Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Permits Check

Last year this wasn't an issue for us because our group all planned on summiting and we all hiked at a similar speed.

This year we have a larger group. Part of the group (including both the group leader and alternate leader) are not planning on summiting and will likely only go to trail camp or possibly trail crest at the furthest.

Is this going to be a problem as far our permit goes? If we get stopped by a ranger are we going to be sent back to the trailhead if our group/alt leader isn't with us?

I was told at the Visitor Center (without asking) that, should your group separate on the trail, you show your wag bag (used or unused ) to the ranger and simply provide the leader's name and approximate location.

How they're supposed to enforce that particular method isn't really clear nor is it our problem. They seem to be extremely lax this year and last...

Edit: It may not hurt to have the ones going to the summit carry the permit, regardless of whether they're the leader or alternate.

Thanks for the help.

Do the rangers ask for photo id or just to see the permit?

Just to see the permit, no ID requested. The rules are that the trip leader is supposed to have the permit, though, as I recall. I asked the rangers (both at the interagency permit office and the ranger who stopped us) what happens when the parties split up. They said that every member just needs to know the name of the trip leader. You can confirm when you pick your permit up.