Bret, not sure if you have seen it yet, but check out the Unused Whitney Permits for 2009, and you can see for yourself how many Whitney permits go unused. And those numbers are from the END of the day. There are many no-shows and cancellations each day, and those are given out to people who show up and ask ...free!

The cancellations come available as people call in. The no-shows are made available for day hikers at 2 PM the day before the hike. Overnight no-shows come available at 11 AM for entry the current day.

We will be creating a 2010 unused permits page this year as well.