... includes the cancelled and no-show permits that were not re-issued to walk-in people.
For the last part of your post, can you clarify what “not-reissued” means. Are the rangers with-holding permits even though there’s space under the quota? My friend needs a permit and was really hopeful after looking at these numbers but now is unsure.
He was hoping that the number signifies how many permits were available to a last minute walk in for overnight permits day of at 11am.
The number signifies how many permits were available to a last minute walk-in at the END of the day. The number available at 11 AM would be higher, assuming people like your friend came in at (or after 11 AM) and picked up one of the unused permits.
They are not holding back any permits. ...well, if someone actually goes online and "confirms" their reservations several days before they show up, and then they don't show up, I think those are never released. At least that was the word I got several years ago.
Your friend could go in before 11 AM, because there might be some overnight permits available, due to groups picking up their permits, but dropping off a slot or two for members who backed out of the trip. Those permits are available as soon as those groups are done picking up their permits, which can be as early as the morning before starting their hike.
