[pct-l] confusion over climbing Whitney:clarification

[kmurray at pol.net]

Actually, I *am* a wilderness ranger, and I promise I won't cite you!

I'm also involved in giving a series of seminars on this exact topic at
A-16 stores starting tonite, and I'd vetted this through the USFS people
on the Inyo.

HOWEVER, just to make ABSOLUTELY sure, I called and spoke to the
wilderness permit office this morning, and confirmed that for PCT through
hikers that start outside the Inyo National Forest, you DO NOT NEED any
additional permit if you decide, on the spot, that you want to climb
Whitney.....as long as you DO NOT cross Trail Crest. If a person wanted to
resupply at Whitney Portal, you would need the exit permit, and
significant numbers of people do that, and that may be why the PCTA
includes that.

It is of note that these confusing regulations change almost yearly, and
often in slight details, so that what may be true one year, may not be
true the next.  I do not know if the PCTA's form reflects this nuance....

Ken

>
> On Jan 17, 2007, at 3:14 AM, montypct wrote:
>> 2004 I hiked up the west side.  The ranger came up to the top and was
>> checking for permits.  After he checked the other people he came up
>> to me
>> and a friend and said "You guys are thru-hikers".  I think he was
>> standing
>> down wind.  He didn't ask for a permit, but he did not say we did
>> not need
>> one.  I think what I am trying to say here is.............maybe
>> nothing.
>
> I don't have any special knowledge about the regulations but if a permit
> isn't actually needed then one might wonder why the PCTA bothers to
> include
> it as on option on their thru-hiker permit?  I'm giving the PCTA the
> benefit
> of the doubt that they have gotten some sort of definitive answer and
> that
> the permit is required (i.e., you might be fined by a ranger who was
> following
> the rules).
>
>
> Gary Wright (Radar)