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We goof around for 3 days in the General vicinity of where we were already going Jeff, you got skunked all the way around -- no Whitney permits AND no Trail Crest exit.
Unfortunately walk-in permits for overnighters are only available the day OF the hike, unless someone phones in and releases some on a reservation.
However, if you have three days to hang around Lone Pine / Whitney Portal / Horseshoe Meadows, there is no way you would NOT get a walk-in permit to do an overnight on the main trail. Look at the
Unused Whitney Permits for 2009. There is only one Friday-Saturday pair in August when ALL the permits were used both days. If you're there two days in a row mid-week at the 11 AM time when the drawing is taken for the no-shows, you
will get your permits. If you miss out the first day, go up to Horseshoe Meadows and day hike, or day hike to Meysan Lakes, and come back the next day.
