Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board North Fork Permit Info

Yesterday I talked to one of the rangers about permit requirements on the north fork entry. Specifically I asked about climbing Thor, Mt Carillon, or Mt Russell as a day climb entering and exiting at the north fork trail. He said that all of these options are part of the Mt Whitney day hike quota system. So it appears that any climb past LBSL will require a Mt Whitney day hike permit. The north fork overnight quota remains at 10 (6 reservable, 4 walk in). So if you plan to do any of these as a day hike, have a backup plan that includes something without a quota (Meysan Lake, etc).

Here is the link to the Mt. Whitney Zone map

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/zonelarge.shtml

This implies that any route to Thor Peak, including the eastern and Southeast route are all covered under the new permit system. Why would that be? Why would the forest service want to limit access to Thor Peak?

If you day destination is within the Whitney Zone and are starting on the MMWT you will need a permit for Trailhead J35...Mt. Whitney Zone Day Use. This puts you smack dab in the middle of the day hike lottery.

Your best bet is to wait and call. There will be plenty of permits available with the lottery portion of permit distribution is completed.

WB, you keep saying that, but last year after the lottery, nearly all days were fully reserved for both overnight and day hikes between July 1 and mid-September. While we don't have the actual numbers, the "Week Before" column for those months on the Unused Whitney Permits - 2007 topic are pretty close. (I'll be sure and capture the post-lottery numbers this year.)

There will be day hike permits available due to no shows just about every day during those months, but people will have to wait until the day before the hike to pick them up. And they will probably need to be in Lone Pine the day before in order to get one of the permits -- so that means a day hike will require an extra day. I am hoping the ranger station will allow requesting one of the available day hike permits by phoning in on the afternoon before the hike.

Not at the end of the lottery and before the leftovers are available to the public, not after all is said and don't like in the link you provide.

It's been that way since the lottery was instituted. You can count on the holidays weekends being taken and some Saturdays but on the whole you will be able get a day hike permit if you really want one.

The backpacking leftovers between the holiday weekends will total 5 permits or less. It's been that way since the institution of the lottery, too.

Yes, the day hike rules changed for 2008. Previous discussion was made on the thread New for the 2008 Season.

It only affects day hikes up the North Fork (past LBSL). Overnight rules remain the same.

VF,

Sorry for not seeing the previous post. Another question, do you know if a Whitney Zone permit is required if you climb Irvine via the Meysan Lakes trail then descend Arc Pass to the main trail entering at Consultation Lake? Thanks, Steve.

the only question I have not seen answered is whether or not we will still be able to pickup our permits on an afterhours dropbox pickup as in years past - has anyone resolved this yet

Steve, interesting question. I am sure there is no problem if you are doing an overnight; they just note your itinerary on the permit, perhaps also giving you a gray pack tag, and there should be no Whitney quota issues. But I am equally sure you are doing this as a day climb. Since you end up in the Whitney Zone, you better have a permit in your hand...but you don't need a day permit for going in Meysan, so....

...the way I would hope this will work is, you tell the Lone Pine rangers your plan, and they give you their approval--and a piece of paper--without you having to compete with the Whitney quotas.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

PS. Want company? I am in better shape now than in quite a few years, but still probably not up to your standards. However, I could go in the previous day and bivouac, and you could catch up with me on the final approach to Irvine.

Thanks Bob. I would be more than happy to have your company anytime. Maybe we could spend another night up there and do LeConte or McAdie as well. That would be great. -Steve

Quota J35 is now titled J35 Mt. Whitney Zone Day Use (includes N.F. of Lone Pine Creek day use). That means that any entry into the Whitney Zone for a day hike requires a day hike permit, regardless of the entry point. Consultation Lake is inside the Whitney Zone. J37 still applies to overnight hikes originating at Meysan Lakes.


From the Inyo National Forest WP page:
    One or two days before your trip please pick up your permit or call the Wilderness Permit Office to confirm your group size and arrival time. If needed, also request the night box service.* Your reservation will be canceled if it is not picked up or confirmed before the deadline so other parties can utilize canceled space. *Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park visitors, your permit will not be available in the night-drop box, you will have to pick up the permit in person during visitor center open hours.

thanks for the reply Fred- sounds like last minute trips are still an option - no fears for the M-F 7-5'ers

Bob/Steve:

I guess if you wait long enough your question will be answered. I was thinking with all the permit changes lately, what other routes are available and I thought about the Meysan Lake route to LeConte over Arc pass, but wasn't sure what sort of permit was needed. I have thought about posting a question about this.... my procrastination has paid off.

Thanks

paul

Meysan lake has some nice peaks, and I hardly ever run into people there. Day hiking requires no permit and overnight needs a regular overnight permit.

You can get to Mt. Whitney via Meysan Lake, but the route is not easy. Most drop down to Sky Blue Lake via the Mallory LeConte Saddle and then head to Whitney over Crabtree pass and the long sand hill. The section from Sky Blue Lake to Discovery pinnacle is not far on the map, but it has been described as difficult. You would need to be adept at cross country travel to consider such a trip.

Last time I looked at pictures of that route they took 4 days -

1st day Meysan Lake
2nd day lake near Sky Blue Lake
3rd day lake north of Crabtree pass
4th day Mt. Whitney and down.

See these photos

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/86669921MkbbWV

Tom - to expand on your post:

I was at the VC today, and talked with one of the rangers re: using the night-drop box for last minute trips. My practice in the past had been to stop at the VC about 2PM the day before a hike, get a permit (always been successful), then catch a few hours sleep in my vehicle before an early start up the mountain. According to her, the night-drop box routine is available only if you've made reservations thru the contractor, paid the $15 fee, and requested night service.

When you've used the night-drop box, has it been via the reservation route and paid the $15?

Hi Kevin -
It is true that you could not get them to leave a permit in the drop box by by calling direct to the visitor center. By calling on Friday to the reservation center phone - they make arrangements with the VC to leave permits in drop box. The $15. fee has not applied as this was not part of the lottery advanced reservation.

Thanks, Tom. I got the impression from the lady ranger that ALL arrangements via the reservation center required the $15 fee, but that's obviously not the case. I think the next time I'll give Bishop a call and see what happens. I can always revert back to driving up the afternoon before.

Just don't want to pay that $15...

You have to pay a fee, $5 or $15 to utilize the drop box. If you enter the Whitney Zone it is the latter.

You have to have a reservation that keeps you in the Inyo National Forest the entire trip. Enter SEKI and you have to be entertained by the Inyo Staff.

Last year in March I was driving up from LA late at night after work and planned to sleep at the trailhead. I called a few days before to get a permit and requested to be put in the overnight dropbox (they gave me the combo and all), got hit for $15 for reserving it and arrived to find no permit waiting for me.

Gone Hiking....hi Richard

I think Paul was referring to going up the regular Mt. Whitney trail to Consultation Lake....Arc's Pass....and on to Mt. LeConte.
...perhaps coming down the Meysan Lake Canyon.

That certainly is a possibility, usings Arc's pass to get to Mt. Irvine, Mt. Mallory, Mt. McAdie or Mt. LeConte. It is probably a good way to get to Mt McAdie, but the other peaks are more easily assessed through Meysan lake....no day hiking permit needed.