This strategy is not without its risks. I was in a group of 4 that showed up the 2nd to last weekend in August 2009 on a Thursday. No permits available. We stayed for Friday. Permits were available, we were first in line as the doors opened, but the office ran a mini-lottery for the 10 or 15 people in line (although not everyone wanted overnight Whitney permits). We drew #3, but the guy that drew #2 grabbed the last 4 for his group. Nothing looked available for Saturday.
jbrooks, that's too bad. Looking at the Unused Whitney Permits 2009 info, I can see that weekend was completely full for overnighters. There were plenty of dayhike permits left though. If you had only tried Monday or Tuesday of that week or the following, you would have hiked.
In most weeks during the summer, in the overnight permits, there is space left. (Unfortunately, as more and more people learn this, there will be fewer of those days.)
