Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board A quick question

If I start at Lodgepole, come across on the High Sierra Trail, and dash down to the Portal store to pick up my resupply, do I need a lottery permit to retrace the HST back to my car? I'm hoping I can do the whole shebang on one permit, but all the bureaucratic twists and turns have me flummoxed. Thanks.

Damn, that is an interesting question. My inclination is you would not since you not discontinuing your trip. However, I would contact SEKI and the Inyo for a clarifications. Do not be surprised if you get two completely different tales.

I don't think the National Park rangers would not care if you did or did not exit and re-enter at Whitney Portal. How could they tell?

I think I remember someone last year discussing this, and I think people said it was ok as long as you did not leave the trail overnight. Then it is all the same trip.

It would be a separate trip if you spent a night in Lone Pine, though.

I would just call the Inyo ranger station and ask.

It seems like you could leave all your camping gear at Trail Camp, and head down with a nearly empty pack to pick up supplies.

Thanks for the intel. Back when I was a young buckaroo with a size 18 collar and a size 6 hat, I would have humped a huge load of freeze-dried slop, but now I put great value on a burger and a beer after a week.