Lake.

Day 4: Summit Whitney and exit at Portal around 5:00.

-Danny

I recently hitched three rides going from Cottonwood lakes TH to Onion valley. I asked people the night before I needed the ride and found some great people willing to give me a ride to Lone Pine. They relayed an experience where they waited 3 hours for a ride from the junction of the Portal and Cottonwood roads. they finally had to call a service and pay for the ride up to Cottonwood. I also heard this same story from another person on this website.

Definitely leave your car at the end of the trail. Not the start.