Stalin, the lottery is only for entering and hiking the Main Mt Whitney trail. ...if you do this hike starting at Whitney Portal, then you would enter the lottery.
However, most people start at Onion Valley. Those permits are available online (at 7 AM I think) six months before the date of your hike. Quota for the trail is 60 hikers per day, most head to Charlotte Lake. 60% of the quota (36 slots) are reservable online, 40% (24) become available to walk-ins at 11 AM the day before the date of the hike.
In addition, you ALSO need a Trail Crest exit permit to exit via Whitney Portal. Those are also reservable 6 months in advance, and the quota is 25 per day.
