An old question and I don't have a real answer. Isn't there a caretaker that lives in the park full time when the office is closed? I know that last year in March he came around early in the morning to make sure that permits were renewed. It was I must say, quite rude waking people up and asking for credit card information. You don't have to renew or leave until the afternoon but somebody had too much time on their hands. Left a bad taste.

Always thought you had to wait until 2pm to see what opens Splakin. That was the way it was years ago. How do you book a site that isn't bookable? Maybe the clerk was confused? Common courtesy should have had that couple check with you about whether or not you were staying or not. Numerous times in the past we had to wait at the PP gates until 2 before finding out if anything was open.

A number of years ago the ranger told us we had to drive to the west gate from Mew to renew our yurt. Two separate bookings for the same yurt on concurrent nights due to the way the online booking worked. They didn't set me up for the whole stint when I first checked in at that gate. Consequently buddy was adamant that I drive an hour in winter conditions to get that permit legitamized, notarized, updated. Thankfully the person on guard at the gate was driving through to Whitney and decided she would bring the permit by on her way.

Old guy with old stories YMMV

one time at mew, i showed up at 3 am.  i was just looking for place to sleep,  and  i set up on a campsite. 
       at 8 am that morning,  some punk kid warden wants to see my permit.  i told him my situation and i took off to the office to get the paper work,,  the lady insisted that i pay for before midnight the previous day and my fee for the six hours that i was at mew,  the total charge was two nights for a 6 hour stay,, she kept telling me that is how the computer is set up, no common sense dealing with the tattoo lady behind the counter,, computers are only as smart as the operators ? i.m.h.o.   i paid and left, went to the west gate and got a refund.  campground contractors,,
    another time thanksgiving weekend staying at canisbay,, after  several nights  at a non-reseverable site and paying each moring. i was blown away  the third morning only to be told that my campsite was taken, this was like a 9:30 am 
 i was then told the the entire camp ground was booked for the long weekend and that i had to leave,, however only one of the three campgrounds were open at that time. i asked to stay /camp at one a sites that was closed,, no luck. 
  i packed up and left,, only to find out later that the two closed camp grounds were opened up after all.  
         some time in the early 80`s the tim lake permit office was burnt to the ground,,  that is why it is now at it present location,,,
     

Last edited by swedish pimple (4/10/2020 11:01 am)

it's my understanding that reservable sites open at 2 pm, when cancellations are confirmed, and non- reservable sites open at 8 am. And yeah, the East and West gates, being run by parks staffers, can run circles around the contractors, who are locked out of all but the basic functions.

Last edited by scoutergriz (4/18/2020 6:48 am)