Whitney Portal Store

11/27/2025

Maybe the last for the season?
Have a great Thanks giving.
Cayden went up and shoveled the roof ,says about 3 feet of crystal snow on the roof ,this type of snow is very dry and drifts very deep as wind blown at the upper elevation.
The car we reported is still in the lower lot,S&R is actively engaged Lower gate is locked ,rock fall just above the lower gate..So adds about 3 1/2 miles to the trailhead but with the snow conditions not consolidated yet would make for very slow travel .Example during a storm like the past It took me 20 minutes from the Portal Bathroom to the store about 75 feet.Once you leave the track and break trail on this powder sugar snow you need to build each step ,snow shoes help but not that much .
Please if you are considering going up to search it is admirable but with the conditions and potential drifts at the upper elevation unless a tent is standing very unlikely to recover or find objects on the ground.I never give up hope and have spent time
searching in the past . The worst case is for more people becoming lost or overdue.
Stay strong knowing that S&R is actively searching and all hoping for a positive outcome.

01/28/2025

ACTION REQUESTED: YARTS has put out their proposed 2025 schedules as part of the agenda for the YARTS Authority Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting on Tuesday and there is one GLARING problem with the 395 schedule. You can send a public comment to the YARTS AAC to see if we can get them to change back to a more convenient schedule.

Here's what YARTS did: For the 395 route from Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite in the morning, in prior years when they cut back from two trips per day to one trip in the fall, they would use the later schedule - the 395-3 run. This schedule proposes using the earlier-in-the-day 395-1 timing in September, which breaks the connection from the ESTA 395 North bus, so you won't be able to do same day travel from Lone Pine to Yosemite Valley. The 395-1 bus departs Mammoth P&R at 6:50 am, but the ESTA bus doesn't arrive until 8:20 am. The 395-3 run schedule leaves Mammoth P&R at 8:50, which provides that same day connection, and is useful for people who park at one end and use the ESTA/YARTS combination to get back to their car in Yosemite or from their car they left in Lone Pine to their start in Yosemite.

WHAT TO DO: Send an email to [email protected] before the close of business on Monday. Ask that the 395-3 schedule be used in September instead of the 395-1 as proposed. Also ask that your email be included as part of the public comments for the YARTS AAC meeting. This is how we get our voices heard on these issues.
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I will say there are some improvements in this years' schedules, namely generally better connectivity to Amtrak, the second bus from Fresno departs after some flights arrive (last year, both Fresno buses departed in the morning before any flights arrived), and the outbound 395-2 bus from Yosemite to Mammoth Lakes has been moved up so that this year you can connect from YARTS 395 to the southbound ESTA 395 to get all the way back to Bishop, Independence, and Lone Pine the same day. Even the first trips of the day trips from Merced and Fresno to the Valley can connect through to ESTA 395 southbound in the evening. If you want to peruse the proposed schedules, the can be found starting on page 20 of this agenda pdf: https://www.mcagov.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01292025-868 The 395 schedules are on pages 26 & 27.

10/30/2024

The lady I am standing with is Kay Ravine she carried out her husband's request to build a hiker campground in the Whitney area.Today marks the opening 2012.
Very light snow this am but the cold air mass moved in. High winds the last few days.

Store closed today for the season,let's look at the pattern of events during the season change over the years April May we will see slips and falls often fatal,Late October this pattern can repeat.

The availability of a permit should be the very last part of a hike this time of the year if you aren't a seasoned high altitude climber,the clothing and gear needed is very critical,most summer or lower elevation gear and clothing will not protect you from the elements .Also the water and food consumption increases which water may only by melting snow or carrying. A day trip for experienced climbers can take extra hours many hours in the dark climbers with less skill will be
at the risk of a night out.

Overnight trips require 4 season gear and most often 3-5 days due to the slow travel with the weight and conditions plus the road can close adding another 8 miles.

Understand the trail will be gone requiring breaking trail for many miles until a track is set you will be route finding plus breaking trail.

Many mountaineers prefer the winter experience ,less or no people and the mountain takes on a true climbing experience with the failed summits or reaching a turnaround point, many the summit is not the goal it could be to ski ,ice climb or train for international travel.

I notice we never sale a book on hypothermia ,my assumption is maybe most know the the subject and are prepared so we don't find them naked laying in the area.

Recall the 11000'-12000' range you enter into a complete different zone above tree line subject to high winds and deep drifts crossing water courses that could be covered with snow and break through

Hiking season has now changed to mountaineering.We may have a warming pattern in the next month but the nights will be cold.

See you on Baldy Nov 9 for the Heroes hike!

08/26/2024

www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/geodetic_survey_1807.html This link will give readers a hint on the elevation of Whitney and a strong background on the history of the Coast and NGS long before GPS and moderen survey tools the fpoundation was set

The United States began geodetic surveys later than most of the world's major countries, yet its achievements in this scientific area are immense and unequaled elsewhere. Most of the work was done by a single agency that began as the Survey of the Coast in 1807, identified as the Coast Survey in 183...

06/29/2024

Doug Jr got this shot as one of the first rains of the season Tuesday afternoon.
We are having hikers showing up with un printed permits and several that did not confirm , so they now have no permit.
Bear about every night now breaking into cars.
Talked with two young ladies that finished the JMT yesterday and groups now coming over the HST .
Summer has started !!

05/08/2024

Story line ... https://t.ly/tNZyS. this should link you into the Whitney Portal Road project ,with maps of detours and the new 30 signs to direct traffic.

05/04/2024

Strong wind started about 1 PM in the Portal ,reports of strong gusts up the mountain,Snow started just now at the Portal ,the photo is looking up to about 10000' and looks like whiteout condition could develop later,temps dropped as the system moved in

05/02/2024

Check the date mid winter 2016 some years very little snow some a little extra . OK so this season a few late storms and followed by warm days , we should see an early melt out on the trail .Oh wait another storm this weekend temps down to 10-12 degees over the week end. Road opened yesterday afternoon , (Mount Whitney Family Campground and walkin campgrounds)campground will open in the morning . , A detour was in place the day the lower section of the Portal road was closed . Store will open Friday and food service will start the following Friday May 10

04/23/2024

Many may know Richard P and Shin from the message board , I just ordered this photo 24x30 ! The reason isn't because it shows the lower switchbacks above trailcamp . The dark area ( lower right )shows the most often turn around point when the switchback area is snow covered , at the end of the cable area the trail makes a serious nearly 180 degree turn. This will be snow and ice and will be a 4'-6' climb , often just above this area the trail will be somewhat clear until the top long switchback to trailcrest. Please look at the thousands of photos on the www.mountwhitneyforum.com Ok so now some hints we suggest when ask about the hike My # 1 is take a jacket and snacks well ok some water and you know other stuff . I always try to calm down stress some people have before the hike , I see studies now about aniexty and high elevation , so this might be something after all . Water understand the need to stay hydrated , and add exhaustion as a factor that can lead to poor judgement . Reaching the summit or the point you turn around is the half way mark , Coming down isn't easy , you are tired , sore and often many hours without sleep/rest .And it could be dark and ice has now formed over the trail that isn't easy to see. The hike should be at the end of a training cycle , might check in with you doctor about past injuries and your overall health. Enjoy the journey !!!!

03/22/2024

Start of the bloom ,just north of Kramer Junction to just north of Ridgecrest

03/16/2024

I see post of hikers getting the Whitney permit notices. recall that this is the first step , read all the details .
Photo is looking up the North Fork and the road going into the campground . I also notice the long list of what if questions , my date is ... each day and each year has an advantage or dis advantage , fires, floods, smoke , road closures , rock fall and perfect weather for weeks no a drop of rain! Recall we are at the southern section of the Sierra and on the east side our rainfall is about 3 inches a year , mountain will get snow every month and high winds , sad fact is no one knows when and how much , this makes planning very basic , expect full winter mountaineering and a turn around long before the summit. The world changes about 12,000' the errors before now will start to create issues, not drinking , eating, change in breathing pattern and going fast , leaving in the middle of the night with little or no sleep and watching the bouncing ball of the head lamp ,throw in very cold a heavy load and the group starting to drift apart, Where is Mike ? Oh he will catch up! These next several months will give you time to do some long shake down hikes 15-20 miles works well testing gear and clothing and how you react after a long hike . Hey it's a long hike and many make it with little trouble Hulda Crooks did it a few times and her last was at a spry 91. Hint watch the we**am on www. mountwhitneyforum.com this gives you a fresh photo about every 10 minutes so you will be able to see the snow clear and and storms move in and out. Hope to see you on the mountain

10/21/2023

The middle photo is what is often the set up, one can see a use trail across the slope what is not obvious is the blue ice under a thin layer of either snow or gravel. The steepness is great and a self arrest is very unlikely.
The other photos are the mountaineers route proper .For novice climbers this looks very intimidating and the inviting slope will appear a bypass or easy alternate.
These photos were sent over from the Park maybe 30 years ago hoping to show the different conditions and help reduce the accidents in this area.
My assumption is each mountain will have a problematic area where many accidents tend to occur, Either weather related as Mount Baldy in the winter season or the big mount Everest at the area known as the Hilary steps or Maroon Bells in Colo for examples.
Compounding the issue is certain condition allow the bypass to be traveled ,advocating this is a viable option ,when the area has snow from a recent storm or mid season and the bypass had a scree cover over hard ice can become the start of a serious fall.
We also see references on the web and printed material suggesting this slope as an option ,if used please understand the conditions and have the needed gear and experience to do this traverse. Thank you