Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Portal store prices

We were camping at the portal Mon. & Tues. and had breakfast at the Store.

F.Y.I.

Large Pancake $2.78

Large Pancake / Eggs / 2 Sausage patties $5.75

3 eggs / mucho hashbrowns / 2 sausage patties / 4 triangles of toast $6.95

All prices are memorized so might be off a few pennies but very close.

JJBB

Doug's food would be great at twice the price! (but please don't raise your prices... at least until after we give the MR a try tomorrow...)

I don't post very often but I can't pass up an opportunity to give the Dougs and Earlene a pat on the back. The food is great and just what one wants before or after a trip up the hill, and it is so nice to have a last-minute resource for buying the forgotten item.

As far as prices go, can you imagine if someone else operated the store who believed that they can name their price because we have no other choice other than drive to Lone Pine to save ten bucks...or fifteen...or twenty.

Plus, they keep this website, a wonderful resource, up and running for us to get (usually) really useful information I haven't found anywhere else. Plus, they wrote a great book about Whitney history and lore. And it really is one of my favorite parts of the trip to finish by sitting at one of the outside tables and talk with other people and fill my belly with burger and beer.

The Forest Service made the right choice by giving the Thompsons the permit to operate the store and for that I for one say Thank You to the Forest Service and Thank You to the Thompsons.

Are you complaining that the prices are too high??? Are you NUTS????? Considering the remote location of the store, the prices are downright CHEAP!! $5.95 for a GREAT cheeseburger and fries; there must be 1/2 pound of meat in that thing. You know what they charge at the Beverly Hills Hilton for a cheesburger? $18.95.

Why are you buying food there? Because you don't want to drive 30 miles round trip to buy it someplace else, right???? So, on a few items they charge a little bit more and we all get to save a 30 mile drive!! Sounds like a good deal to me.

I've only been to the WPS twice, but I can tell one thing: Those folks are working very very HARD to provide a much needed service. They don't look like they are living in the lap of luxury or anything, but if they are getting wealthy from running the store, I am happy for them.

Stop your griping.

I don't think anyone was complaining about the prices. We greatly enjoyed the cheeseburgers & fries, bargain bear canisters, and especially the hot shower after 3 days on the mountain.

Other people have asked about the food prices at the store and since my well beat up short term memory was still working I thought I would get the prices posted. No complaints here!

JJBB

After enjoying the fries and brewskies after three summits in the last three years, I just want to say that the Store is a ***el and the folks that work there are great and the prices are VERY fair.

the missing word is "***el"

for some reason that word won't spell out so let's try "gem"

There was nothing like ending the 16 1/2 hour day with a beer and the best cheeseburger and fries that exist on the planet.

Trekking poles for only $42.95! Thats about 1/3 of the cost at REI.

The book is awesome! Thanks for signing my copy Doug.

The burger tastes like something you can do at the barbecues provided at Tuttle Creek campground for pennies on the dollars you pay at WPS. However, the fries are as real as can be and should be eaten regularly.

I paid more for a burger and fries in Lone Pine that were not as good as at the store. I found the bear canister price to be about $30 below what REI gets.

I said to Doug at the counter, and I'll say it again. Best burger and fies I've had and reasonably priced.

Was at the Portal this weekend (reached the top Saturday, pix forthcoming). The burger and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale were just the topper we needed for a great weekend. In 'N Out, no. But damn close.

In three summits of Whitney I haven't yet tried Doug's burgers.... next year Doug I promise!!!! If any of you are inclined to try a real mountain aka Mt. Rainier... on the way down try the burgers at the Scale Burger in Elbe... those are great!!! In n Out Burgers are a totally different genre of burger..."Those are good burgers!" to quote John Goodman.... and I agree.... but hand patted and home made...mmmmm hard to beat... I'm already looking forward to next July, Doug:) rick

Adding my two cents worth... The prices for the food are extremely reasonable, however I must comment that although the deal on the pancake meal, which is more than worth it, it really is a waste. The pancakes are ridiculously too damn large. I mean hell, two plates for two monster sized hotcakes falling over the edges. Of course, unless you share them with three-four people most of it goes into the garbage can - it's a crying shame to waste food like that. The meal would still be a reasonable cost with the cakes a quarter of the present size.