Tagging onto this thread - a question about pre-Whitney camping. We've done the Whitney trail backpack before, planning in advance: glorious! Just got a last minute opportunity to join someone's 7/4 trip, and I am trying to figure out how to camp 2 nights at altitude beforehand, when we have no camping reservations on a holiday weekend!
1) Would there likely be walk-in campsites (2 tents) available at WP trailhead if arriving before noon on Fri 7/4? There is one night limit, so we would have to stay at Tioga Pass or somewhere along 395 Thu July 3rd.
or:
2) Would there be any first-come first served campsites available in WP or Onion Valley (ie near Whitney and at altitude) arriving midday on Thu 7/03 and staying 2 nights?
I know one cannot predict exactly, just trying to get a sense of what we should do (not averse to dispersed camping if that's the only way). Thank you! I really appreciate the expertise and the stories on these forums - they are addictive!
