Thanks, Steve C, for the Forester insight.
Grady, here are our planned waypoints for the trip:
Arrive and camp at Onion Valley
1) From Onion Valley, Kearsarge trail over Kearsarge Pass, down to Vidette Meadow and camping at Center Basin Creek.
2) Center Basin Creek, over Forester Pass, camp at Tyndall Frog Ponds.
3) Tyndall Frog Ponds to the PCT/JMT junction above Crabtree, heading eastward on the JMT to Guitar Lake.
4) Guitar Lake, up to Trail Crest, to Whitney summit, back down to Trail Crest, head east on the Whitney main trail and camp at Trail Camp.
5) Trail Camp to Whitney Portal.
Great route. If I were doing it, I would spend the first trail night a mile or so above Center Basin Creek. Spectacular High Sierra views, which you don't get at Center Basin Creek. Then Bighorn Plateau (crowds and no view at Tyndall) and then the tarns above Guitar.
I would also pass up Trail Camp in favor of Consultation Lake.
