I finally ignored the permit office guy in Bishop and did the North Lake loop without the reserved pass
He swore I would get turned around at the Piute Pass junction by noon, but I walked in at 7am and hit the pass by 10:30 with clear skies the whole way. Turns out the afternoon winds were the real issue, not the crowds he kept going on about. Anyone else skipped the reservation and just walked in early, or was I lucky?
Oh man that permit guy sounds like he just wanted to scare you off. I've done the walk in early thing a few times and honestly the rangers care way less than the office folks make it seem. Good call on beating the afternoon winds too, those will mess you up way more than any crowd ever would.