Mt. Whitney Case Study

Garry Oye, NPS Washington DC

Chief of Wilderness Stewardship & Recreation Management

Brian Spitek, FS Inyo National Forest

Wilderness Ranger

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Mt. Whitney

Historical PerspectiveLessons LearnedFuture Direction

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Historical Perspective

1873 First Ascent1904Trail Completed1930sWhitney Portal Development1964Wilderness Act1970sBackpacking Boom

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Limited Entry Quotas

197475 people per day2001Whitney Trail

(100 day and 60 overnight)

North Fork Lone Pine

(15 overnight)

Trail Crest Exit

(25 per day)

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Toilets

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Lessons Learned

Visitors want to do the Right ThingGood Fences dont always make good neighborsNo such thing as a free lunchThe time is never right for change

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Visitors want to do the right thing.

Each year visitors pack out over 3 tons of human waste.

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Good Neighbors

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National ParksYosemite National ParkInteragency Coordination/Cooperation

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No Free Lunch

ReservationsPermitsWAG bagsToiletsUser Fees

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Time is Never Right

Need for ChangeCourage and LeadershipPublic Notice & Public Involvement

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Future Direction

Create a New Whitney ExperiencePersonal choice and responsibility

Safety and Resource Protection

Transit

Portal Parking Lot to Portal Village

Bears in wilderness, not cars

Cars in Valley, not at destination

Pulses of Use

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A new day for Whitney

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Trail Crest Exits 2007:

Average Visitors per Day

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

May

June

July

August

September

October

From YOSE

From SEKI

From Inyo