FCFS wilderness permits

[suman]

Hi,

I am wondering how early should i line up for FCFS wilderness permits. Specifically for HI and GP trailheads going to/via LYV. I am planning to get there this saturday(perhaps busier than a typical summer saturday) 4am in the morning. Is that early enough in your experience?

I searched the forum for related info, but dint find much. It will be helpful if you can share your past experience.

thanks!

[holz]

I was in line about that time a couple of weeks back on a Thursday morning and was 2nd in line.

I would expect that to be adequate.

Watch out for line cutters though. There was a lady that snuck right in past the whole group (some of which had been there hours before her) and tried to get a permit. We called her on it, but she still got quite a few slots up in the line.

[suman]

Just want to post a follow up for future backpackers. I was there at 4am. There were three persons ahead of me. The first person came in at 1230am and slept there. The other two flew in from new york and got there at 130am. these guys took all 12 LYV passes. I got what i wanted since i was looking for only one permit. The line started growing from about 5am and got pretty long by 7am

It seems like you need to get there by 4am if want the popular trailheads like HI to LYV and GP to LYV. the others are not in much demand. Also another thing i learned is that a lot of people holding permits for the same day (not the next for which the line is for) dont show up by 10am and those permits are given away. So, get on the waiting list and you might get lucky provided you are prepared to leave the same day.

[hotrod4x5]

3 guys took 12 passes? I have never gotten a first come first served, you don't have to have your entire party present? One guy can get say, 4 or 5 passes?

[suman]

yup you dont need your entire party present. Apparently, its pretty common. some boy scouts leader stands in line and grabs all 12 FCFS permits from HI -> LYV. GP -> LYV are also equally hard to get. When i was there, all these permits were claimed by overnight Half Dome hikers. I wish they increase the quotas for merced lake pass through.

[AlmostThere]

Most of the time I plan and have everyone I go with reserve their own permit. But I did once stand in line for four permits for HI -> LYV and get them, without the rest of the folks in my group. No need to hate me, I really feel no need to visit half dome, ever again.