Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Transportation Issues at the Portal

Hello, I am planning a multi day trip from Mineral King to the Portal this Summer, and I have one vehicle. Does any one have any ideas on how to manage this? I was thinking of parking my vehicle at the Trailhead at Mineral King and then trying to get a ride back to the trailhead from the Whitney Portal.
does anyone have any experience with this and have any reccomendations for me?
Thanks for your help

Try Bob Ennis. Great service and he is very flexible.

http://www.mtwhitneyshuttle.com/

The Mt. Whitney Shuttle Service
Shuttle Service for the Eastern Sierra

P.O. Drawer A, Lone Pine, CA 93545

Telephone: 760-876-1915 Best time to call: evenings (Pacific)

e-Mail: info@mountwhitneyshuttle.com

Transportation to and from trailheads in the Eastern Sierras

Thank you very much for that, I appreciate that.I will check this out.

Never park at the Mineral King trailhead unless you want your car hoses and all to be eaten by the cute but voracious Marmots.

Seriously, over the years, I have seen hikers who leave their cars there do a variety of things to prevent the marmots from destroying their cars, ie, place a fence around the car, placing smelly chemicals underneath, etc.

It is much easier to have a car at the end of the trip then have to double back and get your car that was left at the entering trailhead.

I have made that trip several times over the years. Are you going over Sawtooth Pass?

paul

Hi Paul,
To be honest I found this backpack itenary from a person I met on Mt Whitney group on Facebook. He spoke about Franklin Pass to Funston Meadow to Junction Meadow then to the John Muir Trail spending the last night at Guitar Lake. So is the Sawtooth Pass?
I need to become more familiar with the area, obviously.
Any suggestions. I do think I will leave our vehicle at the Portal, makes sense to me, a better Plan.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Julie

here's one idea.

Drop your car off at Whitney Portal, Hitch a ride (or check with the portal store about transport) to Onion Valley, pop over Kearsage Pass down to Roads End (about 20 mi, All down hill after peaking at the pass) hop on the shuttle (or hitchhike) to a campground (I use Lodgepole) and stay the night. Grab the shuttle to trailhead in the AM.

I lilke this because I know my car will be there when I finish, and I don't have to worry about missing a ride. Also, the hike to Roads End is like a little shake down warm up hike.

Hi Julie, there are several routes out of Mineral King and the Franklin Pass route is the most common. Sawtooth Pass, another route (look at a map) is somewhat cross country. There is an unsupported trail; not maintained that leaves Monarch Lake up and over to Columbine Lake. Once at Columbine Lake the trail comes more visible and maintained. This is not to say that the section between Monarch and Columbine is totally void of a route; a lot of hikers travel that route and it is fairly visible.

The Franklin Pass route is a good route and one that will do you well. It is straight forward and well travelled.

The reason that I like the Sawtooth route is that the route takes you through some pretty amazing area: Big and Little five lakes area, Big Arroyo, Moraine (fronts the Kaweah range) Lake down to the Kern.

If you would like more info or share your thoughts on your trip let me know.

Paul

Thank you Paul for your thoughts and information. I will start with a topo map.. learn the route, and if I have any questions I will get back with you. I am getting excited about this!! and its only January :-) My daughter and I have talked of this, (multi day) trip for the past three years we've done Whitney.. the logistics and our ability to get the time have always been the concern.. but now we will just do it!!
thanks so much.
Julie

It would be great to see your itinery once you have decided on dates and camping spots. There are a lot of people on this board who would be more than willing to share information on the trail that you are taking.

Part of the fun for these trips is the planning.

Paul