The "guidelines" say one has to finish in July or August ... basically by the end of August
The "original intent" from Al Arnold , i do not think it was ... you gotta finish by Aug 31st at 23:59pm ... or else
I think the original intent of finishing by the end of August was
for people to not plan intentionally to finish in September or late September
and for people to not plan on starting Badwater146 on Aug 31st
to not intentionally start going up Whitney on Aug 31st,then camp every 3 miles and summit on Sept 2nd , 3rd, 4th
So personally from my point of view
... if you followed all other guidelines correctly
... and you do not claim some sort of record
... and your original intent was to finish on Aug 31st -or- you told the Admins you will finish on Sept 1st
I think it is totally in the original Badwater146 spirit if you finish on September 1st, 2nd -ish
For example ( i like examples )
you have a friend that will get you a permit on Aug 31st ... but they were only able to get a permit on Sep 1st. Yes ... i rather you be legal, especially since moving 1 day summiting Whitney it won't make much difference weather wise
or if you start hiking up Whitney and there is a lightning storm. Yes , I would rather you be safe and take a break and finish a day later
you get sick ... the same ... i rather you go up Whitney being healthy than risk it , and finish on Sept 1st
of course if you are sick for several days and you summit on Sept 2nd, 3rd, 4th .... that might not be ok
Bogie