I have yet to reach the six month window for my hike, but in all prior years, I have not seen Inyo permits disappear instantly, especially the large amount of permits for the Cottonwood Pass and Cottonwood Lakes entries. Being online at 7:00 am pacific time with the itinerary all planned out, I never had an issue and there were still quite a few permits available even a half hour later. ?So, maybe things have dramatically changed this year. I find it hard to believe that all of the Inyo permits for plausible JMT entry points could be gone at 7:00 am instantly unless perhaps there's some automated bot that's grabbing inventory instantly.?
In the past I've also suggested the High Sierra Trail out of Sequoia National Park as an alternative entry to the JMT, albeit one with a long approach before you get to the JMT itself. In 2016, I hiked northbound starting with the High Sierra Trail. I ended at Mammoth but the permit I had could have taken me to Happy Isles. ?Of all my JMT hikes over the past decade, that one was near the top. ?I did hike a SOBO "classic" thru hike in 2013 but the Yosemite permit system was not as difficult back then.?
This year I only have a week available on trail. I'll probably repeat my 2019 hike: South Lake to Whitney (or Horseshoe Meadows). South Lake is also a great entry point.
ravi_jmt2013