Mt Whitney Zone Forums Thread Like Summary - Saw most people on MR with foam pads on packs

Since it is only snow camping up there, those are probably supplemental and backup pads right?

Portal road has been open since Weds I think. Grabbed a Mountaineering Route permit (Thurs as Fri-Sun were gone). Top lots still closed but completely cleared (waiting for trash collection/bathroom cleaning services to start?). Went up to Lower Boy Scout Lake with dog. Continuous snow starts less than a quarter mile from N Lone Pine Creek junction. Zero acclimitation, altitude nausea as usual, was going to acclimitize on the mountain.

Stupid XTherm Max air pad had a leak and I blamed my dog. I get frightened when she does her go in a circle nesting behavior on my air mattress. But the leak turned out to be a slash on the bottom of the mattress. Now I am confused, did I pop it tearing down my camp a few years ago? I did not want to go up to Iceburg Lake for an extended stay with a leaky mattress so aborted my trip. Plus, altitude nausea was still in effect (even with Diamox).

So now I am thinking that relying on an air mattress on snow is not very smart. Especially with a dog in the tent.

If you use a lower R value pad for 85% of your trips, it's way easier/cheaper ot add a $40-50 closed cell pad to that to get to your 5-6 r value for snow compared to buying a whole separate pad that is 5.5+ R value for something you don't use as frequently. Also - the closed cell makes a fantastic big sit pad for eating/resting/etc when on snow to give some insulation and waterproofing when cooking/eating/relaxing outside the tent. I bring a short length closed cell pad on even my summer trips to use more as a big sit pad than insulation at night just because it's comfy to have a little cush to sit on and keep myself out of the dirt in camp each night.