Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Water Availability – Cottonwood Pass to Whitney

Can anyone comment on the current availability of water between Cottonwood Pass and Mt. Whitney?

As of 2 weeks ago:

-there is plenty of water in Chicken Spring Lake, but not much flowing out of it. (I dipped from the lake with no ill effects thus far).

-the small blue spot on the map just west of Cirque Peak looks damp, but I couldn't see any actual water from Cirque.

I don't know about farther up the trail - I bailed out at New Army Pass (instead of going for Langley).

Dan

First of all, you should be carrying at least 2 liters of water per person with you. Other than Chicken Springs Lake, there is no reliable water source until you get to Rock Creek or Soldier Lake, depending how you go at the trail junction. If I remember correctly, it's about 4 miles from Horseshoe Meadow to Cottonwood Pass, and then about 8 miles to Rock Creek. If you go to Soldier Lake from the trail junction, it's only 4 miles. Going forward from either location, water is not a problem. You don't have to go very far and you hike past a lake or stream. This time of year, there are streams running that don't run later in the summer. The biggest distance that you don't have water is from Guiter Lake and back down or to Trail Camp.

There is a hidden little stream along the PCT, about 1/2 way from Chickenspring to Rock Creek. A couple of years back, it was marked by carved letters on a log. As you go north, it is to the left side of the trail, perhaps 100 feet off the trail. I can't remember the circumstances, but some years back I camped down that draw, it was a nice camp spot. It is off the section of the PCT that turns south-southwest. Here is the mapquest:

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=36.4...7&layer=DRG

Thanks for the information.