Mt. Whitney From Cottonwood Lakes

This is probably the best view along this trail section with probably the views from Guyot Pass being the exception. This is Mt. Guyot over Guyot Flat. I actually enjoyed this section.

The Guyot Flat Desert and Mt. Guyot

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

The view of Mt. Guyot over its small desert soon greeted me and shortly thereafter I was on the gentle switchbacks of Guyot Pass. On the pass I dropped my load for a drink and snack on the convenient rocks, and tried to make the best of the forested views to the south and the Mt. Guyot twin across the valley drainage. I tried to imagine myself climbing Mt. Guyot, and my imagination had me struggling up an endless talus heap, so I found something else to look at.
I have to say my energy level that day was fairly low. Everything seemed a chore, and while I had the strength to do anything, my patience was spent and my temper questionable. I just wanted to finish the day out and have an extended rest. So it was not long before I was jerking my pack on and marching down the trail.
Already I had passed a large group, and as I exited the steep switchbacks below Guyot Pass, I passed yet another large group. Over the next few miles I would pass dozens of people making their way towards Crabtree, and I spent little or no time talking to them. I wanted to get down the trail.
Oddly, I had Guyot Creek to myself, the recent inhabitance were then on the trail to Mt. Whitney. The mosquitoes had abated greatly so I did not mind lingering drinking water, eating my early lunch, and enjoying that small meadow oasis after so much dry forest. But my impatience would not allow me to stay too long, and it was back to the trail.
Another dry sandy patch of open forest and the passing of several groups saw me to the cool shaded switchbacks leading down to Rock Creek. There at the creek I met and talked to some PCTers heading north who were just breaking camp. They were not going to take the detour to hike Mt. Whitney, which I found surprising. So close.
Across the log ford I found Dave and I plopped down for an extended rest while watching several groups arrive and depart north towards Crabtree. Dave decided to read his book and give me a head start towards Soldier Lakes.