Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Air quality?

I have NF permits for Aug 25/26 with the goal of climbing Mt Russell via the east ridge. I’ve been watching the AQI creep up above 150 at Owens Lake on purpleair.com and airnow.gov.

Does anyone have a sense of the air quality at the portal and above the ridgeline/trail-crest?

I was hoping to day hike Williamson afterwards, but the worsening air quality is making me consider canceling/postponing both.

I don't have any current info, but there's no question that it might be very different up high. A couple years ago I had a friend who was going to do a Mt. Shasta climb with a guide service, but they canceled because of wildfire smoke. She ended up going solo and was completely out of the crud once she got above 7000' or 8000'.

Cannot speak to Whitney portal/Russell, but I was at Yosemite Park last week, and while Monday was not too bad, by Thursday the smoke was very thick above 10K. Both Mt. Hoffman and Cathedral Peak were blanketed with smoke. I guess it will depend a lot on the recent wind speed, and direction.
See picture in Photo Gallery.