Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Wag Bag Permit

When I arrived to pick up my day hike permit for two people for July 19, the ranger gave me the usual paper permit and two wag bags. She told me that due to budget cuts, they are no longer issuing permit tags that used to get attached to the outside of your pack. When I told her that our party of two would likely get separated during the hike and that my partner might have a difficult time proving legal hiking status, the ranger told me, "Just show the ranger your wag bag." She said that enforcement is lax. Save your wag bag for another day!

But what if I have to drop a dookie? Should I just leave it in the Whitney Zone so that I can use my wag bag on another date as a de facto permit?

Last weekend we had a group of 8, for the majority of the hike we were on our own. Each of us bumped into at least 2 or 3 ranges. No one ever checked our permit, wag bags or bear canister.

I had my permit checked on July 5 on the main trail. The ranger also checked the status of the two other hikers that were under my permit (i.e. confirmed that they were with me). I saw the ranger check other folks as they meandered through.

Last year I crossed paths with a ranger on the switchbacks, he only asked to see the wag bags. He also turned around the three guys ahead of me since no one in that group was carrying.
I keep a spare in my truck.