Whitney Portal Hostel in Lone Pine is a new launch pad for Mt. Whitney ascents

Doug Thompson, who runs the Whitney Portal Store at the base of Mt. Whitney (and whose cooks churn out those enormous high-altitude pancakes that hikers devour), recently opened the Whitney Portal Hostel in downtown Lone Pine, California.

The hostel is right near Whitney Portal Road, the 13-mile paved roadway to the trail head. (You have to walk the 11 miles with roughly 6,000 feet of gain to the top yourself.)

Backpackers, hikers and general visitors can get a twin bed for $22.40 (including tax) before and/or after scaling the 14,497-foot mountain, high point in the Lower 48, said front-desk attendant Marie Hampton.

The building, at 238 S. Main St., has a fresh, white-washed feel with a big living room area on the ground floor. A room for four costs $89.60, $134.40 for six and $179.20 for eight (all including tax).

Each room has private bathrooms and showers.

The hostel is open year-round and takes bookings 24/7. Info: (760) 876-0030 or go to the Whitney Portal store website and then click on “Message Board” to find pictures and information on the hostel.

– Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times staff writer

[Photo: In the famed switchbacks going up Mt. Whitney / Los Angeles Times]

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 11:00 am by Mary Forgione and is filed under California, Lake Tahoe & Eastern Sierra, Outdoors & Adventure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.