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

Joe Gentry, did you see any bank activity before you got the confirm in the mail?

Nothing yet for me (credit card).

Joe;
So, you actually got the notification from the parks dept with the dates you were awarded?

I just got my confirmation in the mail as well for August 24-26. Looks like things are running smoothly in the permit office.

Spinefxr, did you see a hit on your credit card BEFORE you received the hard copy in the mail? In the past I've always seen a credit card hit weeks before I received the hard copy

WhitRat, Spinefixr was the first to report a hit -- see his post from 2/25. I think he gets the award for being the first to report.

Maybe the rangers at the permit office said the heck with it since it was a "mild" winter and decided to issue our RCs for FREE!

I know...wishful thinking...

He gets a free Doug pancake.

Yes, I got the notification from the parks dept telling me my two days that I got for my overnight hike. I got my first choice.

I paid by check so therefore no credit card charge for me.

<h3> Lottery status report</h3>Today I asked for and received a status report from the Inyo NF staff working on the lottery.

First of all, processing is going much better than before, primarily due to the no-fax rule and special lottery application form. They are working with a staff of 5 this year, compared to 9 last year.

So far, 4575 apps have been accepted. 275 applications were not accepted due to:
incorrect application form or no application form used
not sent by mail during February
payment not included
incomplete or illegible information

Over 1600 reservations have been made, and 71 already rejected due to dates being full. (Reject letters have not been sent yet.) Overnight spots in August are nearly full already.

Thanks for that update Steve C. I have yet to see any CC hit. In years past when I haven't been able to get an advance permit, I have been successful by just going to the LP ranger station and waiting for no shows. It's worked every time.

But did it work the first day? Or did you have to hang out a few days at the ranger station before you got a no show you could use?

Misery loves company. Sorry but I am glad some of you experienced lottery trekkers haven't received notification or CC hits yet either. I am going through that self doubt thingy where I am beginning to worry that I made some stupid typo on the form or forgot to sign the check or any other miriad of stupid application errors.

Hey Joel..In the 6 years that I have been hiking Whitney when I don't get my spot on the lotto I just go to the ranger station and for me the few times that I've done this I have never been turned down for day hike or overnite.

Your best bet is on 3 day weekends where people have to put in for their permits so far ahead of time that things come up and they can't make it.
I have done one summer 3 day weekend and I will not do another it's like a zoo and circus up there... I did not put in for a permit this year, I am planning on going up in april and a summer overnite no moon hike during the week..

Weekdays are the easiest to do a walkin to the ranger station. Keep eye on this sites calender for open spots when they get a cancellation they put it on the calender, so people please if you can't make a trip call in to the ranger station to cancell to give someone else a chance.
I guess that I have been lucky..

Good luck... mark

Reading this, I feel better now!

Patience, patience, patience. No hits on my card as yet, but I left easy instructions on the app, I'm sure I'll get at least a part of what I need.

In the mean time, off to the Shoe Tree in Middlegate, NV, and a little hiking in Austin, NV, trying to revive the Pony Express in my mind.

Sparks, NV to Mt Whitney or bust

Do they limit the number of people ENTERING per day?
Or do the count the number of people ON THE MOUTAIN/TRAIL based on when you leave and for how many days you put down?

The daily trailhead entry quotas are listed at Entry Quotas , and the maximum group size is 15 people.

Hey Joel Baldwin,

My walk up successes (4) have all been on the first day but always later in the season (late Sept/early Oct).

They do limit overnighters to 50 a day and day hikers to 100 per day.

A quick edit: My reply applies to entering on the main Mt. whitney Trail otherwise known as 'MMWT'

I'm surprised that Bob R hasn't chimed in with his success rate for walk-in permits. I know the percentage is very high.

For myself, I've never failed to get a walk-in permit, including one for the North Fork during the Fourth of July weekend in 2000. A high number have been for one-days and a few for overnights on the Main Trail.

i got my notification by mail for june5-june10. got it on thur. so stoked. cant wait to go

No credit card charge, no paper confirm. Really getting bummed. I live in PA and can't gamble a walk-in. Not getting any younger.

Mailed it certified on Feb 1st. Received Feb 5th. Listed about 10 alternate dates from mid-August to mid-September for an overnight (none of them weekends). What's a guy gotta do to get a permit?