It's not stated, therefore, it should be assumed he did not ask for an exemption.
You cannot guarantee with absolute certainty, will not sleep east of Trail Crest and between Donohue Pass and Happy Isle. If you pass through and area with a canister requirement you must have a canister.
Let's try this one on for size, I get a permit for the MMWT and I do not take a canister of any type with the idea of staying at Crabtree Meadow but stay at Trail Camp instead. According to all y'all, I'm not in violation because I intended to go to Crabtree Meadow. My next unintended stop in Chicken Spring Lake...same circumstances, again, I am not in violation in a canister area. Your argument does not make sense to me.
All this sounds like to me is a meetup group or the Sierra Club get multiple permits for for San G and hike as single group.
