Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Trail Camp/overnight questions: Ursack? Traffic? Parking?

Hey all, thanks for the wealth of information you folks have posted on whitneyzone. I'm going solo next week (my hiking buddy can't go then) if the weather is ok. I'll stay on the main trail.

Anybody have experience using an Ursack at Trail Camp? I've never been to Mt Whitney but was planning on spending at least one night at TC before summiting. I really do not want to carry a garcia if I can avoid it.

I carried my full pack (~26#) to the summit of White Mountain a few weeks ago to train for Whitney. But of course I want to leave my tent, sleeping bag, stove etc. at TC while I go to the summit with a light load of the 10 essentials. Is it ok to leave stuff at there for the day hike? What about bears, marmots & smaller critters? Also, what time should I leave TC for the summit?

Also, being solo, will there be plenty of other hikers on the trail or is the regular season over? Seems the number of posts has dropped off significantly compared with earlier this summer. Of course I will have gaia GPS on my phone, the Tom Harrison map, compass, and an InReach, but even so I'm not excited about being the only one up there. Hope there will be other hikers.

Where do you park if you have an overnight permit? Or do I have to take a shuttle?

Appreciate any guidance you can offer, thanks!