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

wbtravis5152-

OK, so now you have me quite confused. Have been climbing Whitney quite a few years, and here are the ways I thought the system worked:

1) Enter the lottery, and pay $15/person if you got your requested dates. Pick up the actual permits at either the VC or drop box if prior arrangements made.

2) After lottery has ended, call reservation center, check on availability of permits due to openings for whatever reason. If successful, pay $15/person, pick up permits per #1 above.

3) Show up at VC day before hike, and if there are openings, pick up permit. No cost.

So ... what am I missing? Are there other options? Where does the $5 fee come in? Keep in mind, I'm talking about hikes (either day or overnight) which begin/end in the Whitney Zone.

Last year they would leave our permits in the box when we called the reservation center. This was not part of the advance reservation quota. There was no charge and permits were always waiting in box with wag bags - this was allowed within 48 hours in advance of a hike.

I believe what Kevin was trying to say is that last year North Fork day hike permits had no quota. This year, the day hike permits fall under the Whitney Zone day hike quota rules. I guess we will find out more when somebody tries it out.

I'm confused about question #1 myself.

Here is what I'm confused about. Two or three years ago SEKI insisted if you entered the park during a trip starting in the Inyo you had to have a chat with someone at an Inyo RS or VC about the rules and reg. Mt. Whitney is in SNP, therefore, if that rule applies you have to see someone before your permit is issued and the drop box is not an option.

I'm with on #2 and #3.

The $5 fee is for all reservations made which do not enter the Whitney Zone. Sorry for the confusion my response may have caused.

You have to be a flipping rocket scientist to figure out the Whitney Zone Rules. Its no wonder both rookies and veterans have problems with them.

Actually Fred, my questions were related to both the Whitney and North Fork trails.

Yesterday I hiked with Tom and we talked about this. His comments were climbing Whitney via the NF route last year, and was able to call the reservation center to get a permit & wag bag left in the night box. And, as you point out, we'll find out more when somebody tries it out. It seems to be different every year.

It's undoubtably the most complex reservation system I've ever encountered, with Mt St Helens a distant second.