Tag Archives: lottery

Goals, National Forests, National Parks

No Mount Whitney This Year…

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Color me disappointed.  Just got the email today:

Lottery Results – Mt Whitney Lottery 2013

Dear Customer,

We are sorry to inform you that your application to Mt Whitney Lottery 2013 was not successful.

Results for Lottery Application # 6-xxxxxxx – Unsuccessful.

All remaining dates for the 2013 season will be available for web reservations beginning on April 1, 2013 through the www.recreation.gov website on a “First Come First Serve” basis. Any canceled space will return to the web calendar at random times. There is no waitlist for canceled space.

Thank you for using www.recreation.gov

Well, there’s always next year; it’s not like the mountain is going anywhere.  John Muir is famously quoted as saying “The mountains are calling and I must go.”  Apparently, for me, the mountains could not be reached for comment.

Hiking - General, National Forests, National Parks

Lottery for Half Dome Cables Day Use Permits Now Open!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

While there are up to 300 hikers allowed on the Half Dome cables per day, there are far MORE people who want to hike the route. The permit lottery is now open. If you want to hike Half Dome, sign up at www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777.

You can also sign up for the two-day-in-advance permits through www.recreation.gov.

From the press release:

Hiking to the top of Half Dome is one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite National Park. The iconic granite monolith, at 8,842 feet above sea level, attracts people from all over the world who attempt to climb to the summit. Most visitors ascend Half Dome via the cables, which are typically in place from mid-May through mid-October. Most visitors begin and end their hike at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. This is an approximately 17 mile round-trip journey.

Remember: Permits Required Seven Days Per Week to Hike Half Dome Cables. Continue reading →