We have a group of 5 wanting to climb whitney this year. I did a day hike with a friend last Sept and it was grueling! I wanted to take my husband brother and two friends but enjoy the hike and spend a night or two on the mountain. I did not get any slots with the lottery and this morning unsuccessful in the mini-sale. I will try again May 1st but if there are no slots opened up what else do you suggest? we are coming from Pennsylvania so coming on a whim and not snagging an overnight will be a bit disappointing and a waste since we will be constraint on time with airline flights. My plan was two nights on the mountain. Trail camp and outpost but if we could only get one overnight then would camp out around Lone pine lake before permits are needed on the trail. My question is if we did come out on a whim in hopes for cancelled spots when is the earliest I could get permits? Is it the day of the overnight? Because we planned on starting the hike to outpost camp by the switchbacks shortly after sunrise so we could set camp and relax before the next day early morning summit. I think I read somewhere the permits are not released until 11am the day of the overnight permit? Which would make my plan not possible and would have to make the hike to outpost camp after noon by the time we got the permits and to the portal. ugh this is so frustrating! need some help with alternate plans if not enough slots open before May 1st or shortly after. which I assume they will not.
