Mountaingoat, between people posting trip reports here and the
Whitney Portal Store Message Board , you should be able to find all the information you need about current conditions.
There aren't many conditions reports currently because most of the frequent posters here (myself included) haven't been up there recently!
Now, as for your April hike, you are able to hike to Lone Pine Lake on the main trail without a permit. It is just around 3 miles to the lake, starting elevation of 8400 feet at the Portal, and a breath under 10K at the lake. It's a lovely hike to take in the day, especially since you may start your hike in the dark and won't be able to see it. As for snow and ice, who knows what this April may hold. The storm yesterday brought about 5" of snow to Mammoth, but south of here it looks pretty minimal (see the Cottonwood Lakes
snow depth here. Somehow I just don't trust that "spike" of 113"???). So, the trail may be melted out, may be holding a few patches in shaded, north-facing corners, or...
Good luck!
-L
