Good morning,
I need an advice please. I have a permit for Mt Whitney for June 30 - the plan was to start the hike on Tuesday, around 11pm, in order to reach the summit before noon. Due to Inyo Fire situation, this permit will most likely get cancelled.
As alternative, I am thinking of Mt Langley, one-day hike ( starting at Cottonwood Camp, on Wednesday around 1am ). Questions:
(1) Regarding a permit for a day-hike on Mt Langley : based on post in:
http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/topics/57335/mt-langley-info#Post57335 “...You may stop by the ranger station in lone Pine couple of days before your hike if you can to get the permit..."
seems I could just walk up to this Ranger Station on Monday morning and get permit for Wednesday - correct ?
Also - is there any advance booking method ? I looked at:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=20896&actid=51 but could not find any WEB based booking.
(2) The plan is to drive ( Wednesday, just after midnight ) from Lone Pine according to:
“From Route 395 in Lone Pine, turn west at the traffic light on to Whitney Portal Road. After three miles, turn left on Horseshoe Meadow Road...."
but then, due to the fire:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7564/ “Closures: The Whitney Portal Road is closed at Horseshoe Meadow Road."
Q: does this mean that the closure blocks the rest of Whitney Portal Road towards Whitney Portal, but the turn onto Horseshoe Meadow Road is still open ?
(3) I see there are two routes: New Army Pass and OAP. Any recommendation which one to take ? Or one up, and back the other ( which order ) ?
(4) I will bring crampons, no need for ice axe - correct ?
Looking forward to your comments / opinions,
Best,
magarac
