Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Mountaineers route

You can climb it as long as you don't get caught.
The avalanche danger next week is real though.

I'd definitely call ahead about that gate though. That hike from the valley to Whitney Portal adds an extra day onto the festivities, which means more food.
One way around the gate is to use an electric or gas-powered bike or scooter to blaze (relatively speaking) up the road to the trailhead. Stash it up there then ride it back down when you're done.
Where there's a will, there's a way.