Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Need help deciding route for trip.. please

Hello,
Unable to get a overnight permit, nor a exit permit for the weekend of September 17. So I am looking for suggestions on a way to pack in close to Whitney and be able to clinb it on day 2, and then pack out nearby Lone Pine.. but not use portal exit. Any trail suggestions suggestions? Thanks so much.
Julie

Plan on walking in and getting the permits you want. My guess is there will be walk-in permits available for Cottonwood Pass, Cottonwood Lakes/New Army Pass or Kearsarge Pass along with the exit permit.

My guess is the most direct way in an out without needing an exit permit is over Army Pass through the Miter Basin over Crabtree Pass down to the lake and then up to Trail Crest before heading to Whitney...then you go back the same way.

Just use what information you get here on other routes as your plan B.

Thank you for your suggestions, which will help us tremendously. Much appreciated..

Hi The Miter basin route is Third class on short sections and limited trail use between the the bottom of New Army and Crabtrre Lakes. Most have trouble doing this route in a day. Most years by Mid Sept. walk in permits should be open for a weekday trip . Thanks Doug

Hi Doug,
You are speaking about a day trip up whitney right? not the overnight permit? You think there would be day trips available for the taking by just showing up in the am on say the friday of that week, like the 17th of September? ..
thanks, Julie Is it better to try the day before, thursday?
just curious..

Hi Try for a walk in permit for over night and if they have one you are in luck but with the option of a day permit Thursday or Friday you odds of a day permit increase .You need to go the day before after 11 AM, also keep checking the permit PAGE ON THE MAIN PAGE and see if any permits show for the days in question. also note the next week of the 28 many days are open. Thanks Doug

thanks Doug, we will try for a overniight.. but would take a day trip if we cant get it.. althought we have never done it in a day.. we would haveto start at like 3 am I suspect. The time period is tight due to my daughter heading back to college that sunday.. and other various things.. Thanks again.. hoping for a burger and fires at the end of it all :-)
Julie