Honestly, we haven't even looked up the route...we really wanted to do a part of the JMT this year and we booked the first available permit......and no....no x-country experience in the Sierras. Our only experience was Mt. Whitney summit last year.
If that is the case, I would strongly discourage you from entering through that route. I'm assuming you didn't go with Kearsarge because there weren't permits available? Either switch in advance if spots open up or get to the permit office the day before and figure out an appropriate trailhead that has walk-ins available. Hopefully let they you keep your Whitney exit when you do that.
