Originally Posted By: walt
The MMWT Permit is to enter the Whitney Zone. It is a different Wilderness Permit to camp at Lone Pine Lake.

Well, I contacted Inyo N.F. staff regarding this debate. Here is the reply:

Quote:
Two points identify the correct permit/ quota.
· If the entry trail is Mt. Whitney Trail;
· and trip is more than one day;
Then the correct permit is the Mt Whitney Trail Overnight permit. Same quota, 60 people per day, applies whether you will enter the zone or not.

Permit includes camping at Lone Pine Lake and anywhere else along the Mt Whitney Trail inside the Wilderness Boundary. The boundary of the Whitney Zone is irrelevant for this permit as all Mt Whitney Trail permits are allowed to access the zone.

This is on our webpage, Mount Whitney Lottery - Permit Reservations near the map of the Whitney Zone.

This map shows where day hikers are required to have a wilderness permit (all the area in the RED boundary).

Overnight permits are required for all multi day trips in the wilderness. This includes outside the RED zone, camping at Lone Pine Lake, and trips that will pass through the Whitney Zone to the park.