We just posted an information page on how to hike Mt. Whitney.
Obviously this is a fabulous hike, attracting about 30,000 every year. A big percentage of those are non-hikers who simply want to say they have stood on the highest point in the continental USA.
What’s not to like? No climbing gear or experience is needed. The vistas are fantastic. (see photos of our Aug. 2006 hike.)
Getting an permit overnight permit is a hassle, however, one of the most backward reservation systems we know.
You must snail mail an application after Feb. 1st to arrive by Feb. 15th. Then you may or may not get picked by lottery.
If you do not luck out, there are two other ways to snag a permit after the lottery.
Some, frustrated by the process, opt to do the entire 22mi (35.4 km) round trip in a tough 10-16hr day. We do not recommend it, mainly due to the 6100ft (1859m) elevation gain.
Instead, look at some of the alternate, longer hikes which still get you to the summit of Whitney but which do not have the same kind of demand.
Mt. Whitney Trail information page – besthike.com
more photos of a trip on the climbing route – Ben Rohrs
besthike.com 
I looked at this hike in a fair amount of detail five or so years ago. There is another way to do it: the manly way. Make it a day hike. It is much riskier (altitude sickness and headaches). You must start REALLY early and you still finish in the dark. But, no reservations are required. At least, that is how it was, I haven’t looked into it recently. How about it, Rick?
I would do it as a day hike, myself. Start and finish in the dark. A 4AM start with a couple of 1hr breaks. No rush.
I chatted with a Yosemite Ranger who drove all night, did the day hike in a hurry, then drove back to Yosemite all night for work next day. No problem.
Most people doing it in a day are those who did NOT get an overnight permit. They looked pretty stressed as I watched them race by my comfortable campsite.
: )
Now you do need a permit for day hiking. But it is not a problem. They are free and something like 150 are available each day. These permits are mainly to distribute the (free) poop bags, I think. The voluntary program has been fairly successful.
What part of California is this in? It looks beautiful.
The jumping off point is Lone Pine, California. Quite little travelled though it is not all that far from Los Angeles.