Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Cottonwood Pass to Trail Peak Loop

Any info on trailhead to Cottonwood Pass, off trail to Trail Peak and Trail Pass back to trailhead? My interest would be the route from Cottonwood Pass to Trail Peak to Trail Pass and out.

Seems like a good warm-up hike to get some altitude for our Sept. 7 MMWT trip.

Thanks!

Not a direct answer, but here are some photos from a climb of Trail Peak from Cottonwood Pass last summer:

http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/California...628770660_AJQkE

We headed "north" straight down to the meadow on the return.

Go over cottonwood pass then take the PCT south. Leave the trail about a half mile past the saddle(10,750) west of Trail Peak. Hike and scramble up the northwesterly slopes to the peak. Descend by going east to trail pass and rejoin the trail. (Or go directly north like Richard mentioned)


Richard, that looks like Trail Pass rather than Cottonwood???

I'm not a big fan of the Cottonwood Pass RT...too damn sandy, only fair views along the way and no views to speak of at the pass. The trip to Trail Peak and Pass change the dynamic considerably. This is flat out one of the nicest acclimatization hikes in the Lone Pine area. My guess is you will not see much traffic between Cottonwood Pass and Trail Pass. Do not pass up Trail Peak, the views of the Cirque Peak are worth the extra effort.