Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Inyo Creek Fire

Hey guys. I have a permit for overnight through Mt Whitney Portal in June 24/25. Just heard about the Inyo creek fire. Any thoughts on the likelihood of the portal opening back up by then. I’m wondering how seriously I should start contingency planning as I have little experience with how quickly wildfires are managed. Thanks in advance.

Tough to say. Every year or so they seem to get one like this that shuts things down for a few days. You'll have to keep watching. This site also has up to date info usually. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7564/

Good luck.

we have permit for the 30th and are watching developments closely. I requested permit by email on Saturday and haven't received response.

We just got an email that all permits through June 27th are being refunded. We are still hopeful for the 1st but are putting a back up plan in place

UPDATE 6/23/21

It looks like there are two incidents, one activated and one registered as contained according to Cal Fire.

The earliest Alabama Fire is listed at 100% containment, having been knocked down by the CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit a BIG thanks to those lads and lasses cutting line!

The Inyo Creek Fire which is further west and burning amid the hills lists no (perhaps 0%) containment. I imagine those rugged and rocky hills are particularly dangerous to work in. I imagine they are focusing on structure defense where safer to attempt.

Hopeful your July 1st permit will be issued! Wildfire disruptions are so disappointing. Planning a backpacking trip for August. Very worried about wildfires.

Here's a picture posted on Facebook by the owner of the "Mt. Whitney and Lone Pine Campgrounds" page, showing the fire in Lone Pine Creek. [ FB Link ]

Updated as of 43 minutes ago: Inyo Creek Fire is STILL burning, but we have an estimated size of 586 acres with 20% containment.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7564/

Here's a picture posted by a hiker (Sarah G) who was one of the last to exit down the Whitney trail to Whitney Portal. It was reported as taken Monday, June 21, 2021.

Great photo. When was this taken?

Monday, June 21

Just received cancellation for camping spot at the Portal for June 30th to July 1st. "A location closure has been issued for WHITNEY PORTAL from Mon, Jun 28, 2021 - Thu, Jul 1, 2021 due to Fire" We haven't received a cancellation for our July 1 hike but we are pretty pessimistic and bummed at this point.

For those of you watching the closure ...

Same here. My Whitney Portal camping reservation has been cancelled and my money refunded. I have not had my permit cancelled. But that can’t be far behind.

Very sorry folks. That has got to be so very frustrating.

Sorry folks, I know this must be extremely frustrating. My permit is for the 21st, very worried.

Go to Horseshoe Meadows, which is very open, and climb Langley, a very underrated but cool14er! No permits required for a day hike.

I’m actually not feeling TOO bad. The weather forecast is not looking too good for Wednesday. This fire actually got me a full refund on my campsite, which I would NOT have gotten had I just cancelled.

21st of July? You don't think the whitney trail will be opened by then? I ask because my group's permit is for July 8th and we were thinking we'd be okay. Do you think we're going to be cancelled as well?

May be I am too pessimistic.. I suspect the terrain and the strategy below means it will take a while. I hope I am wrong.

My permit for June 30 has been cancelled and my money refunded.

Any updates on your Jul 1st hiking permit? Ours is on Jul 5th and I haven't heard back from them yet on the email check-in

I called in today and they said permits are only canceled up to the 30th and that for now the permits after that are still valid. They recommended calling in on the 30th for an update. Our permits are for the 8th.

If you hear back can you update here? I'm checking frequently to see what others are seeing.

I just got my overnight Whitney permit for July 1st. I sent an e-mail request for the permit last week. Received no reply. Tried calling 760 876-6200 about 10x on Friday, but no one would pick up the phone. Tried the same today with no luck. Finally found note below on one of the forums about picking up permits. After calling 760-873-2483 about 3x I got ahold of Debra and was able to get my permit and answer questions. -Of course no guarantee the permit will not be cancelled if the fire is not out on July 1st. Fingers crossed

"When all else fails, call the Wilderness Permit Office:760-873-2483 then press 0, then let it ring and ring until someone picks up. If it disconnects, repeat the process. The number should be working 8-5 daily."

Inyo Creek Fire:

The current burn acreage is listed at 592 with 80% containment as of 6 PM PT. Looks like they are making some headway!!

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7564/

Same with me for July 5th hike and I was told to watch for the latest updates on fire even though the permit has been issued. I am just wondering how the air quality would be post the fire.

At 80%, I'll bet there is almost nothing left but a few smoldering logs. Based on past fires, the forest service will not declare the fire 100% contained until all mop-up operations are 100% completed. I guess they are trying to be ultra-safe by working that way, maybe making sure a big wind doesn't fan the smoldering remainders into live fires, or something like that. But I kind of wish they would open things up sooner to get things moving. Most people can be mindful of the situation and stay clear of any danger spots, but the agencies don't want to allow anyone access until they declare it over. It's telling that it's ok for hikers who have cars parked at Whitney Portal to hike down and drive down.

Great to see progress. It looks like the road will be closed through Thursday Jul 1st. Have you seen this? https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CAI.../related_files/pict20210528-202307-0.pdf

Called Colleen Pennington. She said the road should be open 6pm Wed June 30th if there are no surprises with regards to lightning or flooding from afternoon thunderstorms.

I received my permit by email for whitney starting July 1st this morning. I went to Mammoth Visitor Center and they told me it wouldn't be any good, but I didn't/don't believe them. I've heard even if road is not open that they might keep trail closed, is that true/false? Most info I've received is unreliable

Good news!

I just called the Wilderness Permit number 760-873-2483, and a Haley answered (after only a few rings!!). She says that Whitney Portal Road opens as of 6 pm today, 6-30-21. All trails will be open as well.

If you plan to hike tonight/tomorrow, good luck with your hike, and pls let us know here how it went.

Steve (and Peter above), my wife and I are going to go for it tomorrow. We've printed our permits and will see how far we can get. Maybe we'll see you on the trail

Whitney portal is open! Witnessed the ranger pick up the cones and all gates are open. Safe travels!

Awesome, good luck with the hike!

Just finished Whitney hike. Left yesterday. Things turned out to be fine. Weather today was perfect. It was a little quiet due to the closure which was nice

Congratulations, please post a Trip Report if you are up to it. There haven't been any in a while due to the fires.

Thank you! We finished it yesterday and it was awesome but it was sad to see the damage that was caused by the fire.