[pct-l] Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead Hitch to Lone Pine

[Don Amundson]

Info and links for obtaining at JMT SOBO permit can be found here:  pct-l at backcountry.net
There is no special permit for exiting at Mt. Whitney. Per the site:

John Muir Trail

If you plan to hike the John Muir Trail as a continuous hike, you only need one wilderness permit for the entire trip (you do not need a "Whitney stamp"). 

> Aaron wrote;
> Hello List,
> 
> I'm planning a SOBO JMT hike this summer, with my get-back plan relying on
> public transportation from Lone Pine.  Apparently I've missed the lottery
> for Whitney Portal permits (oops...).  First, I was wondering if by chance
> any of you knows of any way to get a Whitney Portal permit after the
> lottery has closed (probably a lost cause at this point).  Second, I have
> some questions about an alternate exit route:
> 
> I was thinking of exiting at Cottonwood Pass (750.2), Trail Pass (745.3),
> or Mulkey Pass (744.5) to Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead/Campground and
> hitching into Lone Pine, but I'm noticing that my 2012 edition of Yogi's
> Guide warns that it is a "VERY hard hitch".  Has any of you successfully
> hitched from here before, and if so, what was your experience?  I was
> thinking that if I showed up at Horseshoe Meadow around midday on Sunday
> that there would be a fair number of weekend campers driving back to Lone
> Pine as I'm *pretty sure* that's the only road out of there...
> 
> Any thoughts?  Or alternate exit strategies?
> 
> Thanks,
> Aaron