Wilderness Permit Information

[Wandering Daisy]

I just got an Inyo Permit. I selected late pick up. I recall they used to ask where you would pick it up. That was not a choice.

I thought that now you just print your permit and go. Do I have to now stop at the Mono RS and confirm that I am going?

[maverick]

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/pas ... rdb5356869

[John Harper]

If you print it at home (7 days in advance) you do not need to stop at the RS. I don't recall where you select "late pickup" on the reservation system, but why would you do that if you can print it out in advance and not worry about being "late?"

John

[Wandering Daisy]

The permit application still has the "late pickup" box -just checked it out of habit. I really like to pick up my permit in person. I always stop at the Mono Visitor Center anyway, because they have nice bathrooms. Perfect pit-stop location.

Mav- thanks for the link. I had totally forgotten that I also must have a California fire permit.

[SNOOOOW]

Does anyone know about the road (4wd?) access from Bishop to Horton Lakes trailhead? I can't get through to a person at the USFS office in Bishop. We are considering Horton Lakes as an interesting new way to reach Humphreys Basin, then French Canyon, and on to Bear Basin for the Meetup. It says to take the Buttermilk road, and then 4wd roads from there to get closer to Horton Lakes. Are these "real" 4wd roads, or manageable with cars? We'll have a medium clearance, 6 cylinder van. In the past, I've had pretty good success stradling ruts, and thrashing little cars up to trailheads.

Thanks for the advice.

Ian, I have driven that road in a truck. I have not been on that road in over 5 years but it is the clearance that ends up being the problem. If you've got 2wd and some clearance you should be able to make it pretty far down that road but it's a tough call to make. Might not be the best idea.

[Wandering Daisy]

I just got a new permit to attend the Meetup. I was able to get a permit from Inyo, without cancelling the current permit I had from Sierra NF. Seems like you can stack up permits regardless of dates as long as it is a different Forest. I had 2 permits from Sierra NF, cancelled the second one for a $5 refund, but am up in the air about the first permit which was past the refund date. I may keep both Inyo and Sierra NF permits, so as the time nears I can be flexible, even though it is very unlikely I would use the Bear Diversion permit.

I know this is not the right thing to do, and if I cancel the day before, it will not do anyone any good. Maybe I will keep an eye on Bear Diversion permits and if/when there are none available, I will cancel so someone can get the permit. Otherwise, there is no incentive for me to cancel.

[wildhiker]

Otherwise, there is no incentive for me to cancel.

Yes, this is a problem with the wilderness permit reservations. No refunds, thus no incentive to cancel. I grabbed a permit for 5 to May Lake in Yosemite for July 28 by entering the Yosemite lottery last February. This was to be for a family backpack trip with my young granddaughters. Turns out that won't work, so I cancelled the permit today. But none of my $35 ($10 for lottery and $5/person * 5 people for permit reservation) is refunded.
-Phil

[shampeon]

I need some advice about getting a valid permit to travel north from Olancha Pass. recreation.gov limits the exit trailheads for Olancha Pass permits, for whatever reason, and says to contact Inyo for info about traveling north. I've been calling the Inyo Wilderness Permit desk every half hour or so all today but nobody is picking up.

Backstory: I'm about to hike the JMT starting 8/5, and originally planned on starting at Kennedy Meadows South. With the Trout Fire, and Sequoia NF closing the PCT north of Kennedy Meadows, I want to pivot to starting at Olancha Pass TH, finishing at Happy Isles in Yosemite.

How do you get a valid permit starting at Olancha Pass TH and exiting north?

In the meantime, recreation.gov allowed me to book a Kennedy Meadows permit for my dates, with the exit as Happy Isles. I figure it's easier to change the entry to Olancha given the closure. But if there's a better way of handling this, I'm all ears.

[Bishop_Bob]

keep the KM permit and enter Olancha and, if stopped by a ranger, say you had cached a resupply at the Olancha TH

[Wandering Daisy]

I had to pick up my Piute Pass permit at the ranger station in Bishop, because I could not print it from home as I was attending the Meetup. The office was almost empty of visitors and two rangers at the desk. I specifically asked about in-person first come. Yes, they are released at 11AM for same-day entry. No guarantee of availability, but if there is a late cancellation you can get one.