Easiest place to acclimate in Sierra at 12k, 13k, or 14k?

[395guy]

I'll be attempting Iztaccihuatl (17,800') and Orizaba (18,491') in Mexico. Before flying to Mexico City, I'd like to spend the previous weekend acclimating somewhere "easily" (relatively speaking) accessible in the Sierra Nevada, maybe as high as 14,000... but at least 12,000' or 13,000'.

Since White Mountain is probably the most easily accessible 14er, are you allowed to camp up there? I know you can camp at the Barcroft Gate trailhead (11,670'), but are you allowed to camp further up the road to the peak?

Are there any other "easier" places to get to high altitude in SoCal?

The only place at somewhat high altitude near the LA area is the summit of San Gorgonio. I think you can camp with an overnight permit up there behind the stone walls.

Other suggestions?

[Yank-Tank]

Just go hike Whitney over a couple of days. It doesn't get much easier than that.

[phydeux]

Yes, you can camp at the top of White Mtn. I've done it before. The two issues would be water (is there any snow up there right now?), and weather (lots of t-storms roll in around summer/fall).

Are you doing Izta and Orizaba at this time of the year? Its the rainy season down in Central Mexico right now. The better time to climb them is from late October to MArch

[stinkysox77]

Mt. Langley (14k') out of Horseshoe Meadows is pretty easy. You can drive up to 10k' and then hike up and camp anywhere above that on your way to Langley. The only potential red tape would be the NPS border above the cottonwood lakes basin, I'm not sure where that is or if the backcountry permit you pick up from the forest service covers camping in the national park. As far as white mountain is concerned that's just national forest land so camping is allowed anywhere except for the restrictions that apply within the bristle cone pine forest.

[sierraman]

You can drive to 10,000' at Horseshoe Meadows, Rock Creek (Little Lakes Valley) or Tioga Pass. Going higher from there to camp is no problem, except for the snow.

[fedak]

The drive to 12k at White is my usual go-to for easy derivable acclimation.

There's no water or services at the Barcroft Gate trailhead, but you can sleep in your car or throw down a tent/bag w/o issue