I am planning on going with a couple other people and the permits are in my name. Does anyone know do we have to start together since the permits are in my name? Do we also have to stay together the whole time or can we separate if we want to hike different speeds? Didn't want to get up the mountain and find out the hard way.

thanks!

You can print the confirmation letters and hand them out to members of your party.

You may want to write on the letter the names of your party.

Rangers do check and appreciate all honest answers.

However, if you are the leader you are also the sweeper. You are responsible for all members of your party for their safe return to the trailhead. Never leave any member of your hiking party behind on the trail.

I'm not sure of the process this year, but in the past, when you picked up the permit, each person in the group receved a permit 'tag' with the group leaders name on it, along with the entry date.

Ah, yes, the tags...green - day, yellow - over...forgot about those.

But back "in the day" I had my "permit" photocopied by the folks at Dow Villa and handed them out to members of my party.

Just to clarify your statement: Did you made a single reservation for a group of about 4 people or did you make extra reservations after the lottery when other people cancelled? If you made only one reservation (and received only one confirmation letter) there is only one form to sign when you arrive at the visitors center. As for permit tags, I do not know if they are still handing them out, but you can call the Visitor Center during business hours to be sure.

They are not handing out tags anymore.

They give one permit and the other hikers listed on the permit are expected to know the leader's name if they get separated.

Great, more weight for me to carry...

Yes, we have one reservation for 4 people to hike. So we weren't sure if the group could split up or if that would leave some of the group without a proper permit. Does each individual receive something saying they have permission to be up there? Or does just the one permit holder receive something saying they have 4 people in their party that have permission to climb?

Sorry for the confusion, I can't find specific information on this.

The group leader will get 1 piece of paper indicating the size of the group. If you have time, make a copy of the permit for each member of your group. The group leader keeps the original, and each group member will have a copy.

As noted earlier, being the "group leader" you need to sign the actual permit form at the Visitor Center. That form will indicate that you have 4 people in your group. By signing the permit form you are legally agreeing to abide by the Forest Service rules and to be responsible for the actions of the other group members.

Unfortunately the permit reservation process has morphed so much over the years that the word "permit" is ambiguous in the reference material. Think of it as a lodging agreement to rent a condominium.