Thank you everyone for your helpful replies and insights! Does parking at or close to the trail head have a maximum time of leaving your car there? I might sleep at Horseshoe Meadows on the 27th and then hike up as high as I can on the 28th and go back down to sleep at the Whitney Portal (Climb high, sleep low). I've done a dozen or so 14ners in CO so elevation that high isn't a new experience but acclimatizing in roughly 3 days is a new one so very thankful for everyone's help here in the forum! Side question. Are bears really an issue in the area or is it a "national forest" disclaimer when it comes with bear containers and food? Not trying to be ignorant but just asking.
