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Whitney Exit question
#54840 03/24/19 02:38 PM
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Borba Offline OP
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I want to do Onion Valley to Whitney Portal using the Trail Crest exit in July. I know that it is walk-ins one day prior and the quota is 10. How likely would I be to get the permit? I live 10 hours away and don't want to have to turn around. Are there other ideas to reach the summit if you don't get the lottery and you want to keep the trip around 50 miles?

Last edited by Borba; 03/24/19 02:39 PM.
Re: Whitney Exit question
Borba #54847 03/24/19 06:12 PM
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You can definitely reserve a permit exiting at the Portal via Trail Crest online and in advance. I have done it twice, and once was late March. As an 50 miler alternative, checkout the various ways to get from Horseshoe Meadows to Mt. Whitney. You can loop around over Cottonwood Pass, or take either Old or New Army Passes and get a crack at Mt. Langley as a side hike.

Re: Whitney Exit question
Goose #54848 03/24/19 07:03 PM
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Thank you for the great ideas! It looks like even the Whitney Exit via Trail Crest is even on a lottery this year. I think the quota is 15, and then walk-ins have a quota of 10. Either that, or maybe I'm not finding the right place to reserve.

Thanks again!

Re: Whitney Exit question
Borba #54852 03/24/19 07:48 PM
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You found the correct place for Trail Crest exit permits. They are made available exactly 6 months before you hike... only they open it for 6 more days within the 6-months if you are getting a permit to start on another trail.

The permits held back for walk-ins may possibly be gobbled up by hikers coming in from a farther distance (and more days), since they will be trying for the exit permits when they pick up their entry permit.

Re: Whitney Exit question
Borba #54857 03/24/19 11:14 PM
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Cottonwood Pass in and out is something like 58 miles round trip, and you could summit without your full pack depending on how you split it up. Just need to add the "Visiting My Whitney" option and pay an extra $15, but no quota.

Re: Whitney Exit question
Jonathan C #54880 03/30/19 04:51 PM
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Thank you for the reply!
I am on the reservation page for the round trip Cottonwood to Whitney and the dates are gray. Do you know how to go about it?

Re: Whitney Exit question
Borba #54883 03/30/19 08:58 PM
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Dates with the "W" mean all the reservable slots are reserved. If you find a date with a number, that shows the number still available to be reserved.

Re: Whitney Exit question
Borba #54888 04/01/19 11:23 PM
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To be clear, to reserve a permit for Cottonwood (GT60 trailhead) to Whitney summit and back down the west side to exit out of Cottonwood, you would reserve an "Overnight" permit only, not "Overnight Exiting Mt Whitney". Then on the permit details page you would select the "Visiting Mt Whitney" option. But even a Cottonwood-only permit is hard to reserve right now. I see barely any available for July or August. Keep looking as it gets closer and cancellations will start popping up. Or just show up and you are likely to get a walk-up.


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