JMT Permit Applications – Getting No Response

They are probably just converting everything to the "new way", and taking their own time doing it.

Are you certain that your faxes are going through? The line is very busy, and some auto-rediallers only try for a limited time.

Last week, email rejections were coming through for me late the following day. (I got my permit eventually, so I don't know about this week.)

We got ours leaving from mono meadows a couple days before the "big switch". I imagine they are getting swamped with calls and faxes right now. Every post i see on the JMT facebook group has a person or two talking about calling non-stop. I'd just keep at it, and hope to get through.

If you're using an actual fax machine (instead of the 'net) you should be getting back a "fax sent" confirmation page. At least thats what happened when i did it from the machine at work.

I used "hellofax" because it keeps redialling for several hours before giving up.
All the online services that I've seen send you an email to confirm success, or to notify failure after multiple redials.

After 10 days with no response, there is something seriously wrong with your process. You should be getting either a rejection or acceptance email response. Either the fax isn't getting thru or your email address is screwed up. Have you checked your spam bucket? Tried giving the office a call to see if your fax made it to them?

Hi everyone, thanks for the feedback.

Ralph, no, I'm not sure if the faxes are getting through. With the fax machine I've been using I don't get confirmation messages – only messages when there is a problem. I haven't received any problem print out (plus I can see the "dialing" and "sending" status message on the fax machine), so I've *assumed* the faxes are indeed getting through.

I have have checked my spam folder and double checked that my email address is correct and legible (it's typed). Also, I've tried calling the permit office (209.372.0740) several times an hour for several days, but it's been busy every time.

Today I started using a different (net style) fax machine that confirms if the messages have gone through. So, we'll see if that changes anything. If I start getting responses, it'll assume my other applications never made it through :-/

Same problem here. I am not able to get a fax through. I tried a couple different fax machines from fax machines we use daily here at the office. I have to assume the lines are just too busy.

Same problem here. I am not able to get a fax through. I tried a couple different fax machines from fax machines we use daily here at the office. I have to assume the lines are just too busy.

Saw an interesting comment over on the JMT Facebook group. It seems that the Yosemite Permitting office prefers a gmail account for your email. Here's what was said

"Also called them on Tue cause I never got a denial letter or anything on my last two faxes. They made me change my e mail address to a G mail one. They said some of the bigger ones spam them even before our own spam. Well that worked cause I got my denial letter."

I saw online somewhere today (reddit i think?) that they had a power outage that disrupted the system over the weekend. Also, they are apparently getting over 70 faxes a day. Probably pretty nuts over there right now.

I got my first responses (denials) today via the same gmail account I've been using all along. I am assuming the denials were for the applications I sent in today via the new fax machine, as that is the only change on my end since I began applying.

Yeah, I'm sure it is crazy over there. An online lottery would be easier to run and harder to cheat (by over entering) vs faxing. The Yosemite website says they're reciving 400-600+ applications for the JMT everyday. Yikes!

wow… looks like i dropped a 0 from the end of my #! Lottery seems inevitable…

been turned down 4 times this week. Made the switch to a different hike.

Also turned down multiple times this week. Decided on a different trailhead.

Steve

Got my JMT permit!!! Start at Happy Isles (-> Little Yosemite Valley) including Half Dome on Fri Aug 7th!!!

It was the last day my 10 year old nephew and I could start the trail in time for him to get back to Minneapolis for the 1st day of school on Aug 24th. So, we'll be under some pressure to keep a good pace (15mi/day) and complete the trail. I'll have to have contingency plans in place in case we're falling behind schedule and need to exit a few days short of Whitney, but still, so glad the permit came through!

Thanks to everyone who offered advice on getting the permit and who offered materials to help plan and prep for the hike!