Apparently, as of Nov 2022 there is a ranger posted at the start of the hike at 4am. He wants you to have sent an email to [email protected] 24 hours previous to confirm access. I guess if you arrive before 4am he isn’t there and it is hike at your own risk (which it should be anyways). I arrived at 4:10 and he really hassled me for about 20 minutes since I didn’t know about the email. I tried to send the email which i think appeased him a bit although it never sent with zero tmobile service. Then a truck came and he hassled the truck for 20 minutes and I kinda just kept walking up the mountain. He did get my passport number so i think i was legit at that point. Go early, it’s your best bet at a view of the pacific and Caribbean on either side of the isthmus. Obviously bring adequate water, food and warm gear. I was told they rescued 8 people of the mountain last week due to hypothermia, which might be why things got stricter.