[pct-l] Whitney Permit

[Darren]

I think the confusion is that there are two different Whitney  
scenarios requiring different permitting:

1) Its one thing to climb Whitney and return to the PCT.
2) Its a whole other scenario if you climb Whitney then EXIT and RE- 
ENTER via Whitney portal.
(like if you are going to resupply in Lone Pine or if you have a  
vendetta against your knees)

As people are posting in this thread it's not clear which scenario  
they are referring to. Even the PCTA
permits page is less than clear:

Mt. Whitney Permit:
The U.S. Forest Service has implemented a $15 reservation fee to climb  
Mt. Whitney, exit and re-enter the Whitney Portal on the east side.  
Plan to exit and re-enter within 48 hours. Reservations for Mt.  
Whitney must be received at least 60 DAYS prior to the expected date  
of entry into the Mt. Whitney zone. Requests received less than 60  
days in advance will be returned. If you would like to climb Mt.  
Whitney, include the $15 fee (per person) along with your permit  
request, making sure that you do so at least 60 days in advance.

My understanding that you only need the permit if you are exiting and  
reentering via Whitney portal.

But heck - I spent the $15 anyways - now I don't have to worry about  
it. (and now I always have to option for an unplanned
exit there if needed)



On Feb 3, 2009, at 6:55 PM, Sly wrote:

> I'm just reading the PCTA thru-hiker permit.  Part A fill in your name
> etc.  Part B whether you're climbing Whitney or not.  Part C If you  
> are,
> add $15 per person.  Seems pretty clear to me.
>
> Here it is again.
>
> http://www.pcta.org/planning/before_trip/permits/thru_permit_form.html
>
> It's also my opinion, it doesn't matter whether you plan on accessing
> Whitney Portal, that it's there so they have numbers.  Explain how I'm
> wrong?
>
> I'm, OK with it either way.  I've been up Whitney and don't have the
> urge to do it again.
>
> YMMV,
>
> Sly
>
> jason moores wrote:
>> Sly,
>>
>> I think you're missing the point. If the PCTA thru permit is all  
>> that is needed why would you want to spend an additional $15. It's  
>> not a matter of trying to circumvent the law nor a desire to  
>> deprive the gov. of cash that I'm sure would be used for nothing  
>> but good.
>>
>> In '06 I was section hiking the Sierra and needed to bail off the  
>> trail due to injuries. The day that I arrived at the Crabtree  
>> Ranger Station was the same day that the Ranger had arrived for the  
>> season. After questioning me about my injuries he offered to  
>> helicopter me out (I could hardly walk at this point). I told him  
>> that I'd rather crawl out than pay for a med-evac. When I informed  
>> the Ranger that I did not have a stamp he shrugged and said, "You  
>> wont need one until Trail Crest," and that if I met a Ranger on the  
>> decent to just tell them that I was injured and exiting the PCT. He  
>> also informed me that neither the Park nor Forest service checked  
>> permits beyond Trail Crest.
>>
>> The point of my story: Until possibly this point, you have not  
>> needed the stamp to summit Whitney. This has been argued ad nausea  
>> here and on the trail and the final result has always been the same  
>> - you don't need to spend $15 to summit. If that has changed. I for  
>> one would like to know.
>>
>> If your looking to throw your money away... It sounds like pattie  
>> could use it to get across BOG.
>>
>> chef
>>
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