[pct-l] Mt Whitney permit Change

[Bob Bankhead]

You need to distinguish between those hikers who hold a valid PCTA Thru-Hiker's Permit and the rest of the world.

Without a PCTA thru-hiker permit, you will need a Whitney Zone permit, no matter what trailhead you enter from. That's what the USFS is saying.

Even with the PCTA thru-hiker permit, you will need the Whitney Zone endorsement IF you are planning to exit east over Trail Crest. That's what the PCTA is saying.

With the PCTA thru-hiker permit, you do not need the Whitney Zone endorsement if you intend to go from the PCT to the JMT, up Mt. Whitney, and back down the JMT to the PCT. That's also what the PCTA is saying, due to their special agreement with the USFS.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sly 
  Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 4:13 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mt Whitney permit Change


  Well, it seems like someone needs to get their act together.  So far we 
  have the FS saying you need one, the PCTA thru-hiker permit says you 
  need one and that you should add $15-.  Someone from the PCTA saying you 
  don't need to pay the $15.

  Whether you head east from Trail Crest, Mt Whitney is in the Whitney 
  zone.  The new expanded map has Guitar Lake in the Whitney Zone.  The FS 
  website says everyone in the WZ needs a permit..

  Seems to me many here are wishfully thinking they can summit Whitney 
  without paying.  Of course you can, just like I can hike into Canada 
  without doing the paperwork,  but...