Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney day permit question

Doing a one day summit hike on the 14th and having never done this before was wondering if our group of 8 will each have in their individual possession a permit/tag that we will get the day before when we pick up the permit(s). Or do we need to be in a group when we get checked on the trail? Do we get checked on the way up (in the dark?) or on the way back? Thanks for any information.

Hi. No, just the group leader carries the paperwork, which you will initial and sign at the permit office. I'm not really sure if you need to stay together as a group based on different hiking speeds. In the past every member of the group carried a permit card attached to their pack. Also there is no one there to check you in or out when you are on the trail. Good luck on you and the other members of your group. Have a safe hike.

For what it's worth....... Several weeks ago I was up there and our group became seperated due to various hiking speeds and I was stopped by a ranger around Outppost camp. I was asked for my permit and realized another member who was some distance behind me had it in his pack. I explained this to the ranger, received the "stink eye" and was verbally admonished. While this is a very explainable situation due to the method of permit distribution, a Xerox copy at 8 cents each, might be worth the time and save you some heartache if you're stopped.

P.S. - 2 trips in 2 months. Stopped both times.

Enjoy your trip,

JB

Thanks. I'll keep this in mind as we are sure to break up along the way. They must have contingencies for this as I'm sure this happens all the time when there is a large group on a permit.

I'd hope they do........

Some times they issue individual toe tags and sometimes they do not. All party members are expected to know the group leader name - this can easily be confirmed with a radio "call in".
A good plan is the xerox copy handed out to each of the climbing members - it takes the hassle out of the mix.

By copy do you mean a copy of what was sent out after the lottery confirming the reservation? Or should we copy something we get from the ranger when we pick up the 'real' permit?

You need a copy of the real permit (or permit itself). The one you get in the mail is a reservation that needs to be turned in at the ranger station to get the real permit. Read the whole reservation for details as you may be late to pick up and not be able to get the permit.

I already know to call ahead if you are going to be 'late' to pick up your permit so they'll hold it for you. Just wondered if the reservation was 'proof' enough (for others in the group that aren't the group leader if they get stopped by a ranger) that they could use to call in and verify the valid permit. Anyone know where there's easy access to a copy machine in Lone Pine to copy the 'real' permit?