Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Whitney Lottery Progress 2011

Congrats! Did you make the summit last time?

I did not make the summit last time. I now realize that I was pretty insane to think that I even had a chance of making the summit last time...here's the story if anyone is interested...2 friends and I were asked to drive a car out to Wyoming to be used as a ranch vehicle and then fly back. We decided to get as much out of it as we could and drove straight from Georgia to Las Vegas. We stayed in Las Vegas one night then camped the next night near the west rim of the Grand Canyon. We then drove from there through Death Valley to Whitney Portal with a goal of Trail Camp that night (this was in mid-May...LOTS of snow). We made camp just short of Outpost Camp and chose to hike back down the next morning completely exhausted. We then drove to Lake Tahoe and spent 3 days waiting for car repairs. Finally, we drove from Lake Tahoe to Pinedale, WY near Jackson Hole. We spent 5 days there before getting dropped off in Denver and flying home...WHAT A TRIP!!! Whitney has haunted me ever since!

That's quite a story, jl. A trip to remember for a lifetime. How long ago was that?

I am sure you will make it this time. Your plan to take it slow and easy will work. And the July 25 - 29 dates are ideal!

Wow. And without acclimating too. Are your friends joining you to re-enact the hike? If not then document it so they can see what they missed!

I understand your surprise at the May snow thing in western mountains as Eastern mountains are pretty free of snow by May. My first experience with that was when I did a trip to Mt Lassen in mid May where they had just cut the road open to the park through 10 foot snow banks. The trails were covered in snow and soaked our boots (no goretex then, which we use now) but it was spectacular nonetheless to reach the maw of that volcano.

My previous failed attempt was 5 years ago. This trip is just my wife and I but I will certainly let my friends know if we make it (and I probably will try not to mention it if we don't). About the snow...we were definitely surprised. We hoped to hit Yosemite and Sequoia on the way up but could not get in at all due to snow.

JL, by late July, you will have no trouble visiting Yosemite and Sequoia due to the snow. Please understand there is a good bit of driving between Sequoia N.P. or Yosemite and Whitney Portal (4-6 hours).

They are well worth visiting, so start the planning early. Fresno is a good place to stay for a day's visit to either park (You can't do both in the same day).

Or you could come into Reno, NV, drive down to Yosemite, then to Fresno, to Sequoia, then around to Whitney Portal. Lots of driving, but gives you a great tour of the diverse landscapes of Cali and the Sierra Nevada.

And finally, we're going to have to add you to the Georgia unit of the WhitneyZone community.

Steve or any else that is "wise in the ways of Whitney,"

I have 2 permits for an overnight trip on July 24/25 and am looking to add a third. First, what are the odds of this happening?..and secondly what is the best strategy to go about obtaining another one?

My brother and I would like to add "dad" to come with us..

any advice would be helpful

Steve will no doubt point you to this table, http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/topics/3436#Post3436, which suggests that the odds of getting a permit through a walk-in on Sunday morning are very high (13 unused permits on both the second to last, and the last, Sundays in July 2010). Basically, they will run a minilottery at 10 a.m. on that Sunday in the permit office, and if there are more permits than people who want them, everyone wins (I got a permit that way for an overnight on a Friday in mid-July last year). Your standing in the walk-in lottery is NOT based on how early you get to the office that morning, but based on a number that you draw out of a hat, so you don't have to get there really early and camp out ... you can get there at 9:30 a.m. or so. But you will want to be calling up the permit office for a week or so before your date to see if you get snap up a cancellation before then.

Karin gave you the right answers.

The walk-ins are free, and become available at that 10 AM time.

Calling several times a day during the week immediately prior would likely work. But the extra reservation will cost $15.

Here's a third option: Since you already have the reservation for two, when you go to pick up the permit (even the day before), you can request an additional spot. I am not sure about this, but I believe they might just give you the extra one then (as long as a cancellation is available). This would effectively put you at the front of the line. You might call the permit office and ask about this.

Read the "Wilderness Permit Options" (link in the Feature Topics on the left) for more info.

Thanks for the help...I called the office on the 20th and of course, they told me that every date for the month of July is filled, but to keep watching the calendar for cancellations (crossing my fingers that we get lucky). If there is anyone out there with a group of 3 for July 24 and 25th that would switch for 2 permits, let me know! It would mean a lot to be able to do a "two brothers with their dad" trip.

I have a day hike permit lined up for Sept 14. What is the EARLIEST I can pick it up in Lone Pine? I'll be driving through the area a week ahead of time and if I can get the permit in hand then I don't have to worry about beating a deadline when I come back from Yosemite.

I know someone here will have the answer.

That information is likely written on the reservation instructions you have received. Someone please check.

This may be incorrect... I believe the earliest you can pick it up is 8 a.m. two days before the hike.

The deadline to pick up (or at least phone in) is noon the day before, or you lose your slot.

From what is on my permit form, they also have a drop box you can make arrangements to use.

NJ, the drop box is for after hours pickup. If you call in by noon to hold your reservation, and then cannot be there by closing time, they will leave the permit out in a box to pick up.

But did you find anything saying how early you could pick up the permit?

My permit last year was a Thurs entry. I stopped by the visitor center on the Sun before my entry day, on my way to Horseshoe Meadow. I was hoping to pick my permit up early to save a return trip to Lone Pine. I was not allowed to pick up my permit and the earliest I could pick up my permit was Tues, 2 days before the entry day.

And based on my reservation notice this year, it does state the permit can be picked up 1 or 2 days before the entry date. No sooner.

NJ,

You'll definitely want to pick up your permit during normal business hours. The Ranger Station where you pick up your permit is beautiful and new. It's a large building with lots of exhibits and good information about the area. If you need to buy a map, souvenir or shirt, they've got it all. It's a very nice place to stop with great views of Mt. Whitney, plus you can probably meet the girl from the WZ thread, "Look Who Has Her Hand in the Cookie Jar". Check out the thread and you'll see a picture of of the girl with her hand in the cookie jar at the ranger station working the Whitney Lottery. I'm not certain, but I think at the station there are picnic tables and really nice restrooms. Plus, I'm sure the people in the ranger station would love to meet hikers like you. What's the fun of working at a ranger station if you no one comes to visit. Have a great hike.

Yes, as you're walking towards the building entrance from the parking lot you pass the bathroom building on the left. Between the bathrooms and the main building is a small courtyard with at least one picnic table.

It's well worthwhile when you enter to turn right, and walk past the ranger counter and exhibits all the way to the west end of the building. There's floor to ceiling picture windows looking out at Whitney and the surrounding Sierra mountains. Breathtaking!

Kind of frustrating to pick all you dates out for the "leftovers" and find that the FAX is busy the entire day. Says right on the application, you can FAX your application. My FAX has a redial and I've been near redialing all day. 6 hours of busy, redial, busy, redial busy. I guess I will call them. I'm sure they're slammed, but not being able to get a FAX through the entire day!!!! Wow.

Just called them and they said their FAX is having problems. They did it over the phone.

Put me down for 6 on October 2nd.