Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Cottonwood Pass to Soldier Lake June 12-14

First thing is the very low water level. Worse I've seen in years. There was no water between Chicken Springs Lake and Rock Creek. The weather was great - high 60's during the day with a nice breeze[kept the mosquitoes at bay] and low's in the low 30's. First day I went from the pass to Soldier Lake. I've been saying I wouldn't do that again since I left my 1000 ft elevation home at 4am that morning and at 11:30 I was going through 11000' Cottonwood Pass!

I day hike to Sky Blue Lake the second day and returned back home the third day. Saw a bunch of 'thru hikers'. Several of them were doing 15+ miles that day!

It was a thursday, but surprised to see the parking lot was almost completely empty!

Lonehiker:
Thanks for the info. Did you see any natural springs on the east side of the trail after passing the junction of Siberian pass trail (presuming you took this to Soldier Lake) with New Army pass trail as shown on the NGS maps. We will be taking the New Army pass trail on July 8th and plan on first night camp near the Rock creek crossing. If camping is not allowed there then we have to go to Soldier lake. Appreciate more info on the water availability there.

There is a nice campsite just south of the junction with the New Army Pass trail. Hang a left at the junction, cross the creek, walk about 100 yards and look left of the trail. Enjoy