Mt. Whitney From Cottonwood Lakes

Ahhh, it all becomes clear now matching my map exactly. The Hitchcock Lakes on the left, Guitar Lake on the right, and the Great Western Divide above all. Table Mountain can clearly be seen on the right skyline.

Whitney Creek Basin

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

Now I began to see people. Lots of them. From Trail Crest junction the trail begins with an irritating switchback then straightens out heading for the summit. I was surprised how rocky and poor the trail became, to the point I was rock-hopping in places to avoid the rougher jumble of small stones on the trail.