Mt Whitney Zone
Posted By: Nookshneer Current Whitney Portal Road Conditions - 03/01/13 11:20 PM

Looking to get up to the portal near the end of the month. Last I read (Feb 14-16 time frame) the road was drivable with 4 wheel drive up to the Meysen Lakes TH about a mile below the portal.

Anyone taken a drive up since? How far did you get? In 4X4? Chains?

Thanks

Dave
Posted By: Akichow Re: Current Whitney Portal Road Conditions - 03/01/13 11:23 PM
Group of folks going up next week so we'll have a report the week after....
Anyone have an outlook on the road conditions?

Thanks

Dave
Posted By: Akichow Re: Current Whitney Portal Road Conditions - 03/12/13 03:18 AM
Clear to road closed sign. Largely clear but with patches of ice, patches of snow, random rocks after that. Technically driveable with 4wd. Presumably current warming trend may further reduce the patches (but increase rockfall?). Not opining on safety or legality.
Posted By: scott1120 Re: Current Whitney Portal Road Conditions - 03/21/13 04:24 AM
a group of us are headed up on saturday early morning - any idea how the road is? we'll have a 2WD ford f150...
Posted By: Steve C Re: Current Whitney Portal Road Conditions - 03/21/13 04:27 AM
I've been told one can drive to the Portal. There is uncleared rockfall on the road past the closed sign.
Originally Posted By: Akichow
Clear to road closed sign. Largely clear but with patches of ice, patches of snow, random rocks after that. Technically drive-able with 4wd. Presumably current warming trend may further reduce the patches (but increase rockfall?). Not opining on safety or legality.


Akichow - Was there significant rockfall on the portal road when you went up earlier this month? Did you get shuttled up the road with gear to some point? If so how far?

Also driving up early Sat morning I may be able to help out with a ride up as far as I can make it. Have a full car so it may get interesting.

Dave
Posted By: Akichow Re: Current Whitney Portal Road Conditions - 03/22/13 04:55 AM
We where shuttled up the whole way to the TH in 4WD vehicles.

Based on recent TRs by others, sounds like conditions have changed (improved). My info is already out of date.
Elevation, the great outdoor gear shop in Lone Pine (make sure to say hi to Jon and Kastle when you stop in!), posted this update today:

"Onion Valley and Whitney Portal Road Info:

Inyo County Roads Department asked if we would post a reminder to our hikers, skiers, & Etc.

The roads maybe mostly snow free, but are not maintained until the official opening of fishing season, the last weekend of April. Until then, the roads are "Officially Closed."

Any travel on these roads is at your own risk; snow, ice, pot holes, rock fall & slides, and random road closures (Actually blocking the roadway) due to maintenance crews should all be expected.

Between now and the road opening, crews can be expected anytime Monday-Friday, 6:30 am - 4:30 pm with large road maintenance equipment left roadside overnight. As these crews are working to get us access to the places we play, please be conscious and considerate of them.

As always please travel safely and call us for the latest."

So, bottom line, road is closed, travel up at your own risk, and if you get a ticket, don't whine.
Posted By: scott1120 Re: Current Whitney Portal Road Conditions - 03/23/13 04:57 AM
We drove up today in a 2wd. 20 minutes from Lone Pine to the portal! Not a drop of snow or ice on the road. A few tiny rocks. No boulders. Easy driving.
bump
Posted By: Steve C Re: Current Whitney Portal Road Conditions - 12/03/13 04:50 AM
I saw a report from Sierra Elevation on Nov 24 that the recent snow had been cleared. However, read MooseTracks' post above. If the "Road Closed" sign is there, you are on your own if you drive beyond it.

The main points from above:
Originally Posted By: MooseTracks
The roads maybe mostly snow free, but are not maintained until the official opening of fishing season, the last weekend of April. Until then, the roads are "Officially Closed."

Any travel on these roads is at your own risk; snow, ice, pot holes, rock fall & slides, and random road closures (Actually blocking the roadway) due to maintenance crews should all be expected....

So, bottom line, road is closed, travel up at your own risk, and if you get a ticket, don't whine.
The Forest Service website says that the Portal rd is currently closed 4 mi before Whitney Portal.
Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of the condition of the road beyond the Road Closed sign?
Posted By: Steve C Re: Current Whitney Portal Road Conditions - 12/10/13 05:15 PM
I saw Doug from the Whitney Portal Hostel wrote yesterday that fire crews were burning piles of wood this week. That probably means they are using the road at least up to the campground area.
Here's the exact road conditions as of Saturday. Christine and I went up there for a short trip, hoping to get to the Portal, but way too icy, and there is a road closed sign at the first trun up the hill. Lots of deer though!





Posted By: Steve C Re: Current Whitney Portal Road Conditions - 12/17/13 06:03 PM
Road conditions look pretty nice to me. wink
cool

Originally Posted By: quillansculpture


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