Given the lack of cell coverage on Whitney, what would be the best way to call for help?
I believe that you can get a cell signal from the Whitney Portal, but it may depend on which carrier. The signal may not be entirely reliable. Perhaps someone knows what the current cell situation is there.
That means, you may have to be in Lone Pine to report anything. You would call the Inyo County sheriff since in California it is the sheriff who has the authority to call out search and rescue. Reporting anything to the Portal Store will get you a stern lecture that there are no rescue capabilities there although they may have better cell equipment and could get a call out.
