Mt Whitney Webcam
Mt Williamson Webcam
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 155 guests, and 16 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 4 of 4 1 2 3 4
Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Steve C #45686 04/07/16 11:24 AM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 4
1
Offline
1
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 4
Hi Steve,

thanks for the reply. I had put in 15 dates in june, august and may for a group of 8 but this is the one I got the permit for unfortunately. Our plan is for a day hike from whitney portal. From what I understand there will be snow/ice for most of the trail even before reaching Trail Camp? Ideally of course we would only need the crampons for beyond Trail Camp on the chute and maybe microspikes from Trail Crest to Summit. Our plan will also include arriving the morning of the previous day and camp at whitney portal (I forget the campground name) and start the hike at around 12am that night after sleeping through most of the day. So I guess one factor for us to consider while looking at potential walk-in permits in June is the availability of this car campsite at whitney portal.

Thanks.

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Briang191 #45720 04/11/16 03:31 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 11
H
Offline
H
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 11
Originally Posted By: Briang191
I won the lottery for June 11th. I didn't fully understand the conditions of MT Whitney in June will after the lottery closed. From reading online June will is the early season and snow will be a major factor. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I'll be declining my entry. Has anyone on the form had success joining a random group? I'll be searching this thread for other options.

April 1 see what dates are left and may 1 check for the random release.


I went on June 9th in 2013 and there was only a bit of snow left on the switchbacks where the cables are. We all made it to the summit without any gear and it was very safe in my opinion. I do not know what the weather is shaping up to be like this year but I am hoping it will not be an issue as I won a permit for my group on June 20th.

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
heatpro #45722 04/11/16 05:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Steve C Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
The last three years were really dry, so the snow cleared earlier than usual. This year is bringing more snow, but it still is below average.

Mid-June conditions is a question mark right now.

It is easier to get an unused (no-show) permit than joining a random group. Only this year, people without reserved permits will not get a parking permit for Whitney Portal (required this year due to construction and no parking allowed along the road). If you can snag a ride with a "random group" you can probably pick up a no-show permit pretty easily.

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Steve C #45760 04/13/16 03:43 PM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 4
1
Offline
1
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 4
Hi Steve,

was looking at other threads and people seem to prefer the Mountaineers route early season since its shorter. Does that need a separate permit or is it the same as for the Main Trail? Also I am guessing the chute on the Mountaineer's route is steeper than the chute on the Main trail. But is there anything else that makes it more technical? Where can I learn more about that route and what are your thoughts on giving that a try on May 1st? None of us have any experience with technical ice climbing so if that is necessary it will immediately rule it out of course but am hoping the gear list does not change.

Thanks

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
111san #45761 04/13/16 04:57 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Steve C Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
The MR as a day hike requires exactly the same permit as the main trail: DAY USE of Mt. Whitney Zone.
But overnight use is outside the lottery -- you need the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek JM34 permit. Quota is 10 per day, 6 are reservable 6 months in advance, 4 are available to walk-ins at 11 AM the day before starting the hike.

The MR is shorter and steeper. But if you have to tramp through snow, shorter is better. The MR chute is only a little steeper than the Main Trail version. The Final 400 is definitely more technical than anything on the main trail -- steep third class. Guides rope-up their clients. Most without guides just go up. There is an alternate "Easy walk-off" route that is not as steep, but in May might have some nasty steep icy sections, so crampons and ice axe would be practically mandatory.

The other part of the MR: If you don't really know the route, you can get off track and waste lots of time thrashing around. Also, the Ebersbacher Ledges are legendary -- fun for many, terrifying for a few.

Here are the Mountaineers Route info and links   Find the link in the first post in the Reference forum.


Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Steve C #45949 04/26/16 04:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
A
Offline
A
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
Hey Steve,

Any idea what a good time is to start checking about these on May 1st? Should I be clicking refresh on the recreation.gov site at 5am like a maniac?

We won the lottery and summited last year but no luck this time around so we're hoping for a better chance now. Thanks for all the info you provide here!

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Andrewzuber #45952 04/26/16 08:28 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Steve C Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
Well, recreation.gov runs on Eastern time, so I'm going to start checking at 9 PM Pacific time.

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Steve C #45956 04/27/16 08:27 AM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
A
Offline
A
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
Good to know! (I assume you mean 9pm PST the night before.)
Thank you!

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Andrewzuber #45957 04/27/16 08:30 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Steve C Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
like!

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Steve C #46015 05/01/16 11:11 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Steve C Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
Hmmm.... I started checking at 9 PM Pacific time, and later, but didn't see ANY permits showing up. Not until after 10 or 11 AM Pacific have I seen any more permits.

That is for day hike permits. Looking at overnight, there is nothing as I write this.

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Steve C #46024 05/01/16 12:36 PM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 11
P
Offline
P
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 11
Just got four permits for August 2, 2016 as relates to the day hike.

I have also been repeatedly checking the site since 9 PM last evening and recently noted the available slots.

I guess they are releasing the available permits currently.

Best of luck to all.

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Pistachio #46040 05/01/16 04:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5
M
MtP Offline
Offline
M
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5
Yay!

I got nothing from the lotto. But my primary choice was available today. Twice in fact. I gave it a pass the first time I saw it at 2am edt. It was gone when I woke up, but this evening more slots opened up on that day.

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Steve C #46041 05/01/16 05:05 PM
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
E
Offline
E
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
Today I was able to reserve a Tuesday, August 30th day hike permit (which was my first choice in the lottery). The first week of April I was also able to get a Tuesday, September 20th day hike permit, so I'll need to choose one or the other, or hike twice! I have Onion Valley and Whitney Portal campground reservations prior to both dates so I'm pretty much set.

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Steve C #46042 05/01/16 05:57 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
A
Offline
A
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
I started looking last night as well but didn't see much - same with this morning. I tried to grab one and it was gone by the time I'd clicked on it, but was eventually able to get 3 permits for August 1st. I also seem to have nabbed the last available site at Whitney Portal on July 31st which was exciting. I do see quite a few more available now, though August looks pretty limited.

Looking forward to doing this again this year! We summited last June and hit some snow on the way up past Trail Camp so it'll be nice to give it a bit more time to reside before we go for it this year. Also doing a single day. We camped for three nights last year. I never want to carry a tent that far again.

Last edited by Andrewzuber; 05/01/16 06:00 PM.
Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
Andrewzuber #46052 05/01/16 10:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7
S
Offline
S
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7
There're tons of permits in the system right now (well, except weekends) :-)

Re: Mt Whitney Permit Lottery 2016
sneakyengineer #46063 05/02/16 08:07 AM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 55
H
Offline
H
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 55
Yayyy another weekend snag! Cya'll up there on Sat July 30th! There were at least 14 more for that Sat just now.

Page 4 of 4 1 2 3 4

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4
(Release build 20200307)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.4.33 Page Time: 0.044s Queries: 46 (0.037s) Memory: 0.6549 MB (Peak: 0.7672 MB) Data Comp: Off Server Time: 2024-03-28 17:08:09 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS