Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Winter Access Forum cottonwood lakes, horseshoe meadows campground

Has anybody been up to cottonwood lakes or camped at horseshoe meadows the past couple weeks? Ranger station told me the campground is officially closed, but the road is still open to people who want to camp there. The trail some ice on it with solid snow past the lakes. I'm planning on going up there this coming weekend for some winter camping and day hike.
thanks.

http://piotrowski.smugmug.com/Whats-New-1/Cirque-Peak-October-24-2009/10092982_Z4sPC#692755064_napH5

Some photos of the area from a climb of Cirque Peak that Mike Mellin and I did a few weeks ago.

There wasn't any snow on the drive up. The temp dropped 20 degrees from the east to the west side of the road up. It seemed a lot colder than in the Whitney area.

We used the South Forks Trail to get to the south side of Cirque. I don't remember there being much snow until we were near the base of the climb.

If the campground is closed, you'll have to bring your own water, or use the streams.

thanks for the info. We will probably do a quick day hike to Cottonwood lakes, then stay at the campground saturday night (if the weather is still good).

Bob was up there yesterday; posted a trip report at whitneyzone.com

One of the pictures:

Thanks for the info, but forcast for this weekend is calling for a chance of snow.