Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Saw most people on MR with foam pads on packs

Since it is only snow camping up there, those are probably supplemental and backup pads right?

Portal road has been open since Weds I think. Grabbed a Mountaineering Route permit (Thurs as Fri-Sun were gone). Top lots still closed but completely cleared (waiting for trash collection/bathroom cleaning services to start?). Went up to Lower Boy Scout Lake with dog. Continuous snow starts less than a quarter mile from N Lone Pine Creek junction. Zero acclimitation, altitude nausea as usual, was going to acclimitize on the mountain.

Stupid XTherm Max air pad had a leak and I blamed my dog. I get frightened when she does her go in a circle nesting behavior on my air mattress. But the leak turned out to be a slash on the bottom of the mattress. Now I am confused, did I pop it tearing down my camp a few years ago? I did not want to go up to Iceburg Lake for an extended stay with a leaky mattress so aborted my trip. Plus, altitude nausea was still in effect (even with Diamox).

So now I am thinking that relying on an air mattress on snow is not very smart. Especially with a dog in the tent.