Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Cottonwood Lakes Snow Level

Has anyone recently traveled from the Horseshoe Meadow trail head to the Cottonwood Lakes area? Our BSA troop has planned a trip to Cottonwood lakes on June 24th to June 27th and we need to know if the trail is passable without crampons and ice axes. We don't mind walking through snow but we have to make sure it's safe for younger boys. Thanks in advance.

I was up there on Memorial weekend and by now the trail should be snow free. Crampons and ice axe won't be needed. Have fun, its nice up there.

We were up to New Army pass last weekend. Walking along the trails is fast for the first 4 miles then snow coverage on the trail is about 50%. The old snow is deeply scalloped from wind and melting. This slows the pace considerably. The weather was great. Take sunscreen, hats and sunglasses.

Did anyone happen to notice the conditions of the 5 Cottonwood Lakes? I'm hoping to be able to get up there on the July 4th weekend to grab an early Golden trout, only if the lakes are ice free.

Thanks.

Take a look at these photos in the Horseshoe meadows area, taken by Rick Kent

<a href="http://www.rickkent.net/ViewerPlus/viewer.asp?FolderID=403&Page=4"> Horseshoe meadows area photos June 17</a>

Has anyone been over New Army Pass? Or close to the top?
How about the top of Cottonwood Pass, and Chicken Spring Lake - snow depth there?
Has anyone been back to Muir lake?

bsauthority,

You can get over CP and Chicken Spring Lake is mostly iced over. The snow CSL is heaviest on the east side of the lake and there are only a few campsites available on the west side of the lake. NAP appears impassibe from Cirque Peak, there is a good size cornice at the top and snow to travel through the last 600' of vertical.