Permit--Number of Days

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Permit--Number of Days #44707 02/04/08 11:34 PM
Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 18 LA, CA, USA avraham Member
avraham Member Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 18 LA, CA, USA	The forest service permit requires an entry for the number of days on the Whitney trail. What happens if we state 2 days, but it takes an extra day to get down, a total of three days?

Re: Permit--Number of Days avraham #44712 02/05/08 01:47 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,446 Studio City, Ca Ken Member
Ken Member Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,446 Studio City, Ca	I've never heard of the FS wanting anyone to put themselves at risk, by going down when it is not advisable to, do to exhaustion or any other reason. I've not heard of anyone getting into trouble this way.

Re: Permit--Number of Days avraham #44715 02/05/08 02:25 AM
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,309 SoCal VersatileFred Member
VersatileFred Member Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,309 SoCal	Originally Posted By Wilderness Permit Optuions 3. An overnight permit can be issued for a period of up to 14 days. To get an overnight permit you have meet the entry quota for the day you plan to enter the designated trailhead. Also, if you do not start on the main Mount Whitney trail and want to exit via the main trail, you will need to meet the exit quota for the day you expect to pass through Trail Crest in addition to the entry quota for your starting trailhead. You will not need to meet the quota for any other days on your hike, but you will be asked to write down your planned overnight locations on the front of your permit when you pick up the permit at the Visitors Center. On the front of your permit there are three columns that you are asked to fill in as you go on your hike. The first two are used to record your planned itinerary (place and date). The third column is used to record the actual date for your stops. You are allowed some variation your itinerary, as long as you meet the general requirements. Orientation Notes for Whitney First Timers

Re: Permit--Number of Days VersatileFred #44716 02/05/08 03:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 1,871 wbtravis5152 Member
wbtravis5152 Member Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 1,871	I've asked this question to the Inyo folks in Lone Pine. And they do not care when you leave the forest up to 14 days. They understand things happen in the wilderness which can change your itinerary. The exception to this is the Trail Crest/Exit permit, for some reason the management expects you to come cross Trail Crest the day you said you would...not a day early because you chewed up more miles than you thought you could or a day late because you were sick...or decided to an unplanned side trip. Mt. Whitney and Eastern Sierra Blog The Mt. Whitney Day Hike and Backpacking Page

Re: Permit--Number of Days wbtravis5152 #44724 02/05/08 06:16 AM
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,309 SoCal VersatileFred Member
VersatileFred Member Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,309 SoCal	Originally Posted By wbtravis5152 The exception to this is the Trail Crest/Exit permit, for some reason the management expects you to come cross Trail Crest the day you said you would...not a day early because you chewed up more miles than you thought you could or a day late because you were sick...or decided to an unplanned side trip. Yes, technically speaking, Trail Crest is a re-entry point into Inyo National Forest so it is treated almost the same as a second hike (on the same permit). The purpose of the exit quota is to limit the number of people bypassing the main trail entry quota by using other Inyo National Forest entry points to get to Whitney. Since it determines whether or not people get permits, it has to be enforced to prevent manipulation of the permit system (and be fair to the people who are denied permits). It does not apply to overnight hikes that originate on the main trail, since the permits are already subject to the main trail entry quota. Orientation Notes for Whitney First Timers

Re: Permit--Number of Days VersatileFred #44752 02/06/08 04:14 AM
Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 1,871 wbtravis5152 Member
wbtravis5152 Member Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 1,871	Yeah Fred, I know the whys for the Trail/Exit permit I just do not agree with the forest on this issue. It's been discussed here in the past and I will go no further with in this thread. This rule only applies to those entering at an INF trailhead other than the MMWT and exit at Whitney Portal. Mt. Whitney and Eastern Sierra Blog The Mt. Whitney Day Hike and Backpacking Page

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