Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney lottery

So the 2021 lottery for permits opened today. I have not looked at the lottery in several years, so it's basically all new to me. As I completed the application the best I can, I see you must state what date(s) you're going in, but not what day you're coming out. Is that how you all read it? Somewhere I read you have to tell them where you are going to camp each night but it's not on the application. Do they ask for all this detail only if you get a date to enter the zone? Can anyone elaborate on the process? Thank you.

Day hike that day so no exit day , overnight it will ask for exit day . Campsite , No campgrounds on the trail so they want you to pick Outpost area or Trailcamp area , but you can camp anywhere execpt Mirror Lake or Trailside Meadow or not on the flowers, away from the trail and away from water . I don't know how you would list a random camp area. Old days it was "x" on the permit. Listing the camp area can help if a rescue is needed or a family problem comes into play.

Go to the Inyo NF page and search both wilderness info and the Whitney info , other than picking up the permit at the visitor center the detail are covered and you can always call the permit office as the final answer.

Are we getting Walk-ins back?

Doug, not to argue, but I tested the application again this morning. I'm very careful to input the "overnight" option. It has not asked for an exit date. Now since I was only testing, I did not go all the way through the checkout or payment process. After choosing your date and overnight option it moves to the checkout process. I'll contact Recreation.gov to verify how it should work.

I don't think so , last year they went to the online system all through REC. gov

Somewhere in the system it will ask for an exit date, Since you do not have a start date maybe it's a moot point to ask, the key is get your application in . Out of 80,000-90,000 application they award about 20,000 You will apply for the lottery not a real permit until you win one of the openings , this is why people apply for up to 15 start days.

I just went through the entire process through to payment and it does not ask for an exit date for the overnight permit. It only asks for trailhead and entry date.

Doug, yes I just confirmed with the Inyo Ranger station, the application only asks for an entry date which will be used in conjunction with the daily trail quotas. If you are chosen for a permit, they will ask you for more information, i.e. itinerary, for the permit process.

As a side note, Receation.gov chat function cannot address questions about the application, thus they referred me to Inyo ranger station at 760-873-2483.

Thanks Mfuller make sure you get the details if you win an opening , many think that first email is a permit and don't confirm the group size etc.... or that they are going.