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Joined: Nov 2009
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Hi,
I'm thinking of coming up this weekend, Nov 20th, and am wondering about road conditions between Lone Pine and Whitney Portal. I don't have a 4x4, so am I still going to be able to make it? If not are there any alternatives?
Thanks,
Chas
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Hi Doug Jr. drove up today, road crew is patching the road and sealing the cracks so watch out for loose gravel on the road . He said one car in the lots and very cold. Watch the webcam for storms and new snow. Thanks Doug
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Joined: Oct 2009
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I was surprised to just learn from the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center that the roads to Whitney Portal and Onion Valley are still open. The roads are reportedly icy from 6,000 feet (chains and/or snow tires recommended) and will likely stay open for at least two more weeks to accommodate deer hunters.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Hi Doug Jr checked the road yesterday about 1/2 inch of new snow at the Portal .
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Hi Took a run up this afternoon , snow /ice at the Road Closed sign. I made it about 500' past and the road was not looking good so turned around. Temp at 4:30 33 degrees so not much melt since the storm. Thanks Doug
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Legs, or snowmobile...
There's ice at the bottom and deep snow at the top. A couple of vehicles made it up a few hundred feet before being force to turn around.
The part of the road near the upper turnout/viewpoint is starting to melt out, but the rest of the road has anywhere from a few inches to about a foot-and-a-half.
There were two sets of ski tracks heading down the road. No tracks up beyond the Portal though. A week later, the snow that isn't getting sun, or wind, is still like powdered sugar...
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Anyone have a beat on current road conditions? Planning an ascent of the MR this weekend.
Thanks!
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Joined: Jun 2003
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See this... Haven't had a chance to post any photos from last weekend.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Anyone have a beat on current road conditions? Planning an ascent of the MR this weekend.
Thanks! Maybe we'll see you up there, we have 3 people climbing Fri, Sat, Sun. Im hoping the condition are as described in my thread and we can make the Meysan Lakes Trailhead parking area in a chained truck. As I understand it, thats only about a half mile below the trailhead?
Last edited by bwilking; 01/07/10 03:04 PM.
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Ok, someone has to ask. Anyone know what the road is like following the monsoon snowfall???
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Joined: Jun 2003
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People were driving past the Road Closed sign after the storms, but I didn't make the hike up the road I was going to do on Sunday, so I don't know how far up they went.
If I don't get lured to the south this weekend, I'll have an accurate report in a few days.
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I went up the road on the 29th/30th. No one had driven more than 100 yards past the road closed sign. Beyond the first switchback, the snow was at least a foot deep with drifts probably 2-3 feet. I had to break trail the final mile to the portal and continued on the main trail to the Whitney Zone boundary, sinking 6-12 inches in snowshoes most of the way.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Any updates on road condition? I am planning on going up Whitney on the weekend of February 12th... Will I have to do extra 2500ft ascend from the road closed sign @ around 6000ft?
Do you guys know of anyone else climbing Whitney on President's day weekend? I wonder how well traveled the trail is going to be.
My other choice is Mt. Tyndall, it has a bit longer approach but the gain is about 500ft less as opposed to Whitney from 6000ft level. What do you guys think? How much harder would Tyndall be? Is it even possible to do in 3 days?
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Hi Drove to the road closed sign yesterday (6500') , some ice about 1000' before you get to the sign. I wanted to see how much new snow and if a track was in the road. I followed the road about midway up the first switchback and then went up the slope.
It took just over an hour to get to straight section in the canyon (1/2 mile from the Meysan parking area) and a good track is in the road. Very little new snow from the last storm.
Check the photos from a trip we did on 1-03-10 , Gigamike did a map and photos of the road, it looks about the same. I turned around at the point the track goes south on his map +/-7500'. Also on that trip we went up the slope from the sign , but I think with a pack most would make better time staying on the road. That trip I think it took us over 2 hours to get to the trailhead.Thanks Doug
Last edited by Doug Sr; 02/09/10 12:52 PM. Reason: added elevations
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A party of three of us will be heading up from LA Friday night and starting out for Iceberg Lake Saturday morning. Not sure how far up the road we'll get.
The Shepperd's Pass approach to Tyndall is hellish, 10-12 mi if I remember correctly, but well worth the trip. I would suggest including Williamson in your plans as well if you're going to go that route so you won't ever have to hike it again. On the flip side, the Williamson Bowl is much better with snow in it than rock.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Thanks, Doug Sr. A group of friends and I are planning to tackle the MR Feb. 25-28.
Where can I find a link to your 1-3-10 trip photos? I've looked, but haven't found, Gigamike's map and photos.
Thank you!
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Hi Sorry the photo link is on the main forum and is listed as WPSMB photo links,click on Gigamike or any others and the photos will open (a million or more?) Check past winter trip photos and you should get an ideal of the conditions . Thanks doug
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