Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Re: Lottery Processing Progress

No, it is now a donation. Something of an expense when you screw someone out of their permit when you send in multiple requests when you onlywant one permit. I bet you got mine. Thanks dude, you got some payback headed your way!

Seriously, is it really on the phone? Seems a bit difficult for the nice people at the Inyo office. Hmmmmm, can you say speed dial?
If anybody knows exactly how this process for the open dates goes, let me know. On their site it says applications can be submitted on a certain date, I don't see "Please call us" on that date.

Got a hit on the credit card, but no official notification yet.
Hope to receive by 4/10.
First time on Whitney and very excited.
This board is great for all the 1st timer info to review.

Here's the latest update from Inyo NF, received yesterday:

Just received the dreaded "Dear Backpacker" letter today 4/09 out here in Pennsylvania. Hmm... What a letdown. At least the unused permit data gives me hope that a walk-up option is quite viable - particularly on Sun - Wed. Lets just hope my hiking partner feels as willing to take a chance on airfare/hotel/etc. for a shot at a walk-in permit.

Drats. I received the rejection letter today here in Orange County. Whether through another route or an unused walk-in permit, I'm making it up anyway.

Brent N.
________________________
"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!"

Well, as I posted Friday my credit card got hit for 2 permits. Today I finally received the confirmation letter. Day hike for 2 on Saturday, July 25th. Good to luck to everyone!

My credit card had been replaced just prior to the lottery due to bank security lapse. Had a call from INYO NF to ask for new card details. I think that means my solo JMT hike is definately on. Did the JMT from north to south last year and was so inspired that I just had to try and repeat starting from the Whitney end. Looking forward to hiking without the sun in my eyes this time!

I just checked my Visa statement for the hundredth time, and as of this morning is shows a $45.00 charge from the USFS, INYO NF. Finally!! It looks like I got my three requested permits. I put in for a dozen different dates, so I'll have to wait to see when we go, but I am looking forward to seeing you all at the top!

White Tundra.

Got my "good to go letter" today. Group of five, day hike on 9-21. If all goes well, I will see you all at the top celebrating my 14th time ontop.

Happy Hiking!

Scott

I got my Dates of July 12th on Wednesday!! I got 2 permits for a day hike up Whitney! I am sooooo excited but have alot of work to do! This is our first time up and we are not been big hikers in the first place... But we are very excited and really looking forward to it!! Hopefully I don't drive you guys nuts asking questions...lol


Brandy

We didn’t get our Whitney Permit. Our family has been planning this “50 Year Anniversary Mount Whitney Hike” for a couple years, and not getting our permit is so disappointing.

I was able to get a Trail Crest permit entering from Kearsarge Pass for a few people, but with my large family (I come from a family of thirteen children) that really limits the number of us that will be able to participate. I don’t think hoping for “walk-ins” is realistic for a group of even 8-10 people.

I’m still planning on doing the N-S JMT this summer, but dates haven’t been set because I was waiting to see what happened with the Whitney Lottery. I’ll be solo, so (hopefully) I shouldn’t have any trouble getting this permit as a walk-in if I'm not able to get a permit in advance.

I’m just really disappointed that we won’t be celebrating this family anniversary on the summit as I had hoped.

Got the rejection letter. Oh well. Next year. I do commend the folks for wading through some 6,000+ applications in such a timely manner. Some of you may think it's an easy job but with what I'm sure is nowadays only a skeleton crew, they did a great job! Thanks guys and I will check the site for what open days there may be.

For those of you who have not received a rejection letter, make sure you check the email address you provided with the application. I received an email saying that there was a problem with my credit card (which I knew; it had been canceled because of a security breach) and to call.

rosabella wrote:
> but with my large family (I come from a family of thirteen children) that really limits the number of us that will be able to participate. I don’t think hoping for “walk-ins” is realistic for a group of even 8-10 people.

My goodness, Rosie, have you looked at the 2008 unused permits page? Look at the mid-week numbers in June and the first half of July! Those are the numbers of unused permits AFTER they gave away permits to every other walk-in person who showed up! I am sure the number of unused permits actually available was considerably higher. I'll bet there are even 15 no-show permits on heavy weekends, only the numbers don't show it, since there are walk-ins that use them up.

If I were in your family, I'd show up on Sunday and see if there are any no-shows left for the current day plus no-shows for the next day. (Also, if there are more requests for the available no-shows than are available, there is a mini-lottery for that day. In this one, multiple family members could get into the drawing.) If you can't get a full group to start on one day, people with early permits could hike in as far as Lone Pine Lake and camp overnight, and wait for the rest of the family to come up the next day. (...they could even descend to the trail head and have breakfast and head back in.) If you gave yourselves three days lead time, you could get the entire group up the trail together.

Go for it!

I totally didn't look there!!! You're right!

I think I was so down after getting the "so sorry" letter, and then looking at the calendar of the “space available dates”, I didn’t think to look at the list that you had posted earlier.

I’m heading down to SoCal on a couple weeks for a family Relay For Life event, so we’ll b able to discuss our options then.

Thanks Steve!

I got my dayhike permits for July 30th. This will be my 7th annual trip to Whitney. See you all there. Whitney Mike

Well, last week Charlie Brown finally got his Valentine er successful permit notice. Last year, on 9/10, I got hit by the afternoon snow storm. The prior two years I was also hit by snow at Trail Camp. This year's dates are 9/23 and 9/24. I sure hope I don't get snowed on again!!!

Dear all

A first timer here! I've seen the hit on my bank statement so I know I've got one of my (many) weekend dates (it's a day hike) that I submitted to the lottery. However living in Canada means that I haven't seen anything through the post yet! Talk about impatient.

I'll be in touch again closer to the time with more questions, the most important for me will be whether to bring crampons / ice axe or not. I'll be watching the condition report closely.. When I'm not watching the mailbox..

Best regards
Jonathan.

The CLMRG requested four dates for mountaineering training outings, and got precisely zippo. These are fun climbing weekends for most of us, but they are very important familiarization exercises for new members. We'll depend on walk-in permits.