JMT Planning 3 – PERMIT!!!

25 days applying at the Yosemite Wilderness Permit to go Southbound – Unsuccessful
Mt. Whitney lottery with 15 option days to go northbound – Unsuccessful

Applying to go Northbound from Horseshoe Meadows – Cottonwood Pass to Yosemite visiting Mt. Whitney – SUCCESS!!!!!

I had an idea that the permit process might take some time but I had no idea that it was going to be this bad. Once I have received multiple denied requests for permits and was trying not to get to discouraged, I decided to apply for the Mt. Whitney permit lottery.   This would start at the south end of the JMT and head north. It is not my ideal plan because I would like time to acclimatize, end at the top of Mt. Whitney, and resupplying would be easier but I feel like it may be my only option. The lottery permit for Whitney was pretty easy to fill out and I could put down 15 different options in 1 application so I felt pretty good about it.  From the time the lottery closes until you find out if you get it is 9 long days… to make sure the next plan will work!  I woke up and immediately checked the recreation.org page to see if I had gotten my Mt. Whitney permit.  As soon as I unsuccessful I pulled out my laptop and found an available date for Cottonwood pass. Filled out everything I needed, paid, and done!  It was that easy to get this permit.  If you want to save yourself some stress and time… just plan to go northbound from here! 

So what’s next…

Start walking/backpacking more
Do a rough plan of my miles/camps for each day
Figure out food plan/resupply


I knew this would be happening this year and super excited I have a plan!