Here is a summary of the 2009 Lottery progress:

3/2/2009
Number of applications received: 5,854.

3/11/2009
 5,983 Total applications sent to the lottery
    315 Number rejected (Sent back with the option of the correcting and resubmitting)
    131 Number of unsuccessful (no space left for requested dates and group size)
 1,985 Number successful (reservations allocated)
 3,552 still to process.

3/22/2009
First "so sorry" notice received by a member

3/27/2009
Application processing completed (charging cc, cashing checks, mailing notices not complete)
6023 applications received
3638 reservations / 2043 unsuccessful (64% successful)

Charging credit cards & mailing success notices begins (takes more than a week)

4/1 - 4/3/2009
Many credit card charges and mail notices reported.

4/8/2009
Updated web page showing slots still open: Mt. Whitney Trail Reservation Availability

4/9/2009
Still sending out letters.
All unsuccessful letters have been sent.
Still several hundred charge cards to run
Now calling people who have had their charge cards changed, to get the new credit card number.