04/13/2024
MT. WHITNEY PERMIT FAQ’S
Mt. Whitney permits have recently been released. To all the lucky lottery winners, congratulations! If you did not obtain a wilderness permit, there is still a chance you can get one. With that news we want to address some of the frequent questions we often get this time of year.
We often hear, “I didn’t get a permit in the lottery. Is there any hope of getting one?” Do not despair yet. On April 22nd permits that went unclaimed will be rereleased. These are acquired on a first-come, first-served basis at 7:00 Pacific time on recreation.gov.
“What if I still don’t get one after the April 22 release of permits?” You can always keep your eyes peeled for last minute cancellations on recreation.gov. Frequently checking the site will give you the best chance of swooping up a canceled permit.
“What will the weather be like in “insert month here?”, is one of our most common questions. As much as we wish to be able to tell the future, we can’t. Conditions may change drastically from day to day and year to year, so basically pick a card.
To make informed decisions there are some steps you can take while planning your trip. The best thing you can do is come prepared for all weather types and access resources such as the Mt. Whitney information page on our website https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=20806 for current trail conditions. Always check the weather forecast immediately before your trip. Not just the forecast outside your window, but the one at the very top of the best window in the world, Mt. Whitney.
Weather conditions can change quickly even if you have done your homework. The one piece of information we can share from our experience is expect the unexpected and remain flexible. Oh, and bring your rain jacket along with your sensibilities.
Inyo County Search & Rescue is a great social media page to follow before your planned Mt. Whitney adventure. These brave humans do a great job helping when things go wrong. They post reports on any incidents that have taken place which adds to building your situational awareness before your trip.
Most of all have fun and be safe!
