[pct-l] confusion over climbing Whitney:clarification

[Slyatpct at aol.com]

I could be wrong but I think you're mistaken.  While getting a  Whitney stamp 
through the PCT does not require you to go through a lottery, it  still 
requires you to pay the $15.  
 
Sly
 
 
In a message dated 1/17/2007 1:33:37 AM Eastern Standard Time,  
kmurray at pol.net writes:

There  seems to be confusion over what you need to have to climb Whitney,
as part  of a PCT trek.  The answer:  nothing extra.

The only issue is  if you EXIT over Trail Crest Pass, and descend down
the Main Mt. Whitney  Trail.  Then you DO need a Trail Crest Exit Permit,
which would need  to be reserved approximately 6 months in advance (the
USFS is generally  cook if you are on such a long hike, and are off by
several days..), and  does require a fee of $15.  If you climb from the
west side, and  descend back down the west side, you DO NOT need this
special  permit.

Here is the exact wording from the USFS website:


"My  trip is going to Mt. Whitney, but we are starting on a different
trail  (starting in Inyo National Forest).
Only the main Mt Whitney trail is  subject to the lottery. If you will
begin by some other route you can  reserve six months in advance of your
entry date. The $15.00 per person  reservation fee will apply instead of
the $5.00 per person fee. *If you  will exit or descend via the main Mt.
Whitney trail an exit quota will  apply, called Trail Crest Exit.*"

(note:  the $5 fee they mention  is the cost of reserving a permit on a
different trail IN the Inyo National  Forest, other than the Mt. Whitney
Trail.)