I think i will try a solo trip later this month, unfortunately with my work, going during the week isn't possible, so i gotta hope for a Saturday or Sunday.
David, if you can snag a reservation for a weekend day hike (by making those repeated phone calls, and paying the $15 reservation fee), THEN you can phone the Visitor Center the day before (or the Friday morning before your drive up) and if you ask, they will leave your permit in the night pick-up box for you.
On Friday evening, you could then drive through Lone Pine, pick up the permit, and proceed to Whitney Portal and spend the night in the walk-in hiker camping area, get up in the morning, and hike up as far as you want.
If you only go as far as Trail Camp (12.5k) you might be ok without any acclimatization. Or if you're genetics put you in the lucky group, you could go even higher without much trouble.
. . . .
Bulldog's and tdtz's experiences with AMS are classic! I wish every Whitney hiker could read those descriptions.
