Mt. Whitney From Cottonwood Lakes

Near the summit of Mt. Langley. If you look closely you can see two hikers making their way upward.

Up a Sandy Slope

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

The traverse down the ridge was simplicity itself in the soft sands of the slope and I made quick progress. I soon found out the summit ridge extended all the way across the mountain and plunged downward on the northwest side. But before the plunge I found at least three well-defined trails into and through the ridge to the plateau above through some soft steep snow clinging to the ridge. It would be an easy matter to continue on to the summit at that point and the way seemed clear to the top from what I could see from the ridge top. But it had been a long time passing from the last sighting of the guys, and I worried they would come down and see no sight of me and wonder where I was and perhaps begin a search. Well, I had found the way up, and I was no more motivated to slog the rest of the way to the top than when I started this jaunt, so I turned back. I had my pictures and that is all I wanted. The summit would have just been extra.