Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Day hike without a permit

After lots of training and preparations, plans changed quickly and my only opportunity to get a day hike in is Thurday 10/6. I have a permit for this Sunday 10/10 however I will not be using it due to the change in plans.
How often do permits open up the day before? What is the fine for hiking without a permit? I have been going to the Sierras since I was a kid and hate the idea of not following wilderness rules, however I have been looking forward to this trip for over 8 months and my heart is set on going up Thursday (with or without a permit).

Very true! LOL I switched the dates on my post on accident. We have plans to go up on the Tuesday but are only available for the Sunday 10/10 (without a permit). Any suggestions? Likelihood of getting caught or cost of fine if we do?
Thanks

The permits are almost certainly available every day, this time of year.

I can never remember the fine, although it gets discussed from time to time. I think $500, escort off the mountain, confiscation of pack/contents, banned from the forest for 5 years....although my memory may be faulty. The Ranger will know, though.

Your mileage may vary

Thanks Ken. Probably safe to say then that even though the calendar shows zero permits available, there's a good chance I can pick up 2?
thanks again

Get a permit. Change plans if you need to. Please don't act like you're above all of this. We all go through the same stuff from time to time. You'll get lots of comments as most of us are adults and follow the rules.

If you plan correctly, make your calls and show up to the visitor center.....you should get permits.

BTW, many people associated with this site know (or are) Rangers. So, your announcement has already notified them.

I appreciate your candidness and respect for following the rules. I am in no way trying to "act like I'm above all of this". As stated in my original post, I have nothing but the highest respect for the Sierras (especially the Eastern) being a location I have had the honor to spend an enormous amount of time in.
I also have nothing to hide from the Rangers and have already been in contact with them regarding my situation (my question started at the Whitney Reservation Center). I am mearly trying to exhaust all means of contact to anyone that might give me advice (this includes this forum where I come to learn more every day).
Thank you for your response and encouragement that I should be able to get a permit. I completely understand that hiking Whitney is an honor and I plan to do it by staying completely within the rules and regulations.

Great response. Yea, I take it a bit personal as I've been fishing, hiking and vacationing in the Sierra's for over 45 years. The permit situation can be a pain, especially if you have a change of plans.....but if you want to summit, you will find a way to get a permit. Get to the Visitor Center early. As someone stated about permits, even though there may be over 90 available (depending on which day you go, they can go quick. Before my summit last year on October 11, I had to get permits for my hike. There were over 90 available when I called. I got there early and got two. By the end of the day, only two were left.
If you are lucky enough to get a permit, be safe.....lots of snow coming.

Hey, if I can pull a permit for 27 successful climbs (plus, who knows how many failed attemts) this year, you can too.

Merlin:

The title of this thread is "Day hike without a permit" and you asked what the fine would be if you got caught. You also said "My heart is set on going up Thursday (with or without a permit)." Any reasonable person would assume that you were planning to ignore the rules if you couldn't get a permit. When quillansculpture pointed out that Rangers monitor this board, you turned around and said you "plan to do it by staying completely within the rules." I'm not sure I believe you.

Fortunately, you'll probably get a permit, so it won't matter.

Merlin, call the Bishop INFS office (760-873-2483) every day this week - twice a day at least - to check on cancellations. The website permit availability numbers are only updated once a week or so - do not rely on them. It means nothing that there are no openings today (Tuesday) - cancellations really begin about 72 hours out. By Thursday or Friday, you should have the permit you need. You'll pay the reservation fee this way, but at least you'll have a bird in the hand.

If you crap out there, be at the Lone Pine InterAgency Center Saturday for the re-distribution process for the Sunday permit no-shows. No fee this way, but chancy.

By the way, that particular day - Sunday 10/10/10 - permits may be in higher demand than normal for this time of the year. See the thread regarding 10/10/10 and Richard P's 100th summit.

If you wind up with no permit, it's your call as to what to do from that point. As QS pointed out, though, you already have INFS rangers reading your post and alerted to your potential plans. A hiker without that colorful permit tag flopping around on their pack is easy to spot. Put your energy into obtaining the permit and you should be fine.

To keep this on an information basis, one can look at the permit availability LAST YEAR.

There were MANY permits that went unused and available every single day of that month, but one, the first sat. All but 3 had double digits.

I can't fathom that you'd have trouble getting one.

I really appreciate the support and encouragement, lots of greats ideas. Definitely looking forward to the trip up the mountain.

I would be really surprised if you didn't land a permit.

If I were a ranger and I caught you up there without one I would let you proceed........after you cleaned up all the used wagbags.

I'm probably the only guy to ever get two tickets on the MT in one day. It's cheaper (or was way back when I got caught) on the SEKI side. Also, if you have a really bad attitude it won't help get out of the second (more expensive) Whitney Zone ticket.

I've learned from my mistakes.

I've have not had a problem in several years just walking in and getting a permit for any day of the week or any time of the year. If they are out of day hikes ask about overnight. You can use an overnight starting the day you're at the Ranger Station (easiest for me to get) or starting the day you planned.

If going that route I assume you would get a "late" start or come home "early". Stretching things a bit, but the rangers know what's up and they have been cool with it when I present it as a back up plan. This time of year you aren't screwing anyone out of an overnight...........................DUG

That is a great idea DUG. Had not thought of the overnight permit option. Little extra money received on their end is well worth it to me. I will definately look into that.

You don't pay for walk in permits. Also, all permits are the same price...................................DUG

The forum and your suggestions really payed off. I was able to pick up two last minute cancelations for this Sunday. Hooray!!! I can not express how much I appreciate those that offered suggestions and options. I'm a VERY happy hiker, summit or not.

I know a few people thought negatively of me from my first post with how I phrased my question (I certainly read some comments and messages suggesting having flawed character traits). I suppose it is just difficult for a select few to remember what it is like to not have experience climbing Whitney and the process involved in "getting all your ducks in a row" for the first trip. My intentions were never to show any disrespect to the application process and certainly not the mountain. Like so many others out there, it changed my life the first time I entered into the Eastern Sierras and will forever charish what I have gained.

That being said I can only hope that next time a member (like myself) posts a question that perhaps is unclear in it's intentions or offenses that they receive the same respect I was given by quillansculpture with a "2nd chance". This forum needs to remain available to the inexperienced as well. To learn, converse, and YES make ignorant questions.

Thank you Mt. Whitney!! I look forward to spending a lot of time with you this Sunday 10/10/10 (a perfect date for my possible first summit)

Merlin, glad to hear you snagged your permit. Best of luck Sunday - like they say, you never forget your first.