Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion End of Oct. Our 1st Time, Mt Whitney Trail Advice

Hello all, Our permit is for the last days of October on the My Whitney Trail (tempted to wait two days and foregoe the permit). Anyone been up there so late before? Any advice? Maybe the upper water source is more likely to freeze? Maybe be ready for a dump? Of course the weather is fairly unpredictable these days. How about the permit email? Is that working okay?

How's the fires and smoke right now in the zone? I don't know. Thought I'd ask. Appreciate any insight in general. We will be a party of four. Plenty of experience in the hills but never at Whitney and never over 12k.

Cheers,
Chupa