Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Ranger Behavior

Here's some food for thought:

I dayhiked Mt. Whitney on Tuesday, 29 July. I started on the old main trail. Within just a few minutes, I passed a ranger. My permit was dangling from my backpack, clearly evident. Yet, just after I passed him, he insisted that I stop, demanded to inspect my permit, and delivered a lecture about wag bags. I was still 2.5 miles from the Whitney Zone. I did have a dayhike permit, but what if I just wanted to hike up to Lone Pine Lake? Should rangers be harassing people far outside the Whitney Zone? I suspect he was just peeved that I passed him...

Hardly harassment. He's just doing what he's supposed to do. Just because you have a permit visible does not mean it's legit, it could have been a permit from last year for all he knew. Lighten up, dont let something like this ruin your hike.

Ahh, but look on the bright side. You didn't get a speeding ticket.

(BTW, how did the work with the little reflectors go?)

I was on the main trail on 22 July. ranger asked for my permit. I had it rolled up in my daisy chain on the outside of my pack. I asked him if I should unroll it so he could see my name, he said "no thats cool, I can see by the color your day hiking" (I was on the way down) we chatted & I was on my way. Girls are always getting out of tickets & lectures HA HA... sorry

They can check your permit anywhere on the trail or in this case, not on the MMWT. This ranger could have said you were out of compliance because you did not start on the MMWT.

I've seen some fool arrested for hassling the faux rangers, so be kind to these people they are only doing what seems to be a thankless job.

The point was that I had barely left the parking lot. I did not need a permit to be where I was, and he did not ask me where I was headed. It felt like being carded on the sidewalk in front of a bar.

Sounds like we could really use the rangers services on our southern border. It's funny, it's 100 times harder to hike to the top of Whitney (permit lotteries, quotas, wag bags, rangers, etc.) than it is to stroll across a border of a country.

Better to be turned around 100 yards up the trail because you don't have a permit rather than between Trail Crest and the summit..lol.. Now that would suck.

Seriously though...I understand you didn't need a permit, etc..etc..but I think the rangers do a great job. Last October when I was camped at Iceberg I met one that was coming down from the Notch. We had a great 10 minute long conversation and he was super-friendly. At the end he said, somewhat sheepishly I might add, that he really should check my permit. I had mine..no problems..and he was off down the trail. I like to see em' out there...

Regards..
Chris

I have been on that trail five times, and have yet to be asked for a permit. Last week when we were camped at Outpost Camp, a ranger came by and chatted with us for a few minutes, and did not ask for our permit. He was friendly, a change from the rangers that I have dealt with at the Lone Pine station, where they seem to have more attitude.

Dude,

It doesn't make a difference where they ask to see your permit. Your response could have been I am going to Lone Pine Lake, I don't need no stinking permit. That would have ended the issue.

I have been "carded" 4 out of six times I have attempted to summit, this does not include winter trips into the Whitney Zone. Of those six one was in May when I did not expect to get "carded".

Hey what would happen if you have as valid permit but leave it in your main pack back at base camp and you get carded at somewhere like trail crest? I almost did this but luckily saw my permit while I was packing my day pack and threw it in.

They could turn you around. However, I you are with your group and they attest to being a member my guess is you would be ok.

I have never been checked above Trail Camp. I have met up with rangers a couple of times while on the way to Whitney in Sequoia and all they wanted to do was talk.

On our trip from HSM to Whitney Portal July 8-12 we were stopped in Crabtree Meadows by Rob the Ranger at CTM and asked if he could see our permit.(First time I've ever been stopped for a permit in the Whitney Zone over the last 10 years) We had one of course but we asked what would happen if we didn't. He said that they could turn us around right on the spot and have us hike back to HSM... WOW!! OR we could pay a $100 fine...not exciting options!