Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board hiking w/o permit

My friend wants to head up to Whitney area some time in Sept. but doesn't have a permit. Are there last minute permits given out? Perhaps at the Lone Pine Ranger Station?
Also, if he can't get a permit, what other trails are in the area that would be challenging and enjoyable? Are there any that leave out of or near the Whitney Portal campground? Lastly, how far up on the Whitney Trail can you go without a permit?
I hiked Whitney once but I know nothing about the rest of the area. Any suggestions are appreciated.

You can go the first three miles on the main Whitney trail without a permit. After Lone Pine Lake there's a small wooden sign which tells you that you're henceforth hiking where you need a permit. In September, there are many cancellations and much less trail traffic. I'd say your chances of walking into the Lone Pine office and getting a permit is pretty good.

There is a trail out of Whitney Portal to Meysan Lakes which is a nice hike, though hot and exposed. It's not nearly the challenge of Whitney but is a nice 8-10 mile hike, depending upon whether you want to go a little further than the lake.

I walked in the LP ranger station and got a permit on a Saturday in August a few weeks ago. The ranger told me they have issued walk up permits to all that have asked this year. I'm not sure if there are more cancellations than normal this year, but it sure seems like it. To be on the safe side, you need to be at the permit office at 11:00 am the day before you hike, which is when they start issueing permits that have not been picked up.

Good luck, and have a great trip!

I hiked up to summit on August 16th. Spent the night at Outpost on the 15th & 16th. I got my permits (2) on the 13th through the reservation line. I kept calling once or twice a day for about two weeks until I got the date! It's possible!

We were in MWRS after 5 PM a couple of weeks ago on a Friday and jokingly asked about a Main Trail overnight permit for 2 and we were shocked when the ranger told us there was on available.

This proves anything is possible.

I'm glad we didn't take it the weather was so bad that weekend.

Bill

When I went to pick up my day hike permits in late July in Lone Pine, the ranger told me that cancellations were running at an all-time high this year. On the day I hiked Whitney, July 21, she told me on the 20th that there were 65 free slots for that day. Many people come from out of state and just can't make travel arrangements and end up not coming, at least according to this ranger.