Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Anyone Get Permits Yet ???

SoCalHiker: That is my scenario too. I had put in for a solo mid-week day hike with other choices on multiple days (mostly midweek) and no response to this point. I wondered if it could have been lost or if they might just wait and plug in the solo's later on after taking care of multiday requests. Of course, it could be that my app is for the first week of August and it doesn't make much of a difference if I am solo or not if the slots are all gone. ???

On the brighter side, I did get my permit for the Enchantments (Washington state) in the mail.

SoCaHike, since you started this thread, I wondered how you made out. glad to see you got one of your requests. what's unusual is to get a 4 person permit in the busiest month even thought it was sent after the lottery cut-off. guess these things are hard to predict. happy trails.

I wouldn't give up hope. I think they are just running late. Didn't someone say that the FS thought they wouldn't be done until March 30th this year? July 29th (Thurs) was my first pick and I got it. My day permit is for 2 people. I also wonder if they process the overnights first and then move on to the day.

DHMeieio and WAHiker, thanks for the replies! I don't mean to sound like I'm feeling sorry for myself, afterall I did get my group permit. Dean, good luck with a Whitney permit and on your trip to the Enchantments. Although I'm not familiar with them, they sound beautiful! Norweejunwood, have a good summer. You must be a Beatles fan. By the way, "Rubber Soul" is my favorite by the Beatles. I hope you all have some great days on (or off) the trail this year!

I have a question for those who have received permits. I show a bill on my credit card on March 1st from INYO, but have yet to receive my permit dates. Has anyone waited this long between billing and permit receipt? I wouldn't care too much but the portal campsites are filling up fast and I'm afraid that I'm going to end up with a permit and no campsite...

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My card got charged around 2/20 and I received the confirmation mail late last week...I was starting to get worried for the same reason you are...portal campsites.

Is it too early to start begging for space on someone's permit for late August/early September??

Hooray, my card got charged out on the 12th. Now to find out what day they gave me. Whew, happy relief. : )

SanDiegoEric... were you trying to get an overnight permit for first week of August? And did they say that ALL permits were gone for that week?

Still waiting to hear back from Inyo about 4 dayhike permits for Tuesday, August 3.

Can't believe the mid-week dayhike permits could all be gone!

A friend applied as a member of a 12 person group and included me; then I organized a different 10 person group; then a different friend said "we must make sure that we do this" and he included me in a third group of just 4 people (of SoCals). I'm the group leader on just one. All three applications specified 12 3-day periods from about 6/30 to Sept. And each application had a note saying any date will be fine if none of the 12 work. So all 3 groups got drawn and assigned the same 3-day period, Sept. 21, 22, and 23 (I think only one app asked for those days). UNREAL ... What are the odds? Anyway, I'm just stoked that I get to go, and now I have to decide which group to go with. I'm going to acclimatize each of the three weekends before by doing Mt. Conness, Mammoth Mtn, then White Mountain Peak (and maybe a little racqetball in the town of Mammoth Lakes - anyone interested in a game?). Has anyone tried similarly to acclimatize and how effective was it. This is my first Whitney - but I've hiked up to 12,000's with very few problems.

Being too lazy to try and do Whitney from the Portal, I snagged a permit for my Boy Scout Venture Crew doing a semi-loop out of Onion Valleyfrom August 27 to 31st.

Tried calling the reservation office on Feb 26th to see if they would bend on the six month rule, they didn't. So I called at two minutes after 8AM on the 27th.

The REAL problem? EXIT permits. I originally wanted to exit on the 30th, but there were only a few exit permits available. I was only able to get 11 exit permits for the 31st.

Plan on fire, brimstone and a huge fine for anyone not exiting on the proper day.

I'm in the same camp as some of the other folks who have posted. I haven't heard anything yet. I've sent my request in during the 1st week in Feb.

My concern is that someting happend to the fax. I have no way of nowing if they have received the permit application. Does anyone know of a way to confirm?

Someone posted earlier saying that it could be until the end of march until they have processed the lottery permits (a yeh vote or nay vote on my choosen dates).

.... Getting nervous in Chicago

- Jim

Looks like they are still working through the applications as my credit card was charged yesterday (18 March). I had requested an overnight permit for 1 and had given 10 dates between late June and mid-July. Just need the letter now so I can sort out the rest of the plans.

I can't remember the lottery process taking as long in previous years. Would I be right to guess to Forest Service have less staff this year to do the same workload?

Four dayhike permits finally arrived today for August 3. Yippee!

I called the Inyo yesterday to see what was going on. A prerecorded message says they are working hard at processing permits and "hope" to be done by April first. Sounds like they are swamped -- so be patient.

A day hiking permit for August 3rd just arrived. I too called Inyo and heard the prerecorded message that said February requests for permits will be processed until April 1st. Good luck.

Today the confirmation letter came in the mail. I was enthused when I saw the envelope but totally bewildered when I saw the date I was given. I had put in for a day hike on any day of the August week containing the 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th. as it was the week I have vacation for. The day I was given was Monday July 26th, a week early. Now I will try to change everything (vacation time) around to fit that day but this should provide some insight into the reality of getting a permit. I got one, I'm pleased about that, but not on a day I requested. I'm sure they tried to accomodate me and figured that if I wanted it bad enough, this was my opportunity, like it or not. Mt. Whitney, here I come. ; )

Wierd! I just got my first choice for my solo trip in July. As I had posted before, I sent the application for this permit on Feb. 10th. But I got my permit for four for Aug. a week ago, although it was sent in on Feb. 24th. A three week differential, and I still got my first choice. I can't figure it out!?!

I say don't question it, take it and run, run, run.

Just got my permit in the mail today. Myself and three lucky friends will be dayhiking on Mon the 30th of August. I have reserved a campsite for four nights to acclimatize and relax afterwards. Life is good!

Got the "Dear Backpacker" letter. Postmark 3/18.

At least I summitted last year.

Here are the rejects, all for a group of two:
7/27 - 7/30
8/24 - 8/27
8/17 - 8/20
8/3 - 8/6
7/20 - 7/23
7/13 - 7/16
8/24 - 8/26
8/17 - 8/19
8/10 - 8/12
8/3 - 8/5