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Primitive camping near whitney portal?

Original Post
C C · · Mammoth Lakes, CA · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 77

I'm planning a trip this summer and I'm definitely looking forward to climbing at whitney portal.. any good primitive(free ) camping that is close to the climbing?

ze dirtbag · · Tahoe · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 50

alabama hills

W L · · NEVADASTAN · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 851

Bama Hills is definitely the ticket, as are some of the dirt USFS roads that wander off of some of the roads out there - park in a pullout and bandit camp there.

C C · · Mammoth Lakes, CA · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 77

Sweet, thanks guys!

J. Albers · · Colorado · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 1,926

Whoa, whoa hold up.

You can count me as someone who nearly always bandit camps on obscure forest service roads, but my understanding is that the Alabama Hills have some real problems as far as access is concerned. In short, that place has been abused pretty bad over the years (mostly by non-climbers) and as such, the Forest Service has banned camping out there. Because of this, I am not so sure that is wise to be suggesting that folks bandit camp out there because of the potential problems it could generate for future climber access. Moreover, keep in mind that because of the huge popularity of the Mount Whitney area with the general public, you can expect that the local Forest Service personnel are going to be far more militant about enforcement than they would be a ways further northward (e.g. Bishop, June Lake).

Perhaps Russ Walling or one of the other locals can chime in here and comment on how serious you should take my concerns. If I were you, I would find out more info from a knowledgeable local before camping down there and causing problems. Whenever I am bandit camping down there, I make sure to drive a ways away from the Portal and head into the desert. Less convenient? Yes. But maybe a wise choice.

Locals?

W L · · NEVADASTAN · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 851

^ ^ ^ when did this change? I thought there were particular areas, not nestled directly among the formations but the general vicinity, that it was OK to do so. If this is in fact the case, then disregard my comment and simply head for USFS/BLM roads in the desert and find a pullout as suggested above.

ze dirtbag · · Tahoe · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 50

i didn't see any signs in the fall, is it certain areas or the whole thing?

jofrri · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 0

Tuttle Creek Campgrounnd in Alabama Hills. Not free but it's only $5 / night and doesn't compromise area access.

J. Albers · · Colorado · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 1,926
ze_dirtbag wrote:i didn't see any signs in the fall, is it certain areas or the whole thing?
I hear what you are saying, but just like with camp fires during a fire ban, the FS rules state that you should make yourself aware of all rules by checking their website or stopping in....they can't sign the whole area after all.

To answer Weston's question, I am basing my information largely off my recollection of what Peter Croft wrote in his guidebook for the Portal. I can't check right now because my book is at home, but if I recall, Croft made a fairly direct statement about the fact that ALL of the Alabama Hills are closed to camping. Again though, someone should verify my understanding so that I am not giving out inaccurate advice.

On the plus side, enjoy the Portal Christian, its a fricking amazing place.
Cheers.
Eric Seidman · · Santa Barbara, CA · Joined May 2013 · Points: 15

3 of us camped in Alabama Hills in February with no problems. We saw plenty of other parties there as well, climbers and nonclimbers. I knew another group that went in March, and once again there weren't any problems.

From first hand experience, I can agree with J. Albers that people don't always treat the land there the way it should be treated. We came up on a non-climbing LA contingent that left with the firepit still smoking with embers... We put it out and cleaned up their area after we realized they weren't coming back.

I believe the BLM's policy in Alabama Hills is the same as camping off of Buttermilk Road: it's recommended that you don't, but if you do, keep the parties small and leave no trace (which should go without saying anywhere...)

We packed out everything. Everything.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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