For those despairing of getting a JMT permit, there are creative solutions, using less popular trailheads.
For example. (This plan requires two permits)
Get to Mammoth. (drive in or fly to Reno and get there by bus)
Use a local shuttle (such as Mammoth Taxi) to get to the McGee Pass trailhead. Hike north to Happy Isles.
Use the bus system to get back to Mammoth. Use their free shuttle bus and their postpile (fee) bus to get to Red's Meadow. Buy supplies in the store or pick up the resupply you sent there. Hike south on Fish Creek trailhead to lovely Iva Bell Hot Spring, enjoy, then take the Cascade valley trail to the JMT and hike south (or use the Minnow Creek trail and join up to the JMT near Silver Pass, or go over Goodale Pass to Vermilion. So many choices! ) If you do the Cascade Valley route, you miss just one mile of JMT, between Tully Hole and Fish Creek.
Resupply at MTR (send a resupply there. It's expensive but efficient. They don't sell food in their tiny store).
Hike south and camp at Guitar Lake. Leave your gear there and day hike to the summit of Whitney. Then go back to Guitar and hike south and exit at New Army Pass and enjoy the Cottonwood Lakes basin on your final day.
Hitch or buy a shuttle down to Lone Pine and ride the bus back to Mammoth or wherever you gotta go to get home.
It's much easier to get permits for McGee Pass and Fish Creek. This plan dodges the Donohue exit quota and the Whitney exit quota.
I hesitated to post this after looking at the recreation.gov site last night from July 1 to Aug. 9. It is astounding to see that even less popular trailheads are fully booked out. But you have to keep in mind that 40% of the quota is held for walk-ins which will be available online 2 weeks prior to go date. SO it is still quite possible to score something. Don't despair, keep watching for cancellations and be ready to jump when online walk-ins open up. I have easily scored online walk-in permits for the most desired Inyo trailheads during the last two summers.
