Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Whitney longer distance without lottery permit

I am trying to do a longer distance backpack trip this summer. I've abandoned hope of trying to get a lottery permit having tried several times in the past. Is there a legal way to do Whitney via a longer backpacking trip that doesn't necessitate getting a lottery permit?
What distances would we be talking about?
Like is there a 30 or 50 mile approach option where the mountain can be included without having to get a lottery permit?
Thanks a lot, Spence.

HI Spence,
A great 5-6 day backpacking hike is the High Sierra Trail. Starts
on the west side of the Sierra's at Crescent Meadow. They hold I think
5 permits daily for walkin's. It ends at Mt. whitney or the portal depending on who's descrip. you read. about 70 miles. Good water,
bear boxes, etc. Check it out. I live in Agoura and do a one way rental to Visalia. I don't know if the shuttle bus is running yet? The transportation between between west and east are the issues. Unless of course you turn around at Whitney and go back to the start...
Happy Hiking.
Rick

Thanks a lot Rick!
I worry that the walk-in quota will be full.
This is what makes planning for a trip out there so tedious, you never know if you're going to be able to go or not. And when one is coming from a very long distance, it makes it all so unpredictable.

Isn't there a trailhead within a 30-50 miles radius where a hiker can just self-issue a wilderness permit that eventually gets to Whitney?

I don't know what your available time slots are, but I presume you've
looked at all the available permits around other trails (Inyo National forest) on the recreation.gov site. I believe some allow you to exit Mt. Whitney. FYI, I never had a problem with getting a walkin permit at the Lodgepole Visitor Center for Sequoia/Kings Canyon trails. You could come after the quota season on Whitney, but be prepared for snow.
Best Regards,
Rick

I'd consider Horseshoe Meadows to Cottonwood Pass to Crabtree Meadows (takes me 2 days if I'm not on a time crunch cause I'm in later 60's and getting slower). Then summit on day 3. Then either retrace back to Horseshoe Meadows on days 4 & 5. Or go north to Forester Pass and then exit Kearsarge Pass to Onion Valley. Or you can start At Onion Valley instead. If you don't like to walk through snow you might consider skipping Forester Pass for next few weeks. I find both of these routes both more enjoyable and more scenic than the Main Mt Whitney Trail.

And walk in passes are usually easy to get for Horseshoe Meadows or Onion Valley. Especially if you carefully look at trail head options for Onion Valley.

Thanks a lot you all. I really appreciate the info.
I think I'll go in from the south via Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney and then see if I can get an exit pass down to Whitney Portal. Looks to be about 38 miles total and eliminates the onerous lottery.

Have you considered starting from the Onion Valley Trailhead? It is a great adventure going over Kearsarge Pass and then jump onto the southbound JMT, crossing the 13,000+foot Forester Pass and hiking to Whitney... three day hike or a more leisurely 4 day...

Horseshoe Meadows and then to Trail Pass (no quotas). Can intercept PCT at Trail Pass and go from there, or continue down to Bullfrog Meadow>Tunnel Meadow> Golden Trout Creek then north to Big Whitney Meadow, Siberian Outpost, Miter Basin or whatever.

The no-quota Trail Pass permit doesn’t allow you to immediately head northbound on the PCT. If that’s your plan you should try for a Cottonwood Pass permit. I don’t know how much time or mileage you are expected to spend in the Golden Trout Wilderness before heading NOBO.