Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion White Mountain Questions?

Considering hiking White Mountain this Sat for a Mt Whitney warm up hike. Will hike Whitney on Mon. I'm going up this Friday 7/8

Does Grandview campground fill up on the Weekends?
Is there bear activity in the White Mountains? Bear boxes at Grandview?? Can coolers and or food be left in my truck at the trailhead?? I've heard the marmots at the trail head can chew the wiring and hoses on your car. Is this true or is it urban legend? How is the road to the trail head? I have a 4x4.
Thanks in advance for any info.

To answer your questions...

1. Grandview...I've never seen it fill up.
2. Bear Boxes...no, bears are not an issue.
3. Coolers...We've left them in our vehicles.
4. Wires...There are plenty of marmots in that 'hood. I've been up the 3 or 4 times, never used chicken wire to protect my hoses and have never had a problem. The last time up to the trailhead there was a bunch of chicken wire lying around.
5.The Road...It depends on when it was last scraped. Generally, it is good condition because of the research stations. The section above the Patriarch Grove cut off is usually rough.

I've made it up there in a T-Bird but a high clearance vehicle is the prefer mode of transportation.

The marmot problem was around Mineral King. I had marmots chew the handles on my hiking poles on Alta Peak in Sequoia N.P.

Alansdca, please call the White Mtn ranger station in Bishop (760-873-2500) and ask about the road conditions to White Mountain. Could you report back as to when it opened?

Thanks for the info Very helpful.. Found this on another forum. The road seems to be open. Will check with the Bishop ranger station later today.. Thanks

Check the last post
http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum/...age=1#Post85178

I did call bishop ranger station. All I could get is that the road is open to White Mountain.. No info on when it was opened.

You can't count on the Forest Service's recorded messages. A few years ago, we were told there was 10' of one the road above Sierra View. The road was clear to crest of the hill prior dropping down to the Visitors Center.

When all is said and done. You are always better off getting your information from this or other Sierra-oriented boards.

There is also camping allowed at the trailhead. There's not really a campground, but people spend the night before hitting the trail in the morning. I've done it twice. I've never had a problem with marmots there, but I know employees at the research station take steps to prevent damage. If you are only there for 1 day or night, I would not worry about it.

It is an excellent warm up hike, or just camping at the trailhead is good to prepare for Whitney.