> "Russell: Just go to the Visitor Center in Lone Pine and get in line for a walk-in permit. Except on really busy weekends, they are nearly always available."
This works if you are there for 3-4 days because you have to be there at 11am for the next day permits. Same-day permits for Day Use mean you won't summit because the station opens at 8am and you won't really get out of there until around 930am. If you wait for a day-use for Sunday and have to work on Monday...well good luck. Walk-ins need a bit of planning and spare time, unfortunately.
If you can snag permits from someone who has a spot in their group because of cancellation, it's a ideal situation and it's always best to try your luck. Works well if you want to show up on a Saturday and spend the weekend on the mountain. For weekend warriors, the 'show-up' doesn't always work and I've not managed to make it work yet.
I could never do a day-hike of Whitney on Sunday then go back to work on Monday.
