Cottonwood Lakes Loop (moderate)

Wednesday, July 8th to Sunday, July 12th. This 5-day/4-night trip offers huge dividends per hiking mile: magnificent alpine basins defined by sculpted peaks cradling shining blue lakes linked by high passes with awe-inspiring views all on a relatively short trip. The route begins in the Golden Trout Wilderness and crosses through portions of the John Muir Wilderness and Sequoia National Park. The loop is 24 miles with an elevation gain/loss of 3080 feet. I've set an easy itinerary so that even beginner backpackers in relatively good condition can do this trip: less than 7 miles per day. Others wanting to do a shorter trip (with longer days) can feel free to do an overlap trip and join us for a day/night or two. The plan is to 1) detour off the main trail to spend the first night at Cottonwood Lakes themselves OR 2) continue on to the westernmost South Fork lake to set up base camp. The latter option allows us to explore all the South Fork Lakes and Cirque Lake in addition to providing those interested with an opportunity to climb Mt. Langley (the Sierra’s southernmost 14,000-footer) or the easier Cirque Peak on Day 2. If we stay the night at Cottonwood Lakes (option #1), I'd like to spend the second night at South Fork Lakes to explore that area even though it's only a short distance further, but further along the main trail. On Day 3, we will continue along the Cottonwood Lake Trail to Rock Creek Trail where we’ll take the short spur to camp overnight at the small lake on Upper Rock Creek. Day 4, we’ll retrace our path back to Siberian Pass Trail which joins with the Pacific Crest Trail to Chicken Spring Lake where we’ll camp for the night. The final day will find us continuing along the PCT to cross Cottonwood Pass (11,200 ft). From there, we’ll leave the PCT to finish our journey down the Cottonwood Pass Trail to the exit trailhead at Horseshoe Meadow. Closing the loop will involve a 1.5 mile walk along the road between the Horseshoe Meadow and Cottonwood Lakes trailheads. MT LANGLEY http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e223/difabu/MtLangley.jpg No wood fires are permitted in the Cottonwood Lakes Basin, at South Fork Lakes or within ¼ mile of Chicken Spring Lake. Nights will most likely be chilly. Please consider this before you RSVP. Bear canisters are required. There is a backpackers’ campground (one night limit) at the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead. It has restrooms and potable water. The same is available at Horseshoe Meadows trailhead, our exit trailhead. CIRQUE PEAK http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e223/difabu/CirquePeak.jpg DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD: From the center of Lone Pine on US 395, go 3.5 miles west on Whitney Portal Road. Turn left onto Horseshoe Meadow Road and follow it for 20 airy, windy miles to a turnoff (right) at the sign for the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead. Go about 1 mile more to the parking lot and adjacent backpackers’ campground.