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Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103 |
January, 2012: The 2012 Whitney Permit lottery is Online only. Links: Mt Whitney Permit Reservations 2012 2012 Whitney Permit Lottery information now availableEdit Dec 3, 2010: The 2011 Lottery information is here: Whitney Lottery Application 2011Edit June 6: You can see the numbers of unused permits for 2010 and prior years here.Edit April 26: you can see what is currently available from the Inyo National Forest Mt. Whitney Trail Reservation Availability web pages: Spots available May through July were available as of Wednesday, April 21. August and later are available for phone-in requests as of Wednesday, April 28. Phone number is 760-873-2483 Edit April 10: The lottery application period ended Feb 28, and Inyo National Forest staff have completed processing the 7,370 applications they received. You can see the posts about the lottery progress here. (Last updated Wednesday April 7.)
Inyo National Forest staff have posted the 2010 Mt. Whitney Lottery Application forms. Just remember, forms must NOT be mailed until February 1, 2010. The Inyo web page with the applications is here: Recreational Activities - Mt. Whitney LotteryHere are the links to the application forms. You have to print one, fill it out, then mail it. And just to provide a backup location (in case the N.F. web site has any trouble), the same docs can be found here: Edit: For planning purposes, you can look at the Unused Whitney Permits - 2009 information. It has a column to show the permits available on 4/1 (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.
Last edited by Steve C; 01/20/12 10:24 PM.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 130
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 130 |
Ah yes. Time to update the WP Options thread.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1 |
We are trying to put together a large group (12-15) and are trying to get a feel for the chances of a particular weekend in August being awarded in the lottery process. Does anyone know the statistics from previous years? particularly how many applications were received and how many were tossed out OR how many 1st choices were issued, 2nd choice etc OR possibly how many applications had Aug 1st as 1st choice, Aug 2nd as 1st choice, etc.
Any advice would be welcome.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103 |
Sean, here's what the Inyo N.F. people sent me last year: YES, finally, at 10:00 am today, March 27, we reached the bottom of the lottery box.
6023 applications were sent to the 2009 Mt Whitney lottery 3638 reservations / 2043 unsuccessful The charging of credit cards, and successful mail will begin this next week.
Lots of people have been calling with concerns about charge cards that had to be canceled. We will not disqualify someone for a declined charge card transaction. When we find a card number that is declined, we will call the person and ask for updated charge card information.
It will take more than a week to get all the letters out. I will write again when the last of the mail is sent.
The calendar with dates that have space still available should be updated in early April.
Cheers So your chances of getting a permit are fair. However, with a group size of 12-15, unless your app is processed early, your chances are much lower. It would also help if you chose more days, and mid-week always fills more slowly than weekends. You didn't say, are you looking for a day hike or overnight permit? The overnights fill even quicker than the day hike permits. Look at the Unused Whitney Permits - 2009 too. It has a column to show the permits available on 4/1 (immediately after all lottery apps were processed), as well as the number unused after the actual date. From watching the forums and knowing how large groups work, especially for a major hike like Whitney, if you do get a permit for the large number, you will probably find people drop out when it comes to within a few days of your hike. So if I were getting permits, I would write someplace on the application something like: "If a smaller number of permits is available, we will accept a reservation for anywhere between 8 and 15 people." And IF you have a permit for fewer than actually do go, call the permit office two or three days before and ask about adding what you need. And there are always walk-in permits available on the actual day before the hike due to no-shows. Good Luck!
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103 |
Here's another query I found: My group and I will apply for our permit next week .It looks like we will have 8-9 people in the group. We will put in for an overnight permit and give several days that we will be available.
Just wondering if larger groups like this are affected at all by the lottery.
If your application gets in before the 15th, do you have a greater chance of being drawn, as opposed to getting the app in the END of Feb
Last, have any of you guys NOT got a permit that you applied for? 1. Are larger groups affected...Yes. As slots fill up and there are only a few open for a given start date, people looking for one or two permits can fill the last open slots within the quota. 2. If your application gets in before the 15th, do you have a greater chance of being drawn?Definitely! Application processing begins this year on Feb 16 (the 15th is a holiday). So if your application is already in, it might be pulled and processed. Between the 16th and 28th, as more applications are received in the mail each day, they are added to the barrel and get shuffled into the unprocessed ones. 3. have any of you guys NOT got a permit that you applied for?Last year, 3638 out of 6023 applications received (60%) were successful. Due to the small groups filling the remaining slots in nearly full days, larger groups have a lower success rate.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,256 Likes: 2
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,256 Likes: 2 |
Strategic question here for the multi-year vets. I snagged a 2 nighter last year beginning on a Wednesday and exiting on a Friday. Ultimately I wound up trading that in for a dayhike, but that's a story in itself. In selecting dates for this year's lottery, I was wondering if there was a feel out there for when the least demanded entry and exit days are for multi-nighters. I'm targeting the latter half of July for a group of 6, two-nighter, and am completely open to any days/dates.
So, is a Sunday entry more likely to find an open space than say a Tuesday entry? I would suspect that Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the most sought after entry days, but is there any real difference in your selection chances with the other days?
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103 |
I checked the unused permits numbers, and if they are any indication, Tuesday and Wednesday start dates appear to be in least demand of any week days. And the two weeks after the July 4th week / weekend are less in demand than the last two weeks of July or the first two of August. Available numbers seem to pick some later in August -- probably due to school starting in mid August for some.
It is likely that Monday through Thursday start days are in less demand than Friday - Sunday.
And you don't need to worry about exit dates or number of days on the trail. Permits ask about planned number of days, but the actual permit limits are only based on the entry date.
But you should put down your first choices on the lottery form, with mid-week or earlier in July as lower choices. If your app gets pulled early, you get the primo slots!
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,256 Likes: 2
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,256 Likes: 2 |
Thanks Steve. I didn't know that about the exit dates - I just assumed that the 100 person overnight cap was managed on a cumulative basis, not just the entry date. Good info.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253 |
I'm not big on the lottery for MMWT, especially day hike permits. It's a rare day something isn't available. Every year, folks end up with permits in June or July, which they can't use because of conditions. An example of this was 4th of July weekend 2005. My friends and I utilized WP to acclimatize before heading up to Bishop Lake, the place was a ghost town because it was still winter up high...and the permits were sold out. Be careful what you request, you may end up with it. BTW, tomorrow is the first day you can request a trip from another trailhead to Whitney Portal for August 1. Just call, no lottery. My geezer friends and I have done Horseshoe Meadow to WP in 3 days and OV in 4, if a bunch of 50+ geezers can do it...
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103 |
To everyone entering the lottery this year: This week is the optimum time to mail your permit reservation requests, so they are received before Feb 16, when Inyo N.F. people start processing the requests. Good Luck to all!BTW, tomorrow is the first day you can request a trip from another trailhead to Whitney Portal for August 1. Just call, no lottery. My geezer friends and I have done Horseshoe Meadow to WP in 3 days and OV in 4, if a bunch of 50+ geezers can do it... Wbtravis is referring to the Trail Crest Exit permits. There is a quota of 25 per day allowed, and 15 are reservable up to six months in advance. If you plan to hike to Mt. Whitney from another Inyo N.F. trailhead, such as Onion Valley/Kearsarge Pass or Horseshoe Meadows, and exit via the Main Mt. Whitney Trail, then a Trail Crest Exit Permit is required. However, if you are coming from the west side (Sequoia N.P.), you do not need the exit permit.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2 |
Are the applications prioritized in order of postmark? Or does the USDA Forest Service collect all applications that have arrived by 2/16 and treat them equally (in random order, whatever they open first from the stack gets priority)?
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 849 Likes: 3
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 849 Likes: 3 |
Are the applications prioritized in order of postmark? Or does the USDA Forest Service collect all applications that have arrived by 2/16 and treat them equally (in random order, whatever they open first from the stack gets priority)? All apps are NOT prioritized in order of postmark. I have in the past submitted 4 pages of dates on my application. I think there were 12 dates of preference per page on previous apps, but now there are 10 per page. Still, 40 is a lot of dates. Here is what I did: Kept group size small. 4 have a better chance than 8 or 15. So choose your friends WISELY! I chose dates in August and September. My first preferences were dates with a FULL MOON or WANING GIBBOUS. I chose dates that fell on a Tues, Wed or Thurs, then listed Mon and Fri. I listed weekends LAST since many choose those dates first. I did not list the Labor Day weekend. Made sure I double-checked everything. DON'T FORGET TO SIGN if paying with a credit/debit card! Good luck everyone! Have fun.
Journey well...
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 695
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 695 |
Or does the USDA Forest Service collect all applications that have arrived by 2/16 and treat them equally (in random order, whatever they open first from the stack gets priority)? Yes.
If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracle of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it. - Lyndon Johnson, on signing the Wilderness Act into law (1964)
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16 |
..... So if I were getting permits, I would write someplace on the application something like: "If a smaller number of permits is available, we will accept a reservation for anywhere between 8 and 15 people." Very good advice!!! Last year I had applied for a large group (15 people), and I included four pages of date options. I found out later that when my application was drawn, there was space available for 12 people...but not 15. If I would have put a note on my application like Steve suggested, we would have got our permits issued. As it turns out, we were able to pick up walk-in permits for an "overnight" for 6 people. But we were lucky - there were more people hoping to pick up the walk-in permits than what was available, so there was a mini-lottery for the available permits.... my sister picked number 1! A few more family members picked up one-day permits the following day.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 567
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 567 |
Hi + @ti2d ..... I like your method. I think I'm going to do the walk in though. Less money, less disappointment (at least in the mail.) The two times I went last year, there were walk ins avalable, for as many as 80+ early in October. October's a risk though.
Also, "WANING GIBBOUS".....I like that. I had to look it up. Tell me more:-)
p.s. after people get their dates, let us know what they are!
"Turtles, Frogs & other Environmental Sculpture" www.quillansculpturegallery.comtwitter: @josephquillan If less is more, imagine how much more, more is -Frasier
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 849 Likes: 3
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 849 Likes: 3 |
..Also, "WANING GIBBOUS".....I like that. I had to look it up. Tell me more:-) A full moon usually rises just as the sun sets. The waning gibbous rises later in the evening sky. All of my hikes started around midnight. Sun/Moon Rise/Set For August 2010, the full moon is the 24th. My "hypo" submission would be: 24 (first choice) 25 waning gibbous 26 waning gibbous 27 waning gibbous 23 waxing gibbous 30 waning gibbous 31 waning gibbous 28 Sat waning gibbous 29 Sun waning gibbous 22 Sun waxing gibbous If I keep my group small (2-4 people) I stand a good chance of getting my first choice. In the event I don't, I hope to secure dates for the 25th, 26th, or 27th since those are weekdays. As I stated earlier, I have submitted four pages.
Journey well...
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1 |
Hi All,
I'm trying to reserve an overnight spot for the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek and I realize that I don't have to enter the lottery. However, I want to enter the lottery too just as a back-up in case I get shut-out of the Mountaineer's Route.
Am I going to get in trouble with the Forest Service for this? I'm concerned that they're going to get wise to my plans and slap me for trying to double-dip on the reservations.
Any advice would be appreciated.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103 |
Getting the overnight permit for the MR is just a matter of calling the Wilderness Permit number (760-873-2483) and asking (Check the "Wilderness Permit Options" link in the Feature Topics box above on the left.) They become available 6 months in advance.
There are also a few (4) available to walk-in requests the day before your date of entry at 11 AM at any Inyo National Forest station.
> Am I going to get in trouble with the Forest Service for this? I'm concerned that they're going to get wise to my plans and slap me for trying to double-dip on the reservations. Absolutely not. But the lottery is for something else -- either a dayhike to the summit of Whitney, either via the main trail or the mountaineer's route, OR an overnight hike on the main trail only.
You can enter the lottery multiple times (they don't like that), but if several of your requests gets in, you will be charged multiple times, and it is NOT refundable. Don't even ask for one.
So make the phone call first, and see what you can get.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103 |
Mt. Whitney Lottery Progress Reports are posted in this thread: Whitney_Lottery_Progress_2010
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103 |
Here's a question posted elsewhere: When I mailed in the application I had the Forest Service website open and I selected the dates according to the ones listed as still available. Does anyone know if their website is accurate and updated ? The numbers posted currently on the Mt. Whitney Trail Reservation Availability page are what was available AFTER the 2009 lottery processing was completed. So if you selected the dates that were open, you are highly likely to get a permit reservation this year. In fact, looking at those numbers, it is completely unnecessary to apply for a May permit, except for Memorial weekend. And likewise for day use and most overnights in October. Edit Dec 15, 2010: I see lots of people hitting this message looking for lottery information, so making a note here... Scroll to the top (or click the following link) to see the 2011 Lottery information post: Whitney Lottery Application 2011
Last edited by Steve C; 12/15/10 10:45 AM.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 567
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 567 |
+ @ti2D... Okay, I gave in and sent in for some dates. Since I'm pretty much okay for a walk in, I'll probably get my dates this year! Gary (Bulldog) sent in for some dates and I doubled them. I figure I can give em back to the forest service if both Gary and I get them.... and I did my 2010 donation to the service. I don't like doubling up, but Gary's coming from the East Coast and we need to up our chances.
I'm still out of shape. I have had a hard time getting it going with lots of stuff going on around here. My poor dog Daphne had to be put down last week. She was my only stability in the last 12+ years, so I tipped a bottle of Chardonnay before my wife took us to the vet so we could put her down. I probably looked pretty silly to the vet as I hugged my baby girl Daff. I never looked up once at the vet while I was there, just kept my eyes on Daff. My stepson Kaleb, who did Whitney with us last year was with us and he and I cried our eyes out. My wife had to be the strong one. My wife paid the bill and we had the funeral a couple of days later. She was an Akita and my "fishing dog". She loved the Sierras, especially swimming in the canals and North Lake. Long live Daphne.
I am excited to see what dates everyone gets and hope to see some of you on the mountain. Good luck to everyone. Also, remember that if you don't get the date you want, you can enter the "second lottery". I did that last year and got incredibly good dates, on the "waning gibbous!!!(the night before was full). And, Walk in is a very good option.
"Turtles, Frogs & other Environmental Sculpture" www.quillansculpturegallery.comtwitter: @josephquillan If less is more, imagine how much more, more is -Frasier
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,256 Likes: 2
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,256 Likes: 2 |
QS, condolences again on Daphne. As you know, I just went through the same thing with our 16 YO black lab Shadow, and it's devastating. My solace (and my wife's) that night 3 weeks ago was vodka/tonic. A lot of it.
I normally wouldn't put too much emphasis on the lottery since it's typically only me on these higher altitude hikes, and a walk-in is usually available, but my wife and 10 YO daughter are coming with me this year. As opposed to another grueling dayhike, I submitted for a two-nighter for 6 this year. I doubt my wife will go higher than Trail Camp (she's quite prone to AMS above about 12K - Pike's Peak was re-christened Pike's Puke in her honor), but my daughter insists she's going to the summit with me. That should be interesting. She may surprise me though. At age 8 she hiked about 50 miles with us during a week in the Cascades, but that was all below 10K. One thing's for sure - if she makes it to Trail Camp for an overnighter, the marmots better beware. She'll make it her mission to domesticate every last one of them.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,253 |
I thought those pesky varmints were domesticated, Bulldog.
In '07 I rushed to meet my friends going up the chute and left all my breakfast foods out of my Ursack. Those marmots were kind enough to do some housekeeping for me. Unfortunately, they forgot to tell me where they put it before going out of town.
As a point of fact, I never advance permit the MMWT. I walk-in get my permit and hit the trail...after stopping at Joseph's to pick up enough ice to keep the Alaskan Amber ice cold for our triumphal return.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 695
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 695 |
I probably looked pretty silly to the vet as I hugged my baby girl Daff. I never looked up once at the vet while I was there, just kept my eyes on Daff. My stepson Kaleb, who did Whitney with us last year was with us and he and I cried our eyes out. My wife had to be the strong one. My wife paid the bill and we had the funeral a couple of days later. She was an Akita and my "fishing dog". She loved the Sierras, especially swimming in the canals and North Lake. Long live Daphne. QS - In our family, it's cats, but the emotion is the same. We had 6 cats for a long time. Then, beginning Nov. 2002 and ending this past autumn, we had to put down, each in their turn over time, 5 of the 6 (the other one ran off in early 2002 and never returned), starting with our favorite one who had cancer at a too-young age. For the first one, both of us were there, hugging on the cat (who was ready to go), and touching him continually while the vet did the deed (we had a long history with our vet, too). It was very hard, and when we buried that one, I cried my eyes out (as did my wife). For the remaining 4, my wife was either away or couldn't handle going through it again, so it fell to me to be with each of those at the vet and to then bury them at our farm. While the emotional impact of the final 4 wasn't quite as severe as the first one (cuz he was a very special personality), it still didn't make it any easier. So I am totally empathetic to what you had to go through. Our pets are truly part of our family. And no, I'm sure you didn't look silly to the vet. Any good vet is very sympathetic when this has to be done. Many of them have pets of their own, being animal lovers themselves, and I'm sure they have had their times of loss too. Our vet has always sent us a pet sympathy card each time. CaT
If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracle of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it. - Lyndon Johnson, on signing the Wilderness Act into law (1964)
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,256 Likes: 2
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,256 Likes: 2 |
I thought those pesky varmints were domesticated, Bulldog. My daughter has a different definition. She'll try to leash them, take them for walks, and have them do tricks for treats. There's one big, fat pappy I saw up there in August she may try to saddle and ride.
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010:
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1 |
Hello all!
I have a reservation confirmation for main Mt. Whitney trail, one day, and want to trade for another date. Here's the details:
Entry date: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 Exit date: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 Entry trail: Main Mt. Whitney trail Exit trail: Main Mt. Whitney trail Group size: 2
My husband and I went through the original lottery process back in February (including filling out nine alternative dates), did not get our dates, then went through the re-opening process on April 28th. I spent all morning on the phone re-dialing and finally got through and was issued a remaining spot on 9/14/10.
I start back to nursing school the day prior and cannot make this date. We would love to trade someone with an earlier date, preferably a weekday in August or September, but at this point we would take any day of the week.
Thanks for any considerations!
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010:
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,251 Likes: 1
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,251 Likes: 1 |
Welcome to the board! You are welcome to comment, and you may have noted that we don't police topic drift.
Verum audaces non gerunt indusia alba. - Ipsi dixit MCMLXXII
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010:
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 742
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 742 |
Wendy, unless the policy has changed this year (and I don't think it has), when you go to pick up your permit, you have to actually be the person who reserved it, and they ask for ID. So, it is not as simple as a agreed swap, where you show up to pick up another person's permit. Sorry for the bad news. Hello all!
I have a reservation confirmation for main Mt. Whitney trail, one day, and want to trade for another date. Here's the details:
Entry date: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 Exit date: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 Entry trail: Main Mt. Whitney trail Exit trail: Main Mt. Whitney trail Group size: 2
My husband and I went through the original lottery process back in February (including filling out nine alternative dates), did not get our dates, then went through the re-opening process on April 28th. I spent all morning on the phone re-dialing and finally got through and was issued a remaining spot on 9/14/10.
I start back to nursing school the day prior and cannot make this date. We would love to trade someone with an earlier date, preferably a weekday in August or September, but at this point we would take any day of the week.
Thanks for any considerations!
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Re: Whitney Lottery Application 2010:
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,507 Likes: 103 |
WendyF wrote: > ...preferably a weekday in August or SeptemberWendy, Ken is right about swapping permits. However, since you are interested in a day hike mid-week in August or September, you can get a no-show permit free just by showing up at the Visitor Center where you pick up permits. Look at last year's Unused Whitney Permits - 2009, and the numbers of unused permits for day hikes. Pretty much any mid-week day, there have been permits available for day hikes. The no-shows become available at 2 PM the day before the hike, so if you are at the VC at that time, your chances are very good. (And they're free!) The unused numbers are what is left at the end of the actual hiking day.
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