Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Whitney Lottery 2014

It is about two weeks before the start of the lottery process. I am surpised the subject hasn't come up yet. Steve, you have always done such a great job with providing information, any changes from last year that we should know about?

Edit:  Options for picking up a reservation:  Lottery Update, March 26


old text:
Thanks for the timely prompt! I'll try to find out....


FYI, last year's Lottery information is here: 2013 Whitney Lottery Information

I received this report:

There are no functional changes to the lottery -- it will work the same as last year.

A few minor things though: Email notifications of lottery results from the recreation.gov website apparently did not get out to everyone, so they are stressing this year that you should login after the lottery has been run to see your results.

They are trying to update some of the text on the rec.gov site to make things easier to read.

They hope to update the Inyo National Forest's lottery information page on a weekly basis throughout the lottery entry phase.


2014 Mt Whitney Lottery Timeline

Feb 1, 2014 to March 15, 2014   Applications are entered online at www.recreation.gov (closes on March 15 at midnight Eastern time)

March 16   All the lottery applications are processed in a random lottery.  New applications not accepted until April 1.

March 23   Results available on line, check your account.

April 1   All remaining space is released for web reservations
        Online opens at 7 am Pacific time- No phone reservations
        Acceptance period opens for 30 days.

April 30   Last day to accept and pay for lottery reservations.
        (closes at midnight Eastern time)

May 1   All unclaimed dates are canceled and released for web reservations (within 24 hours, at random times).

Edit: March 26 update

Steve,

If one submits several different applications (with separate six dollar payments) does the system automatically eliminate all your other requests when one request is accepted?

I have a sense that their system defaults to this when any one request from one email address is accepted.

Thanks!

> If one submits several different applications (with separate six dollar payments) does the system automatically eliminate all your other requests when one request is accepted?

Yes. (I had to review the 2013 info to make sure.)

In 2012, only one entry could be made. But last year, they opened it up to multiple applications and allowed for post-lottery acceptance or decline of a winning entry. So you can enter as many times as you have $6 entry fees (and time to fill in the info). The $6 entry fees are non-refundable.

Each entry is processed, and as soon as one (of the possible 15 start dates on that particular entry) is successful, the rest on that entry are canceled, and all the other entries made with separate $6 fees are marked as unsuccessful.

After the lottery, you must then logon and accept (and pay the $15 per hiker fee) for the slots you won. Or you can refuse the slots as well. If you never accept or refuse a won reservation, it will be canceled (by May 1 I think).

If you and your friends all get together, you can make multiple entries and maybe win multiple choices for a trip if you use separate accounts on Recreation.gov.

By the way, the 2013 Lottery information is here: 2013 Whitney Lottery Information

Thanks Steve!

I may apply for some permits this year, however I'm not sure whether or not I want to camp overnight. If I get overnight permits can I just do a dayhike on either of the two days?

Well... the Wilderness Permit Office people frown on that. They want to make all the overnight permits available to campers. But it always happens where someone intends to backpack and stay the night, but end up exiting the same day.

If you started a dayhike the second day of your overnight plans, you could technically be cited, and you might well be, if you told the ranger in the field that you had started up that day.

What I would do is enter the lottery for the overnight, and accept and pay for that (if you actually win a slot). Then if your plans change: Check online a few days before the permit date, and if you see an open slot (due to cancellations), call the Wilderness Permit Office (not Rec.gov), and they will switch your permit. If that doesn't work, walk in to the Visitor Center and try to swap the overnight for a dayhike there. That should work pretty much all the time.

On Recreation.gov, this is posted:

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana.

When making your reservations, keep in mind what happened October 1, 2013.

"It" happened before, "it" can happen again..."It" being the government shutdown.

Inyo NF has posted an update today on their Mt Whitney Lottery page

4,302 applications entered as of Feb 11

There is a MS Word doc ( Lottery Progress ) showing the number of people requested for each date. This will give you an idea of which days are most heavily requested.

From the summary data in that doc:

 Lottery Progress Report

As of February 3, 2014          2,091          applications submitted.

10 Most Popular First Choice Dates   Number of people
Entry Date                Combined  Day Use  Overnight
Friday,   August 01, 2014   334       84       250
Saturday, August 16, 2014   297      186       111
Friday,   July   11, 2014   274       32       242
Saturday, July   26, 2014   272      214        58
Saturday, July   19, 2014   237      126       111
Saturday, August 02, 2014   222       25       168
Saturday, August 09, 2014   222       84       250
Saturday, July   12, 2014   213      108       105
Saturday, Sept   06, 2014   212       72       104
Saturday, August 30, 2014   199       60       139
Friday,   July   18, 2014   193       25       168

You would think July 12th would be popular with the full moon.

Also, you say that you can send in separate applications for the $6.00 fee, but Recreation.gov states; "Please submit only one application per group."

I would caution as much as you believe your friends will show up on a Whitney hike, and have them send in separate applications as a "group leader" to raise your odds, that may not end up with a happy ending, as when the date comes closer, many people who planned to hike the mountain, seem to find an excuse... and then you're out of a hike, or taking a chance on the daily lottery at the Interangency Visitors Center. Just sayin'.

Ten days left before lottery applications are closed.

Inyo has posted that they have received 7,526 applications as of March 3.

Steve:
Are there any open for daily quota? Meaning, if I go to Interagency office at 3 am and stand in queue, if there is a queue, can I get a permit (preferably with overnight camp at trail camp) for Whitney? Just curious, never did Whitney from east side!

Krishna, getting in line early does not help. When they open at 8 AM, if there is a line, they will put numbers in a hat, and everyone draws a number, which determines who gets to the counter first. And that includes ALL people looking for any permits on any trails.

There are no daily quota slots held back for walk-in requests. However, there are always going to be slots made available due to people coming in to pick up their reservations and dropping off slots due to their friends cancelling out. And then there are also no-shows who have a reservation, never cancelled online, and then don't show up to pick up a permit. The group-size reduction slots are made available as soon as the groups pick up their permits, so it is possible to pick one up soon after 8 AM, and throughout the day. The no-shows become available at 11 AM, and again, if there are lots of people looking to pick them up, a drawing of numbers is held at that time.

No-shows for overnight are made available to start same-day. No-shows for day hike are made available to start the next day. In the past, the day hike no-shows became available at 2 PM, but recently, they have been estimating no-shows and giving them out at 11 AM, even though the reservation-holders have a 12-noon deadline to pick up.

You can get a feel for how many permits are available due to cancellations, drops and no-shows by looking at the Unused Whitney Permits pages I have maintained.

Inyo NF has posted their last lottery update before the March 15 cutoff here: Mt Whitney Lottery Progress Report

8,744 applications submitted as of March 10

There is a nice chart on their page showing the first choice numbers from all the applications. Viewing that, I can see:

For Overnight permits (Quota 60 per day):
First overbooked date: Saturday May 10, and every Saturday after that.
Most requested date: Friday, Aug 1: 763 requests. (Less than 1 in 12 chance)
All requests will be satisfied after Sunday, Sept 21 (except the 154 requests on Thurs Oct 2 ...weird).


For Day Use permits (Quota 100 per day):
First overbooked date: Saturday June 7.
Most overbooked date: Saturday July 19: 541 requests.
All requests after Saturday, Sept 13 will be satisfied.

It's March 15, after 9 PM Pacific Daylight time, and the 2014 Lottery is closed to reservations. (Recreation.gov runs on Eastern time.)

They will be running the lottery sometime in the next week, with results to be available on line Sunday March 23, so check your account -- maybe as early as next Sunday after 9 PM.

Good luck to everyone who put in their entries.

The Inyo N.F "Whitney Lottery" page states that:

"March 23 - Results available on line, check your account."

Since it is already March 23 in NY where the Recreation.gov site runs, it might be possible to view your results tonight.

I went to Recreation.gov and when I went to check the status of the lottery it said that results will be posted by 4-1. So, it looks like another week of waiting.

Any insight on whats causing the delay?

So am I right in thinking that nobody has heard lottery results yet (6pm PST on 3/23)? Were they supposed to post results in our account information today, or just email us the results? Neither has appeared to happen. But I could imagine that bulk emails like that could trickle out slowly over a couple hours.

If anyone has heard anything, holler.

My application, at the top, now says

"The Lottery results will be displayed on the site by Tue Apr 01 2014. Please visit the site after the lottery execution."

Which is a bummer, because I want to apply to the Half Dome Lottery too and not have a conflict. Of course, if I don't get a permit, there is no conflict

I checked in with Inyo N.F. staff -- they have been getting lots of calls. I learned that there was a bit of confusion between Inyo and the Rec.gov people. Inyo fully intended for the results to be made available this past weekend, but the rec.gov person in charge of pressing the buttons did not understand that part.

So fires have been lit and they are hoping the information will be available later today. However the person doing the work is not the same as last year, so no promises.

The idea is that people can see what they received in the lottery, and then check what is left online, and if they want, can sign up for any open slots that remain -- starting April 1.

As April progresses, people will decline a few slots, and during April, those will become available on recreation.gov, too. When slots are released, they become available within the next 24 hours ("at a random time" as they put it).

Edit: ...and within an hour of posting this, people are seeing their results! I guess the guy figured out what buttons to press.

Thanks for working your connections, Steve.

I just checked and I got my first choice for overnight Aug 27. So excited. Thanks for all the help here!

Just got our overnight date :-)

Got my date, BUT, the site wont let me "accept" it!

I'm sure they are overwhelmed right now... same with mine, just gotta pay later.
Good news is WE got our permits!

Just got some dates I requested that no longer works with my schedule. Some Q's:

A) is it hard to switch dates?
B) whats involved?

Thanks from a new Sierra Hiker

www.hikinginsocal.blogspot.com

Yes it's hard to switch dates. You effectively are in the same boat as those who did not get a reservation. You have to check online for open slots and reserve one.

Separately, you can decline the date you got. You do that online during April. If you don't, it will be automatically canceled at the end of April. On May 1, all the non-accepted become available, so you should be sure and check what is available then.

And on April 1, the un-used lottery slots will become available to be reserved online. So you can start looking now at what is available.

Wow! Looking online at the day hike dates, there are many days especially mid-week, throughout the summer, that are still available. Most weekends are fully reserved, but not mid-week.

Overnight slots are more fully booked, but there are still many available in June.

Your Lottery Application has been revoked.


Any idea why? I only submitted one application with that account. I was listed as an alternate leader on a different trip/date/account that did get some spots.

I think there's something a bit weird with the lottery results... Mine is showing "unsucessful" for the date I picked (Aug 14), but it shows 42 day-use permits still available on the link Steve C posted.

Anybody else seeing something similar?

David B, call the Wilderness Permit office number: 760-873-2483 and ask. (and please report back)

I am thinking there might be some issues with the run this year.

I won the lottery..I won..I won..excited..the only thing now is initial group size was six and I'm only one who wants to go. So I'm going to release 5 slots. I think some people need that more than my tentative friends. Day hike - 23rd July.

AJ

I just called the permit office.

Apparently if you win permits one application, any other applications that you are listed as an alternate leader for are revoked/cancelled.

I have friends that were planning trips separate from mine that listed me as an alternate, even though I was not planning on joining them. I am going to feel horrible if their applications were pulled b/c my name is on them!

This is ridiculous. Waste of $6. We applied for 3 and each one of lost out, even though there are spots available for alternate dates. There is something not right about this lottery. They should tell us all rules. Upset.

From the looks of it, I think Recreation.gov has some 'splainin' to do.

And PLEASE do not call and yell at the Inyo people. They are just "users" of the recreation.gov site. Some software people in another part of the country are the ones running rec.gov.

Edit: I posted a revision on the next page. Inyo tells me there are already lots of cancellations going on online. So days that were originally full are opening up.

The lady I spoke with on the phone said that there was a warning at the top of the lottery webpage to only submit one application per group/trip. It may have been there, but I certainly did not see it.

On the application that won, I was listed as the first alternate and all of the dates were for June 3 or 4 (week days). I got 3 permits.

On the application that was revoked, all of the dates were for weekends in June, July, August and the first week of September, with a minimum of 5 people.

I asked her how they decided which application would be revoked. She said, we give you the most desirable dates and cancel the other app(s).

... REALLY?!?... If I meet the person that decided, I'm going to see if I can trade the them two shiny pennies for old, ratty $100 bill.

I don't think that is quite right. During the lottery processing, your applications get processed in a random order. So the one you "won" got processed first.

Then, the process goes down through your requested dates, processing those on THAT one application in order, first to last. As soon as one is successful, the system looks up all your other applications and cancels (or Revokes???) them. I was not aware that it would look you up in the Alternate Leader slots, and cancel those, too.

We got one this year. Overnight permit beginning September 17.

Good luck everyone.

I need to revise that. Inyo staff tells me that they are already seeing lots of cancellations going on online.

So apparently there are lots of people who got slots they cannot use.

After a long wait on Rec.gov, I talked to a woman who said the earliest you can pay for your permit is April 1st, 8:00 A.M. Hope that helps.

Your scenario sounds more likely.

She also made it sound like a person reviews all of the winning applications and determines if more than one app is part of the same group or trip to decide if one needs to be revoked.

I believe my permit was issued for my 1st date on Aug 27th. I hit confirm and then submit.

It responded with



"This permit reservation cannot be processed. Please try again later."

Guess the computers must be real busy.

Anyone know if changing your group number after your permit is awarded changes anything with the permit being accepted?

Recreation.gov call center told me that my lottery application just wasn't one of the ones chosen ("we only pick some of them").

Inyo told me that they've had a ton of cancellations, and those show up on Recreation.gov right away. But the # of available permits on Recreation.gov for the dates I'm looking at don't seem to have changed over the past few hours, so I'm questioning that.

I think the most likely scenario is that Recreation.gov:
1. Ran the full lottery.
2. Processed all the cancellations for duplicate trips, same leader on multiple trips, etc.
3. Didn't go back to re-run still valid, yet originally unsuccessful, lottery applications to fill the remaining spaces.

It appears we were successful on our permit request for July 29th (group of 8). When my daughter went on-line to accept and pay, it said currently unavailable. Hopefully, everything will get straightened out in the next couple of days.

That's exactly what I think happened David.

Got my first choice! Monday August 4th over-nighter. Thanks for all the help on here Steve!

After talking to a gal at the Inyo office, it appears that is exactly what happened, however , this cancellation step was not completed until after all lottery dates were filled. After the lottery was completed, the computer went back and threw out all applications that had duplicate names in the alternate leader slots. That left numerous permits available (e.g. 42 permits for August 14) for many dates in the popular months.

The strategy in our group of 5 was to individually submit one application per person as trip leader. We had different email addresses and we paid separately. We named each other as alternates. So far, three of our applications has failed. If all five fail, we won't be too happy because there are already permits available for dates we selected. We assumed that one entry per trip leader was okay, regardless of the names of alternates. We will see if that is true. If all five were thrown out because it was determined a group cannot submit more that one application we will be unhappy because it was not specified in the lottery rules that that strategy was illegal.

AJ,

If you still have those slots, PLEASE do not release them. My wife and I filled out 8 applications and all failed. We would be ecstatic if you let us take two of your slots, or even join you during the hike. We aren't fast, but we have done far more grueling hikes than Mt. Whitney (the Pemi Loop in the White Mountains comes to mind) and we've hiked above 12000 feet numerous times.

Thanks!
Brian

I wonder how nuts registration is going to be on April 1st?

Is it 8am EST that the permits are released? Or PST?

Alright, a follow-up on my above post. It turns out that only 4 of the 5 in our group entered the lottery. All 4 applications were "unsuccessful". It is possible that none of our applications were selected prior to the end of the lottery award process. Here is what is really irritating: the computer is set up to throw out duplicate group applications after the lottery is complete. That leaves numerous permits available that I should have had a shot at winning. The lottery should have continued until all 200, or whatever number, permits were awarded for each day. This lottery is run stupidly, my opinion only.

Does anyone know if the current results being displayed are permanent? Some of the people from my group that I listed as alternate leaders put in separate applications for different dates for themselves to go in smaller groups in case our group of 5 did not get picked. I was awarded the permit, but I'm afraid that the computer/rec.gov people might still be going through and cancelling duplicate applications. I am super worried that I will check back tomorrow and my permit will be revoked.

Julie, I am sure they will not be "un-awarding" permit reservations.

We have not heard this business about alternates being taken out in prior years lotteries, and I am sure we can get more information as time goes on.

Expeditiondan: My first intuition is that it will be 7 AM PDT, but not sure.

Yeah, the whole thing is very weird. My day hike permit was unsuccessful. Not revoked, just straight up unsuccessful. Yet my application alternatives blanketed 15 nearly-consecutive days in late August and early September. My application was for a party of six. It looks like for 11 out of the 15 days I listed as options on my application (including my first choice, Tuesday 8/19), there are at least 6 open slots. What gives?

Am I reading the availability wrong? The X and a number shows the number of open spots, right?

Guess I won't be sleeping in on April 1st...

Brian,
I sent you a PM as well. I don't have any problem for keeping the slots.

AJ

I was unsuccessful in the lottery for an overnight midweek in August. But I was successful for a dayhike in July. I'm thinking I didn't get the overnight even though I used my wife's name - the leader and alternates were the same for 3 apps I submitted. I wish I had known this would disqualify 2 of my 3 apps. When I check current availability I see an "x" and a number. Is this number the number of available spots? And how do I score these spots? Do I wait till April 1?

After we applied rec.gov appears to have changed (or made up)the rules regarding alternate leaders names. They still have not corrected the problem with entered data vanishing before the form is completed. This rec.gov site had a sloppy roll-out last year and continues to be disappointing.

I am soooo bummed. So, in looking at the results, (I applied for 7/3 and supplied 14 alternatives, btw) I was unsuccessful and my girlfriend was also unsuccessful. What I don't understand is that my dates at the very end of June and early July have many available spaces. Without knowing I picked a great time, still unsuccessful.

So with that said, what is one to do in order to get an application to summit and start the JMT? Whitney is just one point on a 30 day trek for me and I don't want to do it from Yosemite. I would like to have my girlfriend meet in in Mammoth for the last 7 days, and two buddies of mine at Lake Edison a bit earlier for our annual fishing trip. The timing of it all is important. Such a bummer.

Any help or guidance with what to do next is appreciated.

Lance, don't be bummed! Permits are a logistical pain, but you can get one. Here are your options:

1. On April 1, when online registrations open up, be online and ready, grab the slots you need, and you are good to go. (I'll try to post later this week the time they are supposed to open the gates.)

2. If #1 fails, in the week before you go, keep checking recreation.gov for any cancellations. Slots do open up occasionally. If you check every hour or two, you are likely to find one. (Checking earlier than the week before is not usually that good -- the few who cancel slots do so just before their trip.)

3. #2 is a pain, so this will work: Go to Lone Pine the day before you want to start your hike. Starting about 8:30, people coming in to pick up their reserved permits will drop off slots for hikers that bailed on them. (These people should cancel those slots ahead of time, but most don't.) All you need to do is walk up to the counter and ask if there are any open slots. Keep checking during the day. I am absolutely sure you will be able to get your permits this way -- for the reason, read the Unused Whitney Permits thread.

And by the way, people using option 3 often discover that there are also slots available to start that very day, not just the next day.

4. Finally, there are also a bunch of no-show people, who have reservations to hike but don't show up at all, and don't logon and cancel online. Their slots become available at 11 AM the day of the hike start. So if you show up at 11 AM, it is very likely you will get your permit and be able to head directly to the trail head. The unused permits numbers include all of these, too.

Steve, thank you for the words of encouragement. I will just have to commit to going to any lengths to make my trip happen for ME. Which may include sitting in Lone Pine in 100 degree heat for a day or two waiting for a permit to be available. What has me sad, is others have no way to depend on this to happen, and as such, may not be able to plan to meet under those circumstances. I guess I could always go a couple of days in advance of the original start date and wait it out...

Or better yet, stop projecting, wait until 12:00 a.m. on April 1, and try to get my dates then, or when they are available.

This is just a bump in the road for a wonderful 220 mile hike right? I will be fishing the JMT from stream to stream and hanging out like Jeremaih Johnson before I know it right?

Lance... Steve is exactly right. I have gone 4 years in a row without permits (and one time my group was 5), and ALWAYS gotten permits. Last year I got permits on Labor Day Weekend. There are two lotteries, one at 11:00, and then for the no shows, one at 2:00. I have always gotten permits when I was there for the 11:00. My friend Gary flies out every year from back East, and never has permits, so you should just plan to get there the day before you want to hike, have a good breakfast in Lone Pine, and get to the Visitors Center around 10:30 or so. That way you can enjoy all the other hikers in your same position.

You guys are awesome. I had a wild hare get loose a few weeks ago, applied, and here I am, trying to figure it out again. I have been swimming a mile a day since January 8, listening to Bill Bryson's "A walk in the woods" while in the pool (AT thru hike audio book, really funny), have lost 20 pounds as of yesterday, and been hiking Mt. Woodson twice a week to get my legs in shape, 4400 elevation change and 7.8 mi RT. As a 44 year old, x-smoker of 4 months now, I have lots of energy and want to do something that I have dreamed about for the past 5 years before my body breaks down. That's why it is so important to me. And to have the support of the folks in my immediate circle is great... They think it is a wonderful adventure rather than a cuckoo castle in the clouds idea reminding us of the hobo days of the 60's. :-)

Well, if people can fly out from the East Coast and still make it on the trail to the summit, then so can I. I will just let my friends know I AM going, Hell or high water! Make plans to depend on my summiting Whitney and I will send you a photo from the top.

By the way, where can I get the biggest-waffle-to-float-in-a-pool-of-syrup breakfast in Lone Pine? Have only driven through the town on my way North possibly stopping for some expensive gas to get to Bishop. :-)

I was unsuccessful also...tried for July 12th party of two.

Lance, yours is a fantastic story! Congratulations on your accomplishments so far. You're really getting in shape, and aiming for a JMT hike is the perfect inspiration and goal.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but there are lots of good things we can share with you. Why don't you start a new topic, something like "Getting ready for the JMT", where people can share their experiences with you.

IMHO, Alabama Hills Cafe.

Also, Whitney Portal Store at the trail head has monster pancakes. Most people have to share just one.

Thanks - I'm not familiar with the system and was confused by that. I'm from the UK and already have flights booked, and keen to climb Whitney while I'm over! Fingers crossed...

Hi

Logging into my account, I just see "There are no reservations". Odd, as I phoned (from the UK) to check my application was OK and they said it was. Any ideas, or should I just phone again?

Thanks - Rob

OK, I should have looked under Lottery Applications. Awarded first choice, 30 June - yay

I still can't confirm or purchase my permit, when do you think we will be able to do that?

From what I read on here, you can't do that until April 1st.

Thanks, I thought I read that somewhere my-self.

I doubt this is realistic for most people. I wouldn't want to start this hike at 12 noon and have to complete it that very day. The complete hike is tough enough, either via the mountaineer's route or regular Whitney trail. I enjoy the toughness of the hike, but I would prefer to enjoy the day as well, take a few pictures, enjoy time at the top, etc., and not try to accomplish a mad scramble up and down.

JimC - we're starting our overnight on Aug 27 too! See you there, maybe :-)

Oldhiker: The 11 AM time is for permits for starting the current day for overnight hikers.

For Day Use hikers, the deadline to pickup a permit is noon the day before their hike, and those no-shows become available at 2 PM the day before. (Last year they were estimating and declaring no-show numbers by 11 AM. Not sure what it will be this year.)

Steve, thanks for the clarification. In your list of strategies 1 thru 4, I didn't pick up on the fact that you were responding to a question about overnight permits. I am a day hiker. I have tried the lottery on several occasions for Whitney and for the Half Dome hike. I have never been successful. Here is the situation for me. This would be a significant trip because I am travelling from out of state. I have several hiking friends that would like to come, but they also live far from California, and a couple of them live in different states than me. It would be a considerable expense for us to collaborate and make trips to Lone Pine just for a chance of getting unused permits at the forest office for a next day hike.

It seems to me that if the lottery was run correctly, all of the permits would be awarded in the lottery. The lottery computer could be programmed to pull a winning application, award it, and then check for duplicate applications by other group members, right then and there. Then procede with the next winning application. At the end of the lottery there would be no dates with 42! unawarded permits. That way, us out-of-state hopefuls would know that we were out of luck for that year, without all of this strategizing for un-awarded/unused permits. I entered the lottery with the expectation that I had a chance to win 100 available permits each day. It turns out (e.g. August 14th) that only 58 permits were awarded for that date. The lottery officials certainly didn't give me a chance to win one of the 100 available for that day. It is not right.

oldhiker: I do think there is an issue in the lottery software, but there is no way for me to verify that until next year. Next year, I'll record the numbers of open slots right after the lottery is run, before people can decline their slots. Then we will have some solid numbers. At this point, it is not worth worrying about.

In the meantime, you can try to get what you want in the April 1 rush. But also, if you and your friends all came to Lone Pine, I can guarantee that you would get permits to hike as a group in 2 or 3 days, and most likely on the first day you try.

So just plan on taking several days, and you are good to go. There are plenty of other places to day hike to get acclimated -- you would be best doing that anyway for several days before the Whitney hike.

Awesome, always great to see a friendly face

2014 Mt Whitney Lottery Update

April 1, at 7 AM Pacific time   All remaining space becomes available for online web reservations
        No phone reservations
        Acceptance period opens for 30 days -- winners can login and pay the $15 per hiker fee
          for the reservations.
        NOTE:  During April, lottery winners who have not already cancelled their slots may login
          and release their reservations. Those slots become available within 24 hours at random
          times.  Inyo reports that last year, 30% of lottery slots were cancelled by May 1.

April 30   Last day to accept and pay for lottery reservations.
        (closes at midnight Eastern time)
        Note: Last year there were many spaces that went unclaimed.

May 1   Throughout the day, all unclaimed spaces become available at random times.

As Steve points out, for those that have the luxury/flexibility of a few extra days, a permit is virtually assured. For those without that flexibility, the probably is still high that a permit will be obtained. For those who make the trip, and do not get a permit, all is NOT lost. There are plenty of alternatives to Mt. Whitney, that offer spectacular hikes with or without camping. For day hikes there are no permits typically required, and for overnight hikes permits are normally not a problem.

All along hwy 395 there are roads going west that lead to trail heads that lead to magnificent hiking and camping. One web site you might want to check out is: http://www.mammothcityconcierge.com/activities/trail-heads.asp
This web site is a bit out of date, so not all of the information is correct (toilets along the Mt. Whitney Trail), so keep that in mind.

Check it out. Even If you miss Mt. Whitney, you will still not be disappointed.

We're trying to confirm our day hike permits but no luck.
Keep getting this message:
"This permit reservation cannot be processed. Please try again later."

April 1st is when you can confirm

I am excited also, I just want to confirm it!!

I 've been trying to confirm my permit and got message saying that " the permit Reservation can not be processed, please try again later "
Has anyone successfully confirm their reservation yet ?

Mimi: Next Tuesday, April 1!

I'm new to this forum, and was wondering if I'm able to get an overnight permit for a group of 4 if I were to go to the station in the morning itself to pickup around 11am?

I've read some of the discussions here but don't seem to have a clear answer to this, I know you could obtain an unused permit for day hikes but how about the overnight permits? Im planning to hike sometime around May or June possibly a Sunday-Monday hike, whichever dates that are less likely to be full.

Any suggestions which months are the best to score unused overnight permits?

yes i was also turned down....but the dates i pick still have slots............question.......thru all april do i check the site every day or just april 1 for 2 day slots...thanks

Nick N: We have tried to explain it in the Wilderness Permit Options page (link in the Feature Topics box above on the left). Especially read box 6, No-Fee Permit Options. The no-show process works for BOTH overnight and Day Use permits. Only the days and times are slightly different, when the no-shows come available. If you are unsure about anything after reading that, please do ask.

Clarence: Your best chance at picking up permits is at 7 AM April 1 (Pacific Daylight time). Is that 10 AM in Ohio? If you are unsuccessful in that rush, more will come available occasionally during April as more people cancel theirs. And then on May 1, the slots from people who won, but never accepted or cancelled will come available at random times through out the day.

I logged in to check my application status today (march 31st), and got unsuccesful on all my dates. I'm going to login tomorrow at 10am (Eastern Time) to try again, but still I have questions :

#1 : I see unreached quotas on some of the dates I asked, how come ?

#2 : Does Canadians have as much chance as Americans, or they give priority to U.S. resident ?

Sorry if this have been asked before, a link to an answer will be appreciated.

Julie, answering #2: you have the same chances as everyone else. There are no special categories.

#1 I am told it is because people won those slots in the lottery before your application was picked, and then they already logged in and declined them. Next year, I'll grab the numbers right after the lottery runs, and store them. Others were reporting the same issue. Regardless, they will be there for the taking April 1.

Good luck tomorrow. Get onto the system before 10 AM, keep refreshing the screen, and work quickly when they become available.

lovely, I cant check out with my permits

I wonder if the system is just swamped? It says order is not available for processing.

Yeah, they seem to be having major issues. I couldn't check out, either. Just a continual error of:

"The order is not available for processing. Please try again later."

Has anyone actually booked a permit?

I'm in same boat...can't check out.

I called recreation.gov. They said they're aware that something is wrong with the system and "the issue has been escalated."

They said best bet is to just keep trying later.

thanks Dave