> First, I really want to thank everyone that organizes and contributes to this message board. Through the years I have gained a lot of knowledge for my upcoming trips that have been invaluable.
Well, you could always donate $10 or $20 to WHA -- it's the fund that pays for the software and hosting service that this forum runs on. I had to throw some of my own $$ into the pot this year to do the recent upgrade. I guess we could always introduce advertisements....
Now about that permit: You cannot backpack on that day hike permit period. It really won't do you any good if you are backpacking, so go ahead and return it once you get an overnight permit. (So someone else can use it.)
There are two routes you can use to backpack and climb Whitney: Either starting from Horseshoe Meadows (actually 2 trailheads there: Cottonwood Lakes & Cottonwood Pass), or Onion Valley (Kearsarge Pass trailhead). If you only have 3 days, Horseshoe Meadows is better. But you also need the "Exiting Mt Whitney" additional permit to descend from Trail Crest directly to Whitney Portal. Those permits (25 per day limit) are really hard to get, but maybe this year it may be easier -- with the walk-ins released to the online Recreation.gov site two weeks in advance of the hike. If you can't get the Exit permit, then you would need to go out-and-back via Horseshoe Meadows, likely a 4-5 day trip. But at least your car would be where you needed it.
The one-way in at HM, out at WP is difficult for transportation. Good luck1
