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Whitney Lottery 2014
#34919 01/15/14 12:56 PM
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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?

Re: Whitney Lottery
Sparty85 #34920 01/15/14 02:15 PM
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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

Last edited by Steve C; 03/26/14 09:23 AM.
Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Sparty85 #34936 01/16/14 05:57 PM
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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
Originally Posted By: Steve C
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.


Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #34970 01/22/14 09:26 AM
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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!

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Marty #34973 01/22/14 10:46 AM
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> 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

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #34975 01/22/14 07:43 PM
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Thanks Steve!

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #34976 01/23/14 09:07 AM
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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?

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
RenoFrank #34978 01/23/14 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted By: RenoFrank
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.

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #35101 02/05/14 10:50 PM
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On Recreation.gov, this is posted:

Quote:
Attention: The Mount Whitney lottery is open through March 15, 2014, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time!

This lottery is for permits with entry dates between May 1, 2014 and November 1, 2014. However, the trail may not be clear of snow for early or late season dates.

Trips sponsored by organizations or commercial groups must contact the Inyo National Forest wilderness permit office before applying for a Mt. Whitney permit.

Fees: No Refunds

Transaction Fee: One application may list up to 15 trip choices and 3 alternate leaders for one $6.00

Transaction Fee: Please submit only one application per group.

Reservation Fee: Lottery winners must pay a $15.00 per person reservation fee by April 30, 2014 to claim any awarded date. Unclaimed dates will be canceled.
Seasonal trail information, Lottery Tips & Statistics, can be found here.

Click here to start a lottery application or enter your preferred date and search.

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #35104 02/06/14 07:58 AM
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"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.



Journey well...
Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Sparty85 #35128 02/11/14 10:13 PM
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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

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #35193 02/25/14 11:56 PM
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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'.


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Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #35227 03/04/14 08:38 AM
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Ten days left before lottery applications are closed.

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

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #35249 03/06/14 08:13 AM
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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!

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Krishna #35253 03/06/14 11:22 AM
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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.

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #35283 03/10/14 10:30 PM
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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.

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #35323 03/15/14 08:24 PM
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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.

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #35377 03/22/14 09:28 PM
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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.

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Steve C #35379 03/23/14 06:22 AM
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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.

Re: Whitney Lottery 2014
Sparty85 #35384 03/23/14 11:27 AM
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Any insight on whats causing the delay?

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