The first gate is at the base of the hill before the big switchback. Hiking from there is only 3.5 miles, which we've done once or twice. If it's clear enough to get to the second gate (careful of the ice and drifts past the hairpin), you'll only be about 1.6 from the Portal, but passing the first gate via auto puts you in "rulebreaker" domain, and the potential for a citation and the complete lack of any towing or rescue if something goes wrong.