I posted this on the store website, it's the only one of Whitney Zone my mom had from 1956, she doesn't remember going up there, her only memory of Owens Valley was boredom and sleeping through it, glad my grandfather knew of the portal road!



Story behind the photo is this, grandpa decided to take his two daughters and one niece (who took the photo) on a two-week tour from San Diego up to Yosemite for a week, then SF and Oregon then down through Reno and Owens Valley back home. (I found the other slides from Yosemite BTW). By the time they got to Reno my mom's dad had only four dollars left so he went into a casino and came out a couple hours later with enough money for gas back home, on the way back the above photo was taken. Seems like in 1956 you could've gone from Reno to San Diego on $4.

Thanks, Hike of Your Life. And here's the same spot in 2011. This big rock (bigger than the Whitney Portal Store) is just past the store on the road that loops around and down to the day-use parking.

If you compare this picture with the one above, you can see the lense/crack in the upper right area.
(Click for a larger view)


Another picture.


I took these to show the beginning of the old trail, which still is easily followed, and connects to the main trail just after it crosses the North Fork Lone Pine Creek.

Thanks for the "after" pics, that is interesting. I've never ventured past the Portal Store so wasn't aware of an old trailhead. But, an old trail is evident from above, don't know why it was abandoned, I wish it weren't because that last stretch from N. Fork to new trailhead seems like 10 miles after 17 hours' day hike to the summit!

discussion about the old trail.

http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/topics/15657/Old_Trail_Trailhead#Post15657

Here is a follow-up photo from the same slide set as the trailhead photo. That's a '56 Pontiac Chieftain.

Hike of your Life, that is a great picture.

I moved your picture to follow the picture you posted earlier.

Does anyone recognize the peak in the picture?

My first guess is the Tressider Peak area. I think the Pontiac is staged along Hwy 120 in the Lake Tenaya area. We need some more eyes.

Steve, what is Lone Pine Peak?

Correct!

Boo yeah!

Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

BTW, nice Pontiac!