RenoFrank, I'd try to get down before 11 (maybe hustle ahead of the rest) and hitch down in the 11 am - 1 PM window. If you get lucky, you could be back to the portal in that same window. Then head down after the 1-4 PM time.
If your friend comes to pick you up, he should try for a walk-in Day Use permit before the VC closes the day before (get there before 4 PM). The N.F. has said Day Use permits are allowed to park overnight the night before to use the walk-in sites. Then he could guarantee your group all got the ride down in the appropriate time window. - - - - -
TB40: (from the first post in this long thread...) We have been informed that Day hikers are allowed to park overnight the night before so they can use the trail head walk-in campground the night before their hike. So it should be just fine sleeping in the car, too.
