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#11578 03/31/04 05:41 PM
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Hey Everybody....
I'm looking for info on High Sierra Trail permits.
I hadn't even heard of this trail until recently and now I've decided to change my Sept. Whitney dayhike plans and thru hike the High Sierra trail. What do I need permit wise and where can I get the permit. Do I still need a Whitney permit if coming from the backside of the mountain?
As a side note....
If I can make the High trail plans workout, then I'll have a spot available at the Portal Campground in Sept. if anyone is interested. I have spot 43(great spot) reserved from Sept. 12-16.
I'll keep you all posted if I decide not to use that spot.
Thanks

#11579 03/31/04 06:05 PM
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Try the following address to get info about the trail and permits. Permits are issued from Lodgepole Visitor's Center in Sequoia NP. I don't recall there was any problem getting the Whitney stamp when we went a couple of years ago. It's a great trail and by the time you get to Whitney, you can almost run up the last two miles - after dropping your pack at the junction of course. One section I'm sure you will enjoy is just north of Funston Meadow in the Kern River Canyon, where you walk on "tennis balls" for about a mile. When you get to Kern Hot Springs, you'll be ready for a hot soak. Have fun. http://www.nps.gov/seki/bcinfo.htm

#11580 03/31/04 08:18 PM
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You can mail your permit request to

Wilderness Permit Reservations
HCR 89 Box 60
Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park
Three Rivers, Ca 93271

Enjoy the hike!

#11581 03/31/04 09:13 PM
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msmith:

Is the old bathtub still at the Kern Hot Springs?

I did the HST in 1972 and exited at Mt Whitney. I camped on top back then. That was my first trip up there. Boy, try making the old Lipton soups (needed real boiling) and brown rice on top of Mt Whitney. Have I learned stuff in these last 30 some odd years (G)

I since been back twice, including last July.

It was a great trip.

#11582 03/31/04 09:32 PM
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Don't forget you do need an exit permit to come into the Whitney zone and there is a pretty small quota on those. I had to change dates on a hike I had planned from Cottonwood Lakes to Whitney Portal due to the lack of available exit permits a couple of years ago.


Richard
#11583 03/31/04 09:35 PM
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Thanks for the info guys...
One more question.
Is there a form to fill out for the permit request? I didn't see a link on their website for one. Do I just put something together myself or can I use the same permit form that is used for Whitney?

Thanks again.

#11584 03/31/04 11:03 PM
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No form is needed. Just type out an answer to the questions that require answering from the web site "msmith" mentioned. I faxed mine in for the HST and got a permit with no problem (7/29 start date). The exit issue is taken care of when you state Whitney Portal as your exit point. No further action is needed. Just get on the trail after you pick up your permit.
Ouch, If you email me I'll send you a Word copy of the form I made up.

#11585 04/01/04 01:02 AM
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No exit permit is required either. I plan hiking the HST in August, and have talked with the rangers at Lodgepole on many occassions. They told me exit permits are not needed for "thru hikers", but that you will need to show your wilderness permit from Lodgepole to any rangers who ask in the Whitney Zone, lest you be subjest to the fine. They also have entry quotas for each trailhead in Sequoia, so it's best to reserve your dates in advance.

Good luck, and we all will look forward to your trip report this summer!

#11586 04/01/04 01:27 AM
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Maybe a silly question...
Permits are $15.00. Is that per person in your party or a flat fee for the whole group?

#11587 04/01/04 01:28 AM
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Fred- yes, the old concrete tub is still there. What a great treat - three or four days from anywhere, hot water and a cold, rushing river just beside you. Life doesn't get much better.

Ouch - I think I used the same form as for Whitney. Sounds like what Scott M has will work as well.

#11588 04/01/04 02:24 AM
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darylrose - I'm a little baffled by what the Lodge Pole Rangers told you; I got a permit earlier this year for a hike from Onion Valley to Whitney... my original permit was for mid-July, but I'm not going to be able to get the time off, so I tried to move my permit to August. The permit office told me that there were no "exit permits" available for Whitney, regardless of the fact that I was starting in Onion Valley.

Last summer I did a JMT thru-hike starting in Yosemite, and I still needed a "Whitney Zone" stamp on my permit.


"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." Albert Pike
#11589 04/01/04 02:32 AM
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rosabella - I think that, beginning this year, the exit permit is in the place of the Whitney stamp (something new to keep us on our toes). Also, entry via Onion Creek is still in Inyo's jurisdiction (the same as Whitney), whereas entry via the HST trailhead, because it is in a different jurisdiction (Sequoia NP) than Whitney, may make a difference as to a need (or not) for an exit permit eastbound over Trail Crest. Hope that makes sense.

ouch - $15 per person for the whole trip

CaT

#11590 04/01/04 02:46 AM
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Ouch,
Those permits are 15 buckaroos for the whole group whether it is one or five in your party.

#11591 04/01/04 07:09 AM
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Ken
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From the Inyo NF site:

RESERVATION CHARGE: For ANYONE entering the Whitney Zone, from any trailhead, a $15.00 fee applies. This is a $15.00 per person, per trip, request fee, regardless of the number of nights spent in the backcountry and is separate from any pre-trip campground reservation fees.

#11592 04/01/04 04:01 PM
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Well, the WhitneyZone "stamp - exit permit - quota - whatever - system" is sure confusing and nothing short of a pain in the butt.

But anyway... The High Sierra Trail sounds really interesting, and I have a couple questions also. I understand it originates in Lodgepole, Sequia and the trail is approximately 75 miles to Whitney? Is anyone aware of any good books/maps that describe the trail as far as elevation gain/loss, number of passes, etc. I did a Yahoo search, and other than some really nice pictures, didn't find much information.

I've done the Onion Valley-to-Whitney a couple times...maybe I'll try the HST this summer instead.


"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." Albert Pike
#11593 04/01/04 04:15 PM
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You may have run across these already. In researching that same hike last year, I ran across these two trip reports that are very detailed and do include some good photos, trail discriptions and distance tables.

http://www.nps.gov/seki/hst.htm
http://www.gentleye.com/camping/trips/trHST.html


Richard
#11594 04/01/04 04:47 PM
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Thanks, spinefxr, the "GentleEye" trip report by Tom Reynolds is really informative with some great pictures. It looks like he took about two weeks for this trip, how much time did you allow?

The direction of the trail (east to west) is a bit of a concern... were you able to arrange a shuttle back to the trailhead?

Thanks,
Rosie


"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." Albert Pike
#11595 04/01/04 05:25 PM
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I have not got to that hike yet. It is on my LONG to do list. I can only seem to fit one long (over 5 days) hike in per year and this one has finally moved up to the number two spot. Everyone is different in how fast they like to hike but I projected this hike to be 7-8 days. Might be a bit optomistic but I tend to travel light and hike 10-12 miles per day depending on elevation gain/loss. Make sure you let us all know how it goes.


Richard
#11596 04/01/04 06:11 PM
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Got a call this morning from the folks at the permit office telling me that my permit was approved and my trip is a go. That's service!
I also called the Whitney permit folks yesterday and asked about needing a Whitney permit to exit the portal and he said that I didn't need one.
Thanks to everyone for their advice and knowledge. See you on the trail.
Looks like my spot at the Portal campground in Sept. will not be needed. It's spot 43 from Sept. 12-16. If anyone is interested in it, let me know. It's already paid for, but I'd be willing to give it away so that it doesn't go unused.

#11597 04/01/04 07:08 PM
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I'm not sure who you talked to at the permit office but you are getting bad info on exit permits for Trail Crest. Here is the section from Inyo NFS website related to this issue.

"WHAT IS TRAIL CREST? If you are entering from a trail other than the Main Mt. Whitney Trail and intend to exit at Whitney Portal using the Main Mt. Whitney Trail, Trail Crest applies as an exit quota. This is the only trail on the Inyo National Forest with a quota set for exit. Currently, that quota is 25 people per day with 60% reservable and 40% held over for walk-ins. You may reserve this exit space at the time of reservation for your entry trail (up to six months in advance)."

I would call the Lone Pine ranger station and clarify this.


Richard
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