I'm afraid I'm going to get ripped for this , but here goes.?
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I had a Kearsarge to Horseshoe Meadows permit a couple years ago.? After reaching summit of Whitney, I was not sure I had a couple more days in me, so I stayed at Trail Camp that night and came out Whitney Portal the next day at noon.? Used WAG bag. nobody asked me for a permit.? Figured that was better than running out of gas trying to make Horseshoe Meadows.? I figured it was a risk worth taking, and it worked out.? I was hiking solo, 61 years old, 6'10" tall, not the typical backpacker. Did what I needed to do.
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It was late September, trail going down to WP was not so busy.? An extra 18 miles might have cost me two days, hard to say. Was a great way to end my adventure, one of the great experiences of my life, I have no regrets.?
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Chuck Fannin
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(And I was doing a better job at LNT than the folks leaving their full WAG bags in the middle of the trail.....)
Charles Fannin