Mt. Whitney Lottery Application 2011

January, 2013 update:  For 2013 permit lottery information, use this link:   Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2013

January, 2012 update:  For 2012 permit lottery information, use these links:
    Mt Whitney Permit Reservations 2012
    2012 Whitney Permit Lottery information now available


Update April 4, 2011:  The 2011 Mt Whitney permit lottery processing has completed.  For more information, see the Whitney Lottery progress info here:  Mt. Whitney Lottery Progress Reports

Update Mar 16, 2011:  The lottery application period for 2011 is now closed.  The Inyo National Forest staff are processing all remaining applications, and will be sending out successful reservations and notices for unsuccessful applications.  This process usually completes early in April.  In 2012, the Forest Service hopes to have an automated system in place -- the lottery will occur electronically, and be completed in minutes.

Here's a related thread:  Fighting Permit angst.. alternate trip suggestions?

Jan 26, 2011:

Inyo National Forest staff have posted the 2011 Mt. Whitney Lottery Application forms.

Just remember, forms must NOT be mailed until February 1, 2011.  New this year, the deadline for mailing is March 15, but you will have the best success rate if you mail the first week of February.

Here are the links:
For a Whitney permit outside of the lottery:  Use THIS FORM (or call the Wilderness Permit office, 760-873-2483).

The Inyo National Forest web page with access to the applications is here:    Inyo National Forest- Recreation Passes & Permits.
(Links to the Lottery information and application form are under the "New Information" column on the right.)

Inyo National Forest has their "Calendar of Dates Available" pages for both day hikes and overnight use to show what dates were filled and what space was left after the 2010 lottery was completed.  Those pages are also accessible from the Passes & Permits page:
    Calendar of Dates Available:   Day Use Mt Whitney Zone  and  Overnight Mt Whitney trail

Looking at the Lottery Information page, the question and answer format appears to be inspired by our own WhitneyZone Wilderness Permit Options decision tree.   cool   Also note that 2011 may be the last year for the mail-in lottery.  2012 may see the first computerized lottery process.  Just imagine, overnight results!

Note:   For planning purposes, you can look at the Unused Whitney Permits - 2010 information. It has a column to show the permits available on 4/8 (immediately after all lottery apps were processed), as well as the number unused after the actual date.  Based on the numbers there, NOBODY should be entering the lottery for a May hike except maybe overnighters on the Memorial weekend.  The same goes for most days in October.  During these times, you would be able to walk into the Visitor Center in Lone Pine and pick up a permit free of charge.

During June, 2010, there was much snow on the Mt Whitney trail, so the numbers of unused permits are unusually high.  In drier years, since the trail is clear of snow by June, you would see lower unused permit numbers.

You can see last year's lottery thread here:  Whitney Lottery Application 2010.  And here is a report, complete with pictures, showing the USFS staff actually processing the 7168 lottery applications:  Look who has her hand in the cookie jar...

Good luck everyone!

Edit: Last year, the quickest way for people to find out if they had been successful in the lottery was to check online if their credit card account had been charged. The Forest Service charged the credit cards earlier than they deposited checks. So, if you really want to find out early, use a credit card rather than writing a check.