Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Horseshoe Meadow Conditions?

Just checking to see if anyone knows whether the road to Horseshoe Meadow is open, and also what the trail conditions are like up to the Cottonwood Lakes or over Cottonwood Pass to Chicken Spring Lake?

I spoke to Inyo County Roads today and confirmed that the road will not open this weekend. They hope to open it by the 25th, but that date is not firm. They are very helpful and friendly, and I'd recommend calling them before you leave to make sure it's open.

Thanks eboniske. Can't wait to get up there soon.

Great news! Thank you for the information! If it looks like that if the weather and road situations are going to work out then the Kern Valley Hiking Club will be heading up there. http://www.meetup.com/Kern-Valley-Hiking-Club/events/178027042/

The road is definitely open. A friend of mine was up there this weekend.

Good to know, however, any info on how the conditions were? Pictures?

I am hoping to head up next weekend with the intent of heading over Trail Pass and down to the Kern River.

Paul

I don't have any pictures to share but here's an educated guess for you. We had a storm on Friday and Saturday. It left about 12" of snow at Lower Boy Scout Lake at 10,300' and closer to 24" with bigger drifts at 12,000'. It's melting quickly though.

I'm not familiar with Trail Pass. Is that the route that goes near Trail Peak? If so it doesn't look like you're getting above about 10,800'. If you're going over New Army Pass, that's about 12,300'.

The weather this week is supposed to be warm and clear. The new snow that just fell has already started to melt and will continue to do so all week.

Any snowbanks you encounter will be soft and post holing is likely. If your route stays low I don't suspect you're going to hit much snow. If your route goes higher you'll see soft snow.

Yes, Trail Pass is next to Trail Peak. The PCT intersects with the trail heading out of Horseshoe Meadows. It's an easy pass, low altitude and I have hiked it close to 20 times as I head on down to the Kern River (I normally make this trip in early June, but thought, why not now with the snow percent low for the year).

On the return (from Wallace creek), I'll head out over Cottonwood Pass on the exit.

Looking at the snow survey monitors (Cottonwood lake is stuck at 18 inches, however, temperature are rising to mid-40's today and probably higher by weekend.)

Thanks

Paul

Hi ,Yea trail is good all the way to new Army pass went up today, Very little snow. , all good over New army….Have fun

How was the pass itself? Did you need crampons and an ice axe?

Here are the photos from our hike on May 3rd, 2014.....

Kern Valley Hiking Club