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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 26
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 26 |
In less than two weeks my wife and I will be doing our one day attempt at the summit via the main trail. We will be in Lone Pine the evening of the 5th and have permits for the 10th.
What I am looking for are some suggestions on hikes to get us acclimated to the altitude, and that are going to be easy on the knees. If I go too hard my knees will be blown out for Whitney.
We were going to drive up to White Mt. and just hang out by the gate all day for acclimatization purposes, but sitting all day when there is so much to see seems perhaps pointless and boring.
So, any suggestions would be helpful. Horseshoe Meadows, Cottonwood, etc. Appreciate any help and all suggestions.
Thanks
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,447 Likes: 1
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,447 Likes: 1 |
First, congrats on having a plan, so may do not, and pay for it.
I'm a big fan of the Horseshoe Meadows area, as there are a lot of options for nice hikes:
Loop trip from Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to Trail Pass, south along the PCT to Mulkey pass, then back down, looping back into the Trail Pass Trail.
Climb from CPT to Cottonwood Pass, then back
Those are both 1/2 day hikes, easy hikes, on trails.
From Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead, take the trail to where it crosses the stream on the log, and about a hundred feet past, the South Fork Trail takes off to the left (easy to miss if you don't know it's there). Follow the South Fork as far as you care to hike, up to the South Fork Lakes. This is a pretty level hike, up to the final climb to the first lake. It can take up to a whole day, depending upon how you care to do it.
You can also loop around from the outlet of the first South Fork Lake to the right, and connect up with the regular Cottonwood Lakes Trail to come back to the trailhead. Probably most of a full day. Involves about 1000 ft of gain and loss.
Finally, you can go from Cottonwood Pass Trailhead, climb to Trail Pass, then go on a loop hike to Cottonwood pass (I think about 7 miles), then descend back to the trailhead. Other than the climb up to, and down from the passes, it is a nearly level hike, with water on along the trail.
Everything I'd described is on trails, with no challenging routefinding. The Tom Harrison map: Golden Trout Wilderness has all of these trails.
Have fun!
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,391
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,391 |
You were willing to drive out into the Whites, so I'd suggest a few things that are north of Lone Pine and give you a different feel to the Sierra.
First of all, realizing that getting anywhere in the Eastern Sierra takes time, and the mileage is spread out. 60 miles to Bishop from LP, 100 miles to Mammoth. But the drive is spectacular and not boring (I do it most every day to see patients, and never get tired of it).
Rock Creek/Mosquito Flat/Little Lakes Valley would be a great hike for you: relatively flat, ridiculously fantastic scenery, lakes/creeks, about 7 miles I think from Mosquito Flat to Morgan Pass, and it's all over 10K (MF is 10.2K where the road ends).
McGee Creek, just past Crowley Lake, is another nice and gradual trail that starts in the open (flowers were silly a few weeks ago) and then gradually climbs into the forest.
Bishop Pass, out of South Lake, is a nice 6 mile climb to overlook Dusy Basin and it's drop to LeConte Canyon.
Duck Pass, Mammoth Pass, Devils Postpile to Rainbow Falls.
Added bonus: cool little mom and pop places to eat all over the place up here.
Bishop Creek (good burgers)
Pie in the Sky (Rock Creek): mmm... pie
Tom's Place Diner
Crowley Lake Cafe (pizza)
Exerting some at altitude is, I think, a vital part of becoming a little more acclimated. It gets your body used to the thought of working at altitude.
If you have any questions or want more specs on a hike, drop me a pm.
Have fun!
-L
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 556
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 556 |
And if you're feeling exceptionally motivated to drive, Mono Pass at the eastern end of Yosemite (about 3 miles in). Beautiful hike of about 8 mi RT, but gives you an excuse to eat at the Whoa Nellie Deli Mobil Mart in Lee Vining. Best lobster taquitos in the Sierra . . .
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,871
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,871 |
First, congrats on having a plan, so may do not, and pay for it.
I'm a big fan of the Horseshoe Meadows area, as there are a lot of options for nice hikes:
Loop trip from Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to Trail Pass, south along the PCT to Mulkey pass, then back down, looping back into the Trail Pass Trail.
Climb from CPT to Cottonwood Pass, then back
Those are both 1/2 day hikes, easy hikes, on trails.
From Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead, take the trail to where it crosses the stream on the log, and about a hundred feet past, the South Fork Trail takes off to the left (easy to miss if you don't know it's there). Follow the South Fork as far as you care to hike, up to the South Fork Lakes. This is a pretty level hike, up to the final climb to the first lake. It can take up to a whole day, depending upon how you care to do it.
You can also loop around from the outlet of the first South Fork Lake to the right, and connect up with the regular Cottonwood Lakes Trail to come back to the trailhead. Probably most of a full day. Involves about 1000 ft of gain and loss.
Finally, you can go from Cottonwood Pass Trailhead, climb to Trail Pass, then go on a loop hike to Cottonwood pass (I think about 7 miles), then descend back to the trailhead. Other than the climb up to, and down from the passes, it is a nearly level hike, with water on along the trail.
Everything I'd described is on trails, with no challenging routefinding. The Tom Harrison map: Golden Trout Wilderness has all of these trails.
Have fun! To me, a day hike to Cottonwood Pass isn't worth the effort. There is no there, there. The there is located at the climb out above Chicken Spring Lake. Blah, become WOW! If you don't want to go there, make it a loop trip utilizing Trail Pass to get back to Horseshoe Meadow. My guess is this a about an 11 mile loop.
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