So, I'm going up Whitney for the first time on July 4th-6th. Is anyone else going in July?

Late July, but it sure won't be my first time.

--B.G.--

B.G.: Did you score a permit in the lottery, or are you going for the walk-in permits?

If anyone else is going, WhitneyZone has a Whitney Hike Calendar.

                              <--- Mt Whitney webcam

Edited by stevec5088 on 07/24/2012 12:10:14 MDT.

just got back from Whitney (and other Sierra places).
had no trouble getting a cancellation slot for two for a day hike.
they handed out at least a dozen overnight cancellations as well.

5th time up, but first time in 20 years.
9 hour round trip.

Edited by asandh on 08/03/2012 11:33:49 MDT.

Art Messier wrote:
> 9 hour round trip at age 61.

Sheesh, that's a really fast time. So I want to know... what sort of weekly exercise to you do?

I'm a back of the pack (meaning slow) ultra runner.
Whitney was sort of a training run/walk.

Oh, Art just gets on the eliptical every now and then. :)

I'm going to make a note of that time and try and beat it 25 years from now.

you'll do it no problem Craig, you've got 25 years to train.

----

Edited by asandh on 07/24/2012 13:01:34 MDT.

when we did Whitney this year, on July 22, there was quite a bit of trail work being done on the 99 switchbacks. they never made anyone stop and wait, but you never know, it depends where they are in the process.

also we saw a couple WAG bags left on the side of the trail. I sure hope the owners were planning to pick them up on the way down. Please don't do this, its unsightly to say the least.

there were also items of clothing deposited along the trail. are people so out of it from the altitude that they forget their clothes?

not the most pristine trail I've been on in the Sierra.

"B.G.: Did you score a permit in the lottery, or are you going for the walk-in permits?"

Lottery.

You really can't expect to get a walk-in permit on an exact date. Inyo reserves the entire daily quota in advance, and a spot will only develop if somebody decides to cancel or fail to confirm.

--B.G.--

> You really can't expect to get a walk-in permit on an exact date. Inyo reserves the entire daily quota in advance, and a spot will only develop if somebody decides to cancel or fail to confirm.

...or doesn't show up to claim their permit:   Unused Whitney Permits - 2012

There are a lot of no-shows.  People enter the lottery in February, getting all their friends excited about going.  Then when it comes time to hike, their enthusiasm wanes, or they aren't prepared, ...any number of reasons.

Edited by stevec5088 on 07/24/2012 17:06:27 MDT.

That's why this year is the first year that a permit reservation holder from February is required to reconfirm just a week or two before their date. Then if Inyo interprets cancellations, they know how many slots to resell for that date. They've really figured out how to convert this from being a cost center to a profit center.

Each year when I go to pick up my permit, there is a line of people waiting for hours to get a walk-in permit.

--B.G.--

you do not have to stand in line for hours to get a walk in permit.
just be there before 11:00 am.
at 11:00 am the ranger lines up all the trip leaders (for both overnight and day hike) and they draw numbers from a hat, sort of a lottery for the available cancellations. the number you draw is the order in which you go up to the counter. if you draw a high number those ahead of you will get the cancellations.
the day I was there, about 18 people drew numbers.
when I was there last weekend there were no day hike cancellations available for me at the 11:00 am lottery.
they said come back around 2:00 pm that's when the computer kicks out more cancellations. I came back at 1:30 pm and there were 2 day hike spots waiting for me.
maybe I got lucky, but it was not difficult.

> they said come back around 2:00 pm that's when the computer kicks out more cancellations.

Art, could you email me: stevec@sfsu.edu
I'd like some more info.
Thanks!

I'll be heading out Sept. 14th from Horseshoe Meadows Campground. HSM to Soldier Lake to Crabtree Meadows and on out to the Portal is the current plan. I've been toying with the idea of going cross country to Sky Blue Lake and either up the Discovery sand slog or over to Guitar Lake via the Crabtree lakes to do something different from my normal trek, but still undecided.

I understand the Sky Blue Lake area and the cross-country hike through the Miter Basin make an outstanding trip. Much is off-trail, but not too difficult.

On the other hand, the "sand slog" from the upper Crabtree lake to Discovery Pinnacle is supposed to be pretty tough.

Here's a map of the area: map link

If you go, the people over on WhitneyZone would sure enjoy a trip report.

Edited by stevec5088 on 08/10/2012 02:08:30 MDT.

Steve C wrote:

"On the other hand, the "sand slog" from the upper Crabtree lake to Discovery Pinnacle is supposed to be pretty tough."

From Tom Kirchner for an inquiry about that same route.

"Going straight up from Upper Crabtree Lake will fry your legs bug time. It is much more fun to come down that way, though. It is almost like skiing the fall line."