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 Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 373 Likes: 13
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 373 Likes: 13 |
(from https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/inyo/passes-permits/recreation) Crossing Park Boundaries Your wilderness permit must be issued via Inyo National Forest if your trip starts from Inyo National Forest, even if the first night of your trip will be spent in an adjacent national park or forest. One permit is valid for the duration of a trip, including traveling through adjacent parks and forests. If you exit the wilderness in Inyo National Forest for more than 24 hours or re-enter at a different location, a new permit is required for the new entry location. Interesting. Not sure if that applies to Whitney permits or not.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
Interesting. Not sure if that applies to Whitney permits or not. Not really applicable to Whitney permits, unless someone started at Whitney Portal, and hiked over Trail Crest and camped on the other side (in Sequoia N.P.). There are a number of Inyo N.F. trails where people start out on an Inyo trail head, and cross the Sierra Crest. It is the trail head agency that issues the permit for the entire trip. The part about exiting the wilderness for 24 hours is mostly for long-distance (like PCT or JMT) hikers who need to come out for a resupply. They can spend the night in town, get their new supply, and return to the same trail, on the original permit. I suppose someone could sort of live in the mountains on one permit, coming out every week or so for new supplies. As long as they moved their camp location at least once every two weeks, they could spend an entire summer in the mountains, on a single entry permit.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4 |
Hi Tarrytown, welcome! On 4/1, those slots you see with the X and a number will become available at 10 AM Eastern Time. And it's a free-for-all. The only way to get any of those is to be really fast:
Be logged in and ready. Keep refreshing the screen until the X changes to A (available) click the 'A', then click Book Permit, as fast as you can, because you could be racing dozens of others doing the same thing. If you are successful, the screen will jump to the cart, and you have 15 minutes to pay.
Now... I'm not sure how the system works for someone like you who already has several slots, so you're adding to an existing trip. I hope the system is smooth enough for it to work out for you.
Now... If there aren't any slots currently available to add on your date, it's a pretty slim chance any will show up by 4/1. Throughout April, if anyone logs in and declines slots they won, then those will pop up "at a random time in the next 24 hours".
On May 1, if anyone won slots for your same date, but they just did not pay, then their slots will be released by the system on May 1, and pop up as available "at a random time in the next 24 hours".
Good luck!! Many thanks, Steve. Very helpful! I'll be online tomorrow morning and ready to go.
35/50
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 11
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 11 |
Two years ago I purchased two separate sets of day permits, for the same date, (one for a group of four and one for a group of three) after the May 1 release, to accommodate an anticipated number of hikers. I was only able to obtain permits for one selected set of the purchases, when I went to the Visitors Center before our hike. I was informed that I was allowed to reserve/purchase only one set of permits under my name as the group leader, for a specified date. The disallowed purchase was released to the day lottery at the Visitor Center. No refund- which was OK by me since my hiking party ended up being smaller in number.
I would be cautious regarding purchasing additional slots for a day in which you already have a confirmed reservation. I don't know how this would work if the alternate leader picked up the reservations.
Best to check with the Visitor Center.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23 |
If I am lucky enough to be able to find available dates during the mini sale tomorrow, do I have to input the names of the hikers in my party or can that be decided at a later date. I have 1 member of my party that might be replaced by another depending on circumstance. Is this allowable?
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
The application only needs the leader. You can put an alternate leader, so that person can pick up the permit in your absence. I don't think you can enter the other members names on the online system (but I could be wrong). They certainly aren't required.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4 |
Oh well. Clicked on the button as soon as the clock turned 10 and the inventory was already gone. Either someone was a fraction of a second faster than me, or they built a bot to do it. At least I have my permit for two.
35/50
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6 |
I just tried for the mini-sale and unless the spots are reserved before the form gets filled/submitted, I'm 99% sure that people used scripts or bots to grab the permits. Had a friend and myself non-stop clicking the "Reserve" button at 6:59am PDT and we didn't even see the forms page before they got taken.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23 |
I was doing the same thing as you. I also had my wife and all parties of my group doing the same thing for different dates and all available dates turned to R right at 7. We are all a bit annoyed at the process so far and not sure of our chances going forward.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1 |
I actually was able to secure 2 day use July permits this morning for the mini sale and am so excited!
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 96
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 96 |
Clicked at 10 AM EDT but no luck. So I hung around the calendar for a couple of hours and I was able to snag a date in September...feeling fortunate.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
Oh well. Clicked on the button as soon as the clock turned 10 and the inventory was already gone. Either someone was a fraction of a second faster than me, or they built a bot to do it. At least I have my permit for two. You have to click the browser's refresh button and click again as soon as it refreshes. Then as soon as the "A" shows up, you have to click the "A", then "Book Permit". It IS quite possible that people have a bot programmed. But it is also possible that they have a faster (or shorter) connection to the rec.gov site, so they would get the updated screen with the "A" displayed before others. But there will be quite a few more slots showing up at random times on May 1, starting at 7 AM Pacific time. With the random times, everyone has a more fair chance of getting something they want.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 19
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 19 |
My buddy and I were able to secure overnight permit for Oct 4th - 7th. We have both summited Mt Whitney back in our early 20s on a day hike. Now both of us are 40, so this time around, we wanted to enjoy our time on the mountain and acclimate at the same time.
Our plan is - Portal to Outpost Camp - Oct 4th
OC to Trail Camp - Oct 5th
TC to summit to TC - Oct 6th
TC to Portal - Oct 7th
We both know we could probably get this done in 1 or 2 nights, but we want to enjoy our time away from work and it's been a long time since either of us have been up at any significant altitude. Last for me was Pike's Peak - 2 day hike up in October 2015; for my buddy it was Rainier in 2014 I believe.
Looking forward to attempting another summit of such a great mountain! Hope to see some of those on this board up there around that time.
Mike
“Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.”
- Ed Viesturs
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
MtMike: welcome and good luck!
Just to get a head start on acclimatization, you should try to sleep the night of Oct 3 at Whitney Portal (8k) or even better Horseshoe Meadows at 10k. Both will have plenty of walk-in spaces in October.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 256 Likes: 36
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 256 Likes: 36 |
Is there any real point of entering the Mt. Whitney lottery? Last two years I haven't gotten a ticket, but just picked one off afterwards off the webpage without a problem.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2 |
Hi, I'm new and have found this site to be a great resource for information. Thanks to everyone on here for that. I've got a question regarding carrying permits on the trail.
My wife entered the lottery and got one of our choices. However, in between submitting the application and winning, we found out she was pregnant. She is not going to do the hike, however I would still like to do it, but with someone else. Is there any legitimate solution here? Everything I've read seems to say 'no'.
Do I have to carry ID on the trail? I don't mind being Melissa the transgender hiker if need be. I feel it's an extenuating circumstance and it's a net gain of zero for people on the trail so I don't feel morally wrong, but I also want to be able to look forward to the trip without worrying about if I'll actually be allowed to get to the summit the entire time.
Any suggestions? I've been checking the site for permits to pop up and plan on trying for a walk-in pass as well.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
Hi jkp653. If she put you down as an alternate leader, then you can pick up the permit and hike without her. Picking up the permit is the critical part -- you must show ID there.
If she didn't put you down, only chance you have is to call the Wilderness Permit number 760-873-2483 and hope they agree with the "extenuating circumstance" situation. If they agree to add you as an alternate leader, then you can go without your wife.
Congratulations on the "construction project"!!!
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 19
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 19 |
Steve C:
I'll be flying in on Wednesday from Chicago and we have reservations at the Best Western in Lone Pine for Oct 3rd. I'll be getting in early into LAX, so we should be up in Lone Pine by 12 or 1pm. I was thinking of going up to the Portal for a few hours and/or maybe do a hike up to Lone Pine Lake to acclimate.
Mike
“Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.”
- Ed Viesturs
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 373 Likes: 13
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 373 Likes: 13 |
Hey, she can give birth at the summit... what a story.  Although you may need a 3rd permit for the way down then. 
Last edited by WanderingJim; 04/03/18 06:54 PM.
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Re: Mt Whitney Lottery 2018
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,524 Likes: 105 |
Steve C:
I'll be flying in on Wednesday from Chicago and we have reservations at the Best Western in Lone Pine for Oct 3rd. I'll be getting in early into LAX, so we should be up in Lone Pine by 12 or 1pm. I was thinking of going up to the Portal for a few hours and/or maybe do a hike up to Lone Pine Lake to acclimate. MtMikeR: That could work for you and your buddy. I was only making a suggestion to sleep at altitude even your first night to get that acclimatization head start. But since you have both been on high peaks without trouble before, you will probably be just fine.
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