Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Help! Writer trying to vet information!

Hello WZ gang,

I am a writer having an awful time vetting information. I've tried contacting NOAA, Mount Whitney Ranger Station, Eastern Sierra Visitor Center, and the US Inter-Agency Visitor Center. I think a combination of federal funding and the time of year is working against me. I found the Doug Thompson/Elisabeth Newbold books: Mount Whitney, Mountain Lore from the Whitney Store, and The Mount Whitney Guide, 30 Years on the Mountain, very helpful, but I still have questions. (I want to call Whitney Portal, but I know they have plenty on their plates right now.) Does anyone have a good source?

Some of my questions:

*Is Trail Crest actually the highest pass in the 48 contiguous states?
*Does the log bridge cross the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek drainage?
*At what angle is the granite drop off from the Cables?
*Where can you see Whitney on the trail?

And I've got plenty more...

Muchas gracias for your attention,
Mary

How do you define "pass"? It's certainly a high pass, not sure if it's the highest.
The log bridge on the Mount Whitney Trail isn't on the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek.
Angle on the granite - probably 45-60 degrees?
You can see Whitney as you get close to the 99 switchbacks

BFR,

Thanks so much for your time and energy in your response. I hiked the trail in 2011 and my memory is a little foggy. I know you can see Whitney from the Switchbacks but I was wondering about Mirror Lake. Also, I read somewhere that the log bridge is over North Fork drainage. If not, do you have any idea what?

Very sincerely,
joinsocal

The log bridge is shortly before the cutoff to Lone Pine Lake as you are ascending from the trailhead.

Lat: 36°34'33.75"N
Lon: 118°15'5.85"W

It's visible on Google Earth. It's not quite 2.5 miles from the trailhead.

Jim C.,

Thanks so much for your time and energy in giving me the coordinates! Do you have any idea where the water is coming from?

Muchas gracias,
J.