Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Getting passes for a sold out day in August

Hi fellow hikers,

So the inevitable happened. You spend enough time spinning stories about previous adventures on the Mt Whitney trails and sooner or later you get a group of people that say, "this is the year that they want to summit MT Whitney".

Of course with the quota system being sold out, that pretty much means that I am out of luck unless I can get someone's sage advice on how to pickup the cancelled passes?

The ranger station said that the website shows availability but I cannot find it (the website) anywhere.

Thanks for your help everyone!

Btw, we were wishing to hike up Sat. August 13.

Canuck

Hi, Doug,
There are permits available in late September. I understand that the weather is unpredictable, but do you have a guess as to the conditions for a first timer in late September? We are hoping to catch it (like everyone else) when the trail is clear and before the fall snow.

And, if late September is bad weather-wise, do you have any predictions on the ability to get a walk-in permit in early to mid September (during the week)?
Thank you!

Hi Try mid week after the first week of Sept. and do the walk-in or call and see if any one has turned in permits. Weather that time of the season is from your house the gulf , we get the spin and the water , but the cold air from the north could cause snow when they systems meet. We will have hot days until the first week of Oct. but you never know the days . Thanks Doug

It is entirely within the realm of possibility to get walk-in permits any midweek da,y even in high season. Especially if you are flexible a day in either direction, you may be able to walk in in August. I walked in on a Friday in mid July last year, peak season, and got a permit, as did the ten people on line before me on that particular day.