Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Comments on permit/app process on recreation.gov

Hello all, whitneyportalstore poster here just joining on Whitney Zone.

I wanted to share my thoughts on the new application process. I went in last night and again this AM to submit my application.

First off, the site is VERY buggy and very hard to use. It is not intuitive and quite frustrating as choosing dates from the calendar won't drop them in the field and once you can finally choose dates often times the entry trail then disappears.

Here are my findings/issues:

1. You can only request 15 dates per application. In the past PDF document era, I would attach another couple of pages so that I'd have 100 or more requested dates on a single application. To request 100 dates now, I'd have to submit 7 different applications possibly exposing me to seven different successes and thus $15+$6=$21 per success (when I'm just trying to go one time)

2. You cannot select a range of dates - why is this? If I desire to have one over night any time in August, I'd have to submit 31 different days (which equals per my math 3 applications). Why can't there be a range where you say any over night from XX date to XX date?

3. Upon checkout I entered my credit card information only to be directed to another page where I had to enter the exact same information again

4. The calendar popup window doesn't always populate the dates in the field after selecting a date

5. After a couple attempts to select a date, date drops in field but entry trail gets blanked out.

It took me 25 minutes to get through one 15 date application. To think that I have to do this 7 times to cover my usual 100 different day requests is daunting.

I'll volunteer to help if we can go back to the old days!

I too had issues with #s 1, 2, and 4. 3 and 5 weren't an issue I dealt with for some reason.

I'm not a big fan of the new system, I liked things the old way truth be told. But if these are the worst bugs that we're going to deal with, I don't imagine it will be long before they have the system shored up and working well. We'll see how it goes.

GandC, If you didn't enter your CC info twice, then definitely check your credit card to see if it was charged. You should see a $6 charge. The other entry is for when you win a slot, and you will be charged $15 per hiker then.

But I don't understand why they don't just allow you to enter the CC info only once.

I had trouble with the dates NOT populating from the little popup calendar.

Yep, I have a charge.

I'm thinking that I probably did have to enter it twice, but don't remember it. And if I don't remember it, I probably wasn't all that bothered by it. Or I was drinking beer. Who knows?

I submitted two applications and also had to enter the cc# twice on each application. The second time the cc# was asked for, the system asked for the 3-digit security code (both times) so I am sure it will be fine. Some issues with dates not populating, 2 in, 2 to go!

anyone know what they will be blasting on the trail in September?

http://www.recreation.gov/permits/Mt_Whi...mp;parkId=72201 states

"NOTE: The dates Sept 4, 5, 6, 7 and Sept 10, 11, 12, 13 are BLOCKED to ensure public safety while we complete needed trail repairs."

Somebody called the ranger station and said it was for blasting on the trail.

I had the same issues with the permit application system.

And it took me about the same amount of time to put in my 14 alternate dates.

Very buggy system and painful user interface.....blech!

The reason for entering the credit card number twice has to do with taking the fee ($6) for the website, then reserving the number for the actual permit fee, if you are successful. Why enter it twice? Might be lazy cut & paste programming or possibly lawyers trying to make things sue-proof.

I suppose this does also allow the use of two different credit cards.

Using this site for direct (no lottery) reservations should only need one cc entry.

One other thing...
they are allowing three alternate leaders. So make sure that you have names and phone numbers ready for up to three alternate leaders.

> they are allowing three alternate leaders

And one more "one other thing" .....

ONLY the person applying or the alternate leaders can pick up the permit (and no changes allowed, to prevent scalpers) so put down as many alternates as possible, if there is a chance you yourself cannot go on the trip.