Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Cottonwood Lakes

I am in the early stages of planning a trip to the Cottonwood Lakes with my brother, his kid (age 10), and my kid (age 9). This trip will probably take place about the middle to end of May.

I know there's some special regulations concerning that region that I still need to check, but I am looking for some feedback on whether Horseshoe Meadows road will open then and what the conditions of the Cottonwood Lakes trail might be.

Thanks!

Thomas

I have been up on the Horseshoe meadows road many times around Memorial day (last year around May 24th). It seems like it has always been dry by then. Sometimes they have to clear rocks and mudslides off the road in late April and early May. The forest service would probably know.

By the second half of May, you could reasonably expect some snow around some of the lakes, but it is going fast. Last year the snow was mostly solid above 10500 feet on Memorial day weekend. This year the melt is on a faster pace Follow the weather link on the Whitney Portal store main page. Click on "weather" and then "snow pack status" and then "Daily regional snowpack plots from snow sensors: current". That will give you a good idea what is happening.

I was up in early June about 4 years ago and there was zero snow but New Army Pass still had a snow cornice. Every year will be different but my guess is there is the road will be clear and there won't be much snow.

Bring the industrial strength DEET and treat your clothes with Permethrin before going up. I think every California mosquito lives in this lake basin.

Bill

I agree w/ Bill .. the bugs are RELENTLESS! Aside from that, the trail up to the lakes basin should be fine. Have fun.

If you are going to fish the Cottonwood Lakes there are some special regulations you need to check out. I believe they are all but one catch-and-release.

Mike

Thanks for the info. Looks like we won't be going to the Cottonwood lakes next month, since the season doesn't start until July 1.

The California DFG fishing regs for 2004 are here:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fg_comm/2004/freshfishregbook04.pdf

Anyone know a nice hike to a fishing lake in the Whitney area that would work in May? Maybe one of those lakes in the Onion Valley area? I've never fished those lakes before Kearsarge Pass; always in too much of a hurry to get over the pass.

Thanks!

Thomas

Lone Pine Lake - caught my limit there 18 months ago during the day. Good size rainbows, seemed wild.

Nice BBS. I have not been here before.

I have a web site for the Sierra backpacker called Sierra Trails:
http://www.sierra-trails.com/
One of the stories I did was of doing Whitney from Cottonwood Lakes y'all might find of interest:
http://www.sierra-trails.com/whitney/stcoverv1n7.htm
I did this hike in June. There is also a bit about trying to do Whitney in winter. Speaking of "early" season, tomorrow I leave for a trip to climb an 11k foot peak in Kings Canyon. I will report the conditions if anybody is interested.

Doyle W. Donehoo
Editor, Sierra Trails
(And yeah, ST is a non-profit...)
PS: Looks like your will have to cut n' paste 'cause html is not enabled.