So How did you get your Permiot reservation

imported
#1

Has there been a better success rate by calling, writing, or reserving online? If you reserve online, whats the correct exit trailhead when completing the whole JMT if starting at Yosemite Valley. And its 24 weeks, not 6 months in advance, correct? I’ve seen 6 months written on occassion by people but I am confident thats not right.

Thanks for comments.

Mike

#2

We called exactly 24 weeks to the day for our starting date. I got a person to respond and made my permit reservatiion quite easily with a credit card. The exit on our permit resrvation is Whitney Portal.

swamp fox

#3

I had heard it was hard to get through on the phone. Dumb me, didn’t notice the Whitney Portal choice on the online form…

Mike

#4

Yep it is very hard to get though…just keep trying.
Close to closing time or first thing in the morning when they open up. 4 Weeks in one month … 4 x 6 still equals 24 to most people:D But 24 weeks sounds better than 6 months!

AlohaTink

#5

Hey, Aloha- not to get too detailed but its my work nature ?.

Most months have more than 4 weeks, more like 4.3 weeks which means 24 weeks is different than 6 months- so for a 9/1 trip you’d call 3/1??

Mike

#6

Most of us just tend to think of each month as 4 weeks…but you are sooo correct.:wink:

Well we are applying for our permits for August 15-17 one of those dates we are hoping for and I am going to start my calling on March 1
There is a place you can go and see if your starting date is already filled up so you can start somewhere else or change your date.
Here is the link:

http://home.nps.gov/archive/yose/rptFullTrailheadDates.htm

AlohaTink

#7

If you have a couple of days flexibility (which you might want to have anyway, since you don’t know how long the hike will exactly take) you should consider just getting a permit by walking in and asking for one. That’s what we did, and we got one for the SAME day. “Want one for today? It’s yours.” This was in late August. That’s not unusual, but also often you’ll have to wait a day or at most 2 days. If you have to wait, you’ll have to suffer through seeing Yosemite for a day or two. Woe is me.

markv

#8

I called this morning to try and get a permit for August 1st and it was already full 3 minutes after the office opened. Hope that I will have better luck tomorrow…

lw

#9

I emailed my reservation request in the morning exactly 24 weeks before my first choice start date and had an email response that my reservation had been accepted the next day. The confriming letter came a few days after that. I could never get through on the phone and was reluctant to mail the request for fear it would get there too early and be rejected or get there too late.

John F.

#10

I know that they have an online reservation form, but I thought that the office wouldn’t accept emails? Did I miss something?

lw

#11

lw, that stinks- would you be better off applying online for today as your first choice and with tomorrow as a second choice so they already have tomorrow as your choice since you know today is full?

I think the email John is referring to is likely the online request.

If I don’t get my days I will likley get any day but go there early and hope…

Mike

#12

I got mine as a walk up too but that was five years ago (early August). Don’t think much has changed though. Don’t they always reserve a certain percentage for walk ups? I’d check it out, maybe you can still get your preferred date?

Apple Pie

#13

I called back and was able to get our permits. We will only hike to Little Yosemite Valley the first day, which is fine because we are going to hike to the top of Half Dome. Apparently, there are only 6 spots daily for JMT permits using the Sunrise/Merced passthrough…

lw

#14

I thought that it was preferred that thru hikers go outside of LYV and leave that area to the climbers. 6 permits doesn’t sound like thats the case. Anyhow, I am sure it works out fine for all of us. Enjoy your trip.

Mike

#15

I called on Monday. I just kept hitting redial and got in contact within 20 minutes. By making phone contact you can ask questions and get clarification; that’s something their online reservation system can’t do. I thought their customer service was good.

Jim

#16

I have tried a number of times for various permits along the JMT and Mt. Whitney area and have no trouble calling for a permit. I have always called for a date mid-week instead of trying for a weekend day. Try starting on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

TriHiker

#17

I can’t remember who I talked to, but he was VERY helpful and worked with me to find the best way for me to get on the trail.

lw

#18

I turned up the day before and got it…in late august. Dont know if the time of year had anything to do with it. If you’re thruhiking it shouldn’t be a problem. I think they are only a bit cagey if you intend to stay in the NP’s for any length of time. You’l be out of Yosemite in a few days at the most and only pasing through Sequoia and Kings Canyon.

Good luck.

Cheers

Cheers

#19

Mike is correct that I used the on line form and mistakenly called it an email.

John F.

#20

If you don’t have the option of flexible start dates, then consider reserving a permit for an alternative trailhead. I can think of two options that might be available if the Happy Isles slots are already taken:

Glacier Point -> Little Yosemite Valley - You hike down along the Panorama Trail joining the JMT at Clark Point between Vernal and Nevada Falls (you aren’t missing much).

Cathedral Lakes - This would require starting at Tuolumne Meadows and hiking to Yosemite Valley, then hitchhiking or taking the shuttle bus back to Tuolomne Meadows.

This would at least allow you to start on a fixed day (helpful when planning airline reservations, etc.). If you can get to Yosemite the day before, you can always see about changing your permit to Happy Isles.

Snowball