Originally Posted By: Briang191
Originally Posted By: Joe
I was on Whitney early September 2015. We spent two nights on the mountain and I didn't see one ranger. Now, I'd like to go back this September, I'm checking for online permit openings daily, but still have nothing. If need be, I'll try the "daily" lottery when I get out there. If I don't get a permit, I'll respect the rules and will bypass doing the trail but I too wonder how many people are on the mountain with no permits.


If I ever had the nerve to call the visitor center Id ask why have a permit system in place, if no one is enforcing the rule.

I would guess 20% hike with no permit.


That seems kinda high, I doubt that many hike without permits. I would say the odds of getting your permit checked is at least 20% though. I've been up there about 30 times of the last 20 years and have gotten checked perhaps 5 times over that span. However there could have been a few times where I didn't notice a ranger who already saw that I had a tag on my bag and so never bothered to stop me.