Mt. Whitney From Cottonwood Lakes

A nearly perfect camp. Good trees for the bear hang, a level spot for the shelter, and a nearby convenient kitchen area!

Home Away from Home

Mt. Whitney Trip from Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead. June 2000.

Another short climb took us to yet another signed fork. A right turn steered us gently upward and after about a mile and very near timberline we spotted a level camp off the trail near the stream. Across the stream we could see a large round shallow true tarn that looked particularly inviting to me. After a short conference punctuated with a discussion with a PCT hiker fresh from the summit of Mt. Whitney, we decided we had found home for the next two nights.
After a short rest we set up camp making use of the convenient near-by rock furniture (I love level granite countertops for my cooking), and the ample level ground for our sleeping area. Laundry Day is always eagerly anticipated, giving me a chance to wring out days of sweat on the flowers and grass, and afforded me the opportunity to wring myself out with a good bath and sometimes, if I am lucky, a swim. In short order our camping area began to look like a laundry sale with shirts and socks hanging from the trees and flapping in the breeze.