HikeArizona.COM

Has anyone heard yet whether you got your October permit? I put in for one June 1 and haven't heard anything yet. I don't remember waiting so long for confirmation in the past.

What say you?

Thanks.

I've had it take over two weeks before. But not this long. You may want to call the BCO and try to get through on the phone to inquire. Have some time set aside to hit the redial button though. Write a song that you can sing to the soothing sound of the busy signal.

Send the fax again. By this point they have processed all the permit requests from early June. I heard people complain of a busy signal on June 1st. They probably didn't receive your fax request.

I waited at the office store for about an hour before my application went through via fax on June 1st. Busy, busy, and more busy.

I received notification I was denied within about 10 days.

The backcountry office has the best staff! I gave them a call and for some reason, they had no record of my request. While on the phone, I re-faxed the permit request, along with the fax report from when I originally faxed the request early, early morning June 1. With the proof I had sent the request, I was told I'd get the permit. I believe they'll use one of the walk-up slots for me as I applied for Cottonwood Camp on the main corridor. I normally avoid the main corridor but we're planning on hiking the last 100 miles of the AZ trail from Yaki Pt. to Utah.

@John9L
That seems to always be the case. I started calling the fax number just past midnight and finally got through around 1:30 (or was it 2:30?) in the AM.

rcorfman wrote:@John9L
That seems to always be the case. I started calling the fax number just past midnight and finally got through around 1:30 (or was it 2:30?) in the AM.

Just so you know you can send the fax a day or two early. They'll put it in a separate pile and will wait for the official start of the application period. They'll shuffle all the applications submitted through that first day and then start processing permits.

The backcountry office has the best staff!

I'm glad the BCO was able to help you out! I've always been happy with their service. Have a nice trip and post a triplog when you're done.

rcorfman wrote:The backcountry office has the best staff!

Agreed - something that we will not likely get in the same doses if they switch to an all online reservation system. 'Keep the Fax and the personal touch'!

I went there in person on June 1 to turn in my application, and was notified via email on June 8. I got my first choice. I put about 10 choices, on two sheets of paper. I also let them know that I would accept ANY start date between Oct. 1 and Oct 31. I put in for something very unusual for me: a Corridor hike. So I was very surprised I got my first choice.

I was surprised they didn't send me the permit in the mail. I had to print it off of the email. That means it is on regular paper instead of the card stock they use if they issue you one in person.

@rcorfman
What night will you be at Cottonwood? I'll be there Oct 26th and 27th.

@azbackpackr
We'll be there the 21st so no overlap with your outing.

Oh, well! Have a fun hike!

John9L wrote:Just so you know you can send the fax a day or two early.

You can send the fax up to 10 days early.

At the end of the first day of the month, all permit requests received over the previous 11 days are processed in a random order.

Subsequently there is no reason to send your permit request in at midnight or any specific time for priority processing.

Read more here: http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/b ... permit.htm

Hiking Month -- Date you can submit permit request beginning on:
January -- Aug 22
February -- Sep 21
March -- Oct 22
April -- Nov 21
May -- Dec 22
June -- Jan 22
July -- Feb 19
August -- Mar 22
September -- Apr 21
October -- May 22
November -- Jun 21
December -- Jul 22

I submitted my request June 1 and received notification on June 12. Didn't get my first (or second) choice on dates or campsites, but am excited nonetheless.

Wish I had read a little more closely about the ability to fax 10 days before the first of the month. I was out of town on the first, and didn't have access to a fax machine (who, besides the NPS, uses fax machines anymore!). My secretary volunteered to fax it for me. She started trying at 9 a.m., but couldn't get it to go through (busy) till about 2 pm. ....

I didn't know about that, either. So why not just drop it in the US mail about a week ahead of time? About 10 years ago when talking to a ranger he said you have to fax on the 1st or have the post office stamp it for the 1st. So, they must have changed the rules.

I live an hour from the South Rim so it was easy for me to just go there.