Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board *Daily* Whitney Zone lottery at Ranger Station

Hi, all.
Forgive me for the permit-related question, but I tried the government website via this message board, and everything on the Mountaineer's Route seems to be filled up for a multi-day trip in August/early September. (There are several single days available, but nothing that I saw had a few days in a row.)

For those of you 'in the know,' do you think my chances of getting a permit at the Ranger Station for the MR is pretty good if I'm (1) alone and (2) do the Ranger Station 'lottery' on a Wednesday --> leaving Thursday?

I realize that nothing is certain, but I'm guessing that time of the week and being alone will really help -- but it *will* be in late summer, however.

Again, apologies for the 'permit-related' intrustion, and thanks.

So why do you need many days in a row?

Generally, you just need an "overnight" permit that starts on the day that you want to go on the trail. An overnight permit is good for up to two weeks in the Whitney Zone, I believe. If your plan is to go over the summit and then continue on into Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP, then you still need one "overnight" permit with a start date on the day that you plan to start your hike from the Whitney Portal. Your "overnight" permit is good for as many days/nights as you need it (but only up to two weeks if you remain in the Whitney Zone).