Mt. Whitney From Cottonwood Lakes
The ugly talus featuring the ugly switchbacks leading to the trail seen below. You can almost see Crabtree Meadow through the trees. Down at the end of the canyon awaits Mt. Whitney. At long last, almost there.
The Whitney DrainageMt. Whitney Trip from Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead. June 2000.
Abruptly the trail broke out of the forest on top of a large talus heap, perhaps a small moraine or a rockslide. I had to stop and take a picture because the sight of the landscape in front of me washed over me and filled my eyes and soul with the essence of the Sierra. Finally, a worthy view, and my first look at Mt. Whitney close at hand on the west side of the Sierra Crest! Below were the cool meadows of Crabtree, and everywhere I looked were peaks. There in front of me peeking around a near ridge was the unmistakable profile of Mt. Whitney! My goal was at hand.
But more hiking was at hand as well so I continued on. The next switchbacks through the rocks were about as nasty and steep as any I have seen in the Sierra. I hated going down them as much as later when I had to go right back up them. The switchbacks are steep, rock filled, high stepped, convoluted and narrow. As an exit to the Crabtree area, the switchbacks seem to go on and on endlessly, and they are easily the most unpleasant part of the whole trail from Cottonwood to Mt. Whitney.
