You might call the White Mtn ranger station 760-873-2500 to check on the conditions of that road. White Mtn. is a good altitude test for you; a long hike on a dirt road.
The Mt. Dana "Hour Glass" chute is pretty straight forward at about class 2, with a long run-out at the bottom. The hardest part might be the approach through the willows from Tioga Pass, which have many confusing deer tracks through them. Nice camping meadow below the chute.
