Mt. Whitney From Cottonwood Lakes

The Cottonwood Lakes area stretched out before me like a map. You can almost see the Owens Lake bed.

Another Popular Peak

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

As I returned to the rocky bench I noticed new throngs of people snaking their way to the top. They all were walking upward with exaggerated slowness and seemed to take forever to reach the shoulder. The last two of the first large group abandoned my rock bench as I got there so I settled down to enjoy the afternoon and wait to confirm the descent of Dave and company. As I ate lunch I watched the group slowly with many stops crawl up to the shoulder, then cluster below the talus. They did not seem anxious to boulder their way to the top, and I guess they did not know about the easier way to my left down the ridge. Too bad.
Eventually Dave showed above as a barely recognizable speck inching down the sandy slope, and as they made their way towards me I packed up my few things and headed back to our packs (which I worried about with so many people around). I began to meet and chat with many people, but after a while the steep sand dune slopes were too much of a temptation and I began to run. With long easy strides that landed on soft sand I flew down the slope. It was a thrill I had not experienced for years and I enjoyed every moment of it.