Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Walk-in permits

I'm always hesitant to start a new thread, because this has probably been asked before, but here goes:

I would like to do Whitney with some friends via the MR starting 6/29,6/30,7/1 or 7/2 and spending a night.

We have no reserved permits, and these dates are "sold out." I know there are 4 walk-ins permits -- how likely is it that I can get some of these? What is the procedure? How can I increase my odds of getting walk-in permits?

Thanks in advance.
TN

It is purely first come/first served, so the only way to improve your odds is to camp out in front of the ranger station in Lone Pine to ensure that you are the first person in the door in the morning. My other suggestion is to do this during the week before Friday, since most people want to climb on the weekends.

I have reservations for four people to climb up the main trail for Sunday and Monday (20-21st). That would be one overnight. I would like to go but all my friends flaked a couple days ago. I could use some company and prefer someone from the bay area. Let me know if you can come with me.

TN,

The 40% reserved for walk-ins are available for pick up at 11:00am the day before your trip starts (there may be exceptions that I don't know about). If there are any available on the day of, you'll have to participate in the 8:00am lottery (held if there are four, or more, people waiting - usually during the summer, there are). If there are any remaining after the lottery, they become first-come, first-serve.

Since you're going for a mid-week start, I'd say your odds are pretty good. (I never failed to get a mid-week permit.)