Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Cottonwood Lakes for early November backpack?

Some years your vacation schedule just doesn't line up with prime backpacking season. 2009 is one of those years. I'm trying to arrange a 3 day backpack for Nov 3-5 in the eastern Sierras. I know planning late season trip requires lots of flexibility due to weather. Can any of you experienced guys/gals chime in with a good recommendation? I was thinking about Cottonwood Lakes.

This is going to be my brother-in-laws first backpacking trip to the Sierra. He's a big time photographer so I'm looking for a destination that provides lots of scenery and a real taste of the Sierras. Previously we've hiked the PCT, Mt San Jacinto and summited Kilimanjaro. I'm an experienced backpacker who has been on several multiday Sierra trips.

We had discussed starting from Horseshoe Meadows, McGee Creek or Agnew Meadows. Are those good choices or a bit ambitious for early November? Based on dmatt's latest forecast, it sounds like winter conditions will be present. We can deal with cold and some snow. I want to avoid going over high passes or going to areas requiring mountaineering skills (ice axe, crampons...)

Any recommendations based on past experience?

iPlod (or iPlodius for classical literature lovers)

Unless you are totally sure of the weather both Horseshoe and Agnew Meadow present big time problems. Since I've never hiked McGee I cannot offer comment. I have froze my rear end off at Cottonwood Lakes and late October.

If the weather is iffy, I would have an alternate lined up with an easy out for your vehicle.

We've decided to go for a lower elevation route closer to San Diego. Most likely San Jacinto (possible the Desert Divide) or Mt Baldy. If the snow continues to pile on, we'll say screw it and head to Joshua Tree for a completely different hiking experience.

I will be signing up for the Snow Travel skills run by Kurt Wedberg's Sierra Mountaineering outfit. It sounds like you can open up many new shoulder season travel options by learning how to properly use snowshoes, ice axes, crampons...

I'm looking forward to living vicariously and reading winter travel trip logs from the adventurous folks heading up into the cold.

Are you an experienced skier or show-shoe-er? You'll need 'em.

Nov ? are you kidding? JUST go to JTree and have a great time, or if you have been there a few times, go to Red Rocks just outside of Las Vegas. It is a really cool State Park with class 5 routes up the gazoo, and if that is not your thing, I would think no problem finding reasonable Mt. biking and hiking. I cant tell you exactly where to hike, but hey, thats part of the adventure. Road biking the park loop a time or two is also an alternative.

RR state park all day, followed by a cheap chow-line at the Tropicana, or more expensive alternative (the Bellagio, wow!). Back to the campsite (it opens roughly Nov 1st, check the web!). and do it again the next day. If the winds stay down, you will have a super experience, if not, well...

Having done both Baldy and San Jacinto this year (but not Desert Divide), I say go for the Bear Flat trail on Baldy. That trail is 6 miles with 6,000 feet of elevation gain. You'll get your money's worth for sure. But, check to make sure Baldy is open. It was closed during the Station Fire.

Baldy is open now. The Station Fire closure was lifted a few weeks ago. As of now, there is no snow in the San Gabriel mtns.

Do the Bear Flats trail for maximum workout if that's what you want but it's a real grind.* Do the Ski Hut (Baldy Bowl) trail for a very good workout and a more pleasant hike.

Burt

*Yes, I know the North Backbone trail, over Pine and Dawson mtns, is even harder.

That's great news, I've been wanting to do the Bear Flat trail for the last 2 months.