I just received this information:
The winter closure is lifted, the Inyo County Road Department has confirmed the road to Whitney Portal is open, subject to construction delays.
Inyo staff was up to the portal yesterday (Wednesday evening, Apr 13) and verified:
A construction pilot car is leading groups through construction zone between Movie Rd. and Horseshoe Meadow Rd. They are reducing the slope of road banks just west of the road crossing over the creek.
There is a Big pile of rocks at pull-out by the winter road closed sign from rock removal last week. Equipment is still there.
There is still a little snow at the portal area, but almost snow free. NFLP (Mountaineers Route) hikers indicated they encountered snow after 1st stream crossing. Snow was rotten, and they sank to top of thighs down low. They turned around at base of the Mountaineers Route (at Iceberg Lake) due to deep fresh snow in chute. They had crampons/ice axe, but said they wished they had brought snow shoes this time.
Some mosquitoes are already out.
