Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 2 Questions on NAP Area

In reading "Backpacking California" I've become interested in a nice-looking loop from Horseshoe Meadows to Cottonwood Lakes, NAP, Chicken Spring, Cottonwood Pass and back to HSM as an introduction to High Sierra backpacking. Two questions...
(1) Understanding no two years are the same, on average how late in the year is NAP usually clear of snow for non-technical hiking?
(2) None of the writeups I've read indicate much wrt significant water crossings. Is that pretty much a non-issue for this area, particularly late summer/early fall?

Thanks,
BK in OH

Wouldn't you, know I searched this topic a couple days ago and came up dry. Now I see a whole string since yesterday.