So, if you break ankle you are suppose to hobble out on your exit date? Also, if you complete the Onion Valley to WP a day early you are supposed to stay at Lone Pine Lake an extra night?
Common sense dictates the exit date to be a best guess approximation. The only Whitney Trip I've come off on the exact date on my permit has been my day hikes. Every other trip I have come off the trail a different date than what is on my permit. I have been stopped by forest service employees and volunteers and no one, I repeat, no one has ever questioned me about my exit dates, extra days or early.
