[CMCEmail] Whitney Portal Road Reconstruction information

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Thu Jan 28 09:51:50 EST 2016


 
<http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sierrawave/~3/dnZ0cmzLzEI/?utm_source=feedbu
rner&utm_medium=email> Whitney Portal Road Reconstruction information 

Posted: 27 Jan 2016 06:07 PM PST

 

US Forest Service press release

The Whitney Portal Road Reconstruction is planned for the 2016 season under
a funding request from Inyo County. The road will be re-paved and needs
significant repairs for safety.

 
<http://www.sierrawave.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/mountwhitneyclear.jpg>
mountwhitneyclear.jpg

The project begins just west of Lone Pine and ends just east of Whitney
Portal. Whitney Portal is the most popular trailhead on the forest; with
hikers applying, by lottery, to ascend the tallest mountain in the
contiguous United States. Mt Whitney is also the southern terminus of the
John Muir Trail (JMT).

"There is no way to complete this project without having a significant
impact on visitors to the Whitney Portal area," said Ed Armenta, Forest
Supervisor. "The road has only one ingress/egress and the already limited
parking will be much reduced. Accessing the area may be, at times, difficult
and frustrating. Your planning and patience will help complete this very
important project."

Visitors have long used roadside parking as an overflow. During construction
near Whitney Portal, this roadside parking will not be available.
Construction delays will be up to three hours, twice a day.

Visitors to Whitney Portal should anticipate that there may not be a parking
space available. Visitors to Whitney Portal should consider carpooling,
being dropped off by friends, or shuttle services available from the Lone
Pine area.

Visitors who want to hike Mt. Whitney are strongly encouraged to enter the
lottery since walk-in permits will not be issued when parking is
unavailable. Please apply via www.recreation.gov. See attached for tips for
planning your trip to Whitney Portal this year.

###

Accessing Whitney Portal: How To Make it Work . If you do plan to visit
Whitney in the summer of 2016, please pack your patience and carefully plan
your trip to avoid the construction delays and the parking problems. . Check
the construction schedule before you head up to Whitney Portal (Twitter
(@mtwhitneyinfo), at the Interagency Visitor Center (760-876-6222), on the
web
(http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5
150055).

There may be times when delays and parking are little impacted. There may be
periods with 30 minute delays, and two 3-hour delays per day in the peak of
construction.

. Please be prepared that there may not be a parking space available for
you.

. Consider carpooling, being dropped off by friends, or explore local
shuttle services.

. To help alleviate the problem of reduced parking, long-term parking will
not be permitted. No overnight parking is available for anyone not starting
and ending a hike at Whitney Portal. If you are entering or exiting the
Whitney Trail via the Pacific Crest Trail, the High Sierra Trail, the JMT or
other popular long-distance routes, you may not park or stage a vehicle at
the trailhead.

. Long-term parking may be available in Lone Pine. Check with the Lone Pine
Chamber of Commerce (760) 876-4444).

. An alternative to parking and hiking from Whitney Portal is the National
Recreation Trail that connects the Whitney Portal Campground and Lone Pine
Campground to the trailhead. This is an additional four miles of hiking with
an additional 2,400 ft. in elevation gain. Parking is allowed clear of the
roadway.

. All permitted Whitney hikers will receive a day or overnight parking
permit that must be displayed on their vehicle. Whitney overnight hikers
with valid parking passes may park at Whitney Portal for a maximum of 3
nights, if space is available. No day-use parking will be allowed after 8:00
p.m.

. A limited number of well-signed parking spaces will be available for
day-users to the Whitney Portal area who are not hiking to Mt. Whitney.

. Parked vehicles without the required permit, that overstay their limit,
interfere with construction activities, or are unsafely parked will be
towed.

. The Inyo National Forest will honor the efforts of people who apply via
the lottery for a Whitney hike. People who want to hike Whitney in 2016 are
strongly encouraged to use the lottery system for the hike (please apply via
www.recreation.gov).

. Many people who apply via the lottery cannot make the hike for a variety
of personal reasons and the forest has re-issued those permits to "walk-ins"
at the visitor center the day before or the day of for interested hikers.
These walk-ins may not be available in 2016.The forest intends to manage the
limited parking, in part, by limiting the walk-in permits. If there is no
parking, then the walk-in permits will not be issued, or a reduced number
will be issued.

. People who plan to take advantage of the walk-in process need to
understand this option may not be available this year, especially in the
peak of the summer which will likely be when construction is underway near
Whitney Portal.

 

 
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