Mt. Whitney From Cottonwood Lakes

The Great Western Divide beckons over the Wallace drainage. Wales Lake is to the right. Mt. Hale is mid picture.

Northern Exposure

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

We strolled around taking pictures and seeing the sights from various vantage points on the peak, and identifying various peaks and other landmarks. I talked with climbers who had just come up the Mountaineer Route which was first climbed by John Muir, which in turn reminded me that John Muir spent the night on Mt. Whitney in his shirt sleeves.

A little to the right of the above picture and I am looking north along the Sierra Crest. Mt. Russell is on the right just off the picture, and the lake is Wales Lake.

Muir spent the night dancing and singing Scottish folk tunes to keep warm until dawn finally came. He then climbed down and hiked back to Lone Pine, went to bed and slept the sleep of the dead. It is hard to imagine just how tired he must have been.