You can still do Whitney this year, just not by the Mt. Whitney Trail. Look for a permit departing from Cottonwood Lakes/Shepherd Pass/Kearsarge Pass with a Trail Crest exit for later in the season (late August through September). You can leave a car at Whitney Portal, shuttle to your trailhead, and spend 4-5 days hiking in the SEKI backcountry on your way to summiting Whitney on the last day of your trip.
