Horseshoe meadow to whitney portal backpacking

If you didnt get your permit for the main trail this is a less traveled alternative route. Day 4 crabtree meadow to whitney portal what started out as a short day, ended up being a longer one. Whitney allowing you to hike the entire jmt, cottonwood lakes trail and cottonwood pass trail. Aug 18, 2014 hiking on the west side of mount whitney gives an entirely different perspective on a popular region dominated by the lower 48s highest mountain.

There were still a few campsites available, so we quickly set up the tent, left whatever gear. The paved road is usually open from may to late october. Whitney via cottonwood pass june 8th june 11th this will be a 3day backpack to mt. This 10,000 foot trailhead is paved all the way, has a zillion parking places, and is empty. There were still a few campsites available, so we quickly set up the tent, left whatever gear we could, then drove to whitney portal to drop the car. Cottonwood pack station hiking with pack stock, mt. I recorded most of this on my samsung galaxy s6, including the music in my bathroom acoustics. Deciphering the inyo national forest permit system ingas. At about 3 miles make a left turn onto paved horseshoe meadows road.

Drive twenty miles up mountain switchbacks to the end of the road at horseshoe meadow. Or maybe park at whitney portal early and try to hitch a ride to horseshoe meadow first before the start. In the morning, it was still going and i was nervous at breakfast. Its an unincorporated little community where the mount whitney trail begins, complete with campgrounds, a store, a restaurant and lots of parking for pilgrims going to the summit. The route takes us over cottonwood pass, past chicken spring lake, through rock creek canyon, over guyot pass, through crabtree. Whitney allowing you to hike the entire jmt, cottonwood lakes trail and cottonwood pass. Horseshoe meadow lies in the inyo national forest southwest of lone pine in the eastern sierra nevada at the boundary of the southern sierra to the south and the high sierra to the north. Whitney, north fork of lone pine creek, and trail crest exit.

Drive twenty miles up mountain switchbacks to roads end at horseshoe meadow. The trail from crescent meadow to whitney portal is 72 miles long and takes about a week to complete. It is not a loop so youll need to figure out how to get back to your car or have a car waiting at the end. Whitney you could also begin or end this hike at whitney portal you will meet the pct 22. From center of lone pine, turn west at the stoplight and follow whitney portal road for 3 miles. The high sierra trail, which begins at crescent meadow in sequoia national park and ends at whitney portal, is a great option for those who have a limited amount of time and want to hike to the top of mt. An alternative to this popular route, which is subject to lottery, is to start a little further south, at horseshoe meadow, going over cottonwood pass or new army pass. The area is south of lone pine, ca and an hour drive from mt. A spectacular backpacking trip, with a delightful side trip to the summit. Most people who backpack mt whitney to reach the summit use this camp as a launching point for reaching the top.

You can also enter the west side from mineral king. Cottonwood pass trail to whitney portal hiking trail, lone. Located at about 10,000 feet altitude it is a central hub for many day and backbacking trips. One other option is to pick an alternative trailhead near the whitney zone, such as the horseshoe meadow trailhead. The trail now enters the eastern portion of big whitney meadow.

From the city of lone pine, it takes half an hour to ascend to the trailhead campgrounds. The bottle neck for the west entry is the whitney portal exit, right. Among them are sabrina lake, south lake, big pine, onion valley, and horseshoe meadow. Located at the end of horseshoe meadow road, 24 miles southwest of the town of lone pine, california. Sierra shuttle service sierra shuttles, eastern sierra. We will follow the pct starting at horseshoe meadow and intersect with the jmt behind mt.

The campground makes a spot to camp for several days to acclimatize before whitney hike. It once had a solar toilet but due to abuse people putting trash in the toilets. Whitney, which offers a great view of the surrounding area, and it sees far less hikers and permit can be picked up last minute. Aug, 2017 come along on my hike from horseshoe meadows to mount whitney. I left my car at onion valley campground below kearsarge pass and was driven by my good friends, jonathan and brendan, to horseshoe meadow. Horseshoe meadow area campground, lone pine, california rei. The road to horseshoe meadow climbs over 6,000 feet, as it winds its way up from lone pine.

And the west face climb of whitney is nicer with less people and better acclimation. Oct 27, 2015 so this was our october horseshoe meadows loop hike out of lone pine, ca, in the eastern sierras. From lone pine turn west onto whitney portal road mile 0. Drive west from town on whitney portal road, then south on horseshoe meadow road to the trailhead. From the signal light in lone pine on us 395, drive 3.

East side sierra shuttle the most reasonably priced. The recreation fees are used to finance the ontheground wilderness programs in inyo national forest. Turn left, and follow horseshoe meadow first over a gentle slope approaching the base of the mountains and then soon on a precipitous switchbacking passage to the horseshoe meadows area. Horseshoe meadow to whitney portal 820 to 824 backpacking. Hiking on the west side of mount whitney gives an entirely different perspective on a popular region dominated by the lower 48s highest mountain. There are two trails that begin here that can connect you to the jmt near mt. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from march until october. Horseshoe meadow campgrounds golden trout wilderness. I have hiked many miles in the high sierra but, for some reason, never south of mt. Going westbound or eastbound is all the same to me all great stuff. Spend the rest of the day exploring the meadow and fishing.

Jun 23, 20 this is a 3 days backpacking trip starting from horseshoe meadows in inyo national forest. Horseshoe meadows to mount whitney and whitney portal trailhead via new army pass is a 37. Trail camp is located at 12,000 feet elevation and 6 miles from the whitney portal parking lot. Home forums campfire posttrip reports horseshoe meadow to whitney portal 820 to 824 viewing 3 posts 1 through 3 of 3 total forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx rbtr drop backcountry feathered friends. The first trail steps of my pct journey began after a car shuttle.

The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from april until october. Horseshoe meadow to lower soldier lake about 10 miles. Cottonwood pass miter basin army pass backpack in e. You will enter immediately the alabama hills recreation area. I didnt see another soul until i got down to lower crabtree meadow. From lone pine start up the whitney portal road, but after 4 miles turn left onto horseshoe meadow road. I have always wanted to walk this stretch of the pacific crest trail. Nice overnight camping at the trailhead, and its free. Camping on the main mt whitney trail usually takes place at either outpost camp 3, or trail camp 6. A stumble on the lower slopes, eventuating in for c a broken ankle and a 4 mile hobble carrying her wag bag to whitney portal. John muir trail backpacking packing list rei coop journal. Whitney via cottonwood pass wilderness trip report. After several miles the road begins to climb, soon making switchbacks up the steep mountainside.

Turn right at the junction with the pacific crest trail in the direction of rock creek. Link to part 1 our itinerary is for a 5day, 4night trek starting at horseshoe meadow, ascending over cottonwood pass to connect with the pct, then continuing on to crabtree meadow where well depart the pct for the mt whitney trail and then exit via the portal. Our hike ends here, but it begins at horseshoe meadow, elevation 9,900 feet high on our way to 14,500foot mount whitney. The plan i came up with was a slight variation on our 2012 trip, but on a much tighter schedule. So this was our october horseshoe meadows loop hike out of lone pine, ca, in the eastern sierras. There was talk of 10% grades for miles on the way to mt. I probably will avoid the cross country at this point as i was made to promise before this trip was approved that i would not do this since i am alone sigh. In the southern eastern sierra campers find an array of great places to visit. After three miles, turn left on horseshoe meadow road. Pass chicken spring lake, and continue northwest along the trail through a rugged alpine forest of ancient foxtail. Make a left here and go up the mountain to the end of the road at the parking lot quite a few miles on this switchbacking road. Today was a big day wed climb two beasts for over 11,000 feet of elevation gain in just 65 miles.

Pacific crest trailjohn muir trail, kennedy meadows to onion valley, augustseptember 2012 distance covered. Horseshoe meadows to mount whitney and whitney portal. Turn right, following signs for cottonwood lakes and park at the trailhead. Jagged 14,000 foot peaks, crystal clear lakes, sprawling alpine meadows, and beautiful mountain basins dot a vast landscape that is seldom visited by hikers outside of the narrow confines of the jmt.

I decided to head up to upper crabtree and set up there for the night. The plan was to go to guitar lake and fish and relax for the hike up whitney the next day. Come along on my hike from horseshoe meadows to mount whitney. Mt whitney trail hiking and backpacking timberline trails. The trail follows along stokes stringer creek for about 3 miles. Then turns sharply west headed straight into the pine filled southern. Those camped at whitney portal campground may enjoy visiting some of these places. From route 395 in lone pine, turn west at the traffic light on to whitney portal road.

Just about 40 miles starting in horseshoe meadow and ending at whitney portal. The traditional route would start at whitney portal and include the summit of whitney. I havent heard complaints about getting a crescent meadow permit. Finders 2019 trail journals, backpacking and hiking journals. The most popular trails are horseshoe meadow to whitney portal backpacking, onion valley to mount whitney trail and meysan lake trail. From southern california, drive north on hwy 395 to lone pine, ca. Hike up cottonwood pass, down to rock creek, up to guyot creek, camp there.