TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
User avatar
Bluewater
Topix Expert
Posts: 584
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 3:33 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Laguna Beach
Contact:

TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

Post by Bluewater »

When I heard Horseshoe Meadows road was finally opened last weekend I decided to head up to see the Cottonwood Lakes and climb Mt. Langley in the snow.

The forecast was for cold temps in the low 20's and the NOAA still showed several inches of snow above 11,000 feet, so I packed my winter gear including snowshoes, microspikes, 10 degree quilt, xtherm and pyramid shelter.

By the time I picked up a permit and drove to the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead it was 1:00 pm. With the long summer days I still had plenty of time to make it to the lakes and find a good place to camp. . .

Cottonwood Lake #1:

Image

Looking down from Lake #5:

Image

Lake #5 and Old Army Pass:

Image

I made camp in the trees above Lake #4 and hunkered down for a cold night. The wind blowing off of the lakes created a natural 'walk-in freezer' environment and by morning the temps got down to 15 F. Although most of the lakes were beginning to melt Lake #4 was re-frozen by morning.

The next day I headed for New Army Pass and (hopefully) Mt. Langley. I brought snowshoes and with an early start I planned on making it to the peak and back before dark.

Resilient old trees:

Image

Melting lakes and Mt. Langley:

Image

Resilient wildlife:

Image

On the way to NAP:

Image

Cornice at the top of NAP:

Image

The trail became covered near the top:

Image

A little too steep (and exposed) to self arrest with just trekking poles:

Image

I searched for a possible route over the pass and was able to snowshoe near the top:

Image

The final almost vertical section:

Image

I hung around and enjoyed the view. . . Mt. Langley will have to wait until later.

Image

High Lake:

Image

By the time I got back to camp and had an early dinner I decided to head back down the mountain. Hiking along the meadows in the late afternoon was pleasant and the long shadows made for beautiful scenery. It was after 6:00 pm on Sunday and I had the entire basin to myself. All of the creeks were flowing and I could hear the frogs starting to sing as I hopped over another rushing stream.

Then I realized I had left my snow anchors back at the lake. Abiding by LNT principles (and not wanting re-buy titanium snow anchors) I went back to camp to get them. On the way back I noticed the sign for Muir Lake. I remember reading a trip report about Muir Lake with some nice photos here on HST. It was getting late so instead of hiking the last few miles back to the car in the dark I made the turn toward Muir Lake.

Sandy beachfront on Muir Lake:

Image

Image

I cowboy camped among the trees in one of the nice flat camp spots above the lake.

I woke to an amazing sunrise on Cirque Peak. Even though it was 18 F I grabbed some (ice) coffee and followed the sand down to the lake:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Thanks for reading.

Andy.
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11823
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

Post by maverick »

Thank you for the wonderful TR and pictures BW. Really enjoyed the shots of the Bighorn, and the cool shot angles of the cornice, from the trail and from underneath it. :)

PS When will you have the full report up on your website?
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
User avatar
hikerdude87
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2015 7:32 pm
Experience: Level 2 Backpacker

Re: TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

Post by hikerdude87 »

Beautiful pics! Thanks for the report.
User avatar
Wandering Daisy
Topix Docent
Posts: 6640
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:19 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento area)
Contact:

Re: TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

Post by Wandering Daisy »

[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... nice_1.jpg[/rimg]

same cornice farther up the trail, June 22, 2006. We came down it with crampons and belayed with a short rope.
User avatar
Bluewater
Topix Expert
Posts: 584
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 3:33 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Laguna Beach
Contact:

Re: TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

Post by Bluewater »

maverick wrote:Thank you for the wonderful TR and pictures BW. Really enjoyed the shots of the Bighorn, and the cool shot angles of the cornice, from the trail and from underneath it. :)

PS When will you have the full report up on your website?
Thanks Mav! I'm not sure I can keep my website up to date with all of the awesomeness in the Sierra right now :) :computer:
User avatar
Bluewater
Topix Expert
Posts: 584
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 3:33 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Laguna Beach
Contact:

Re: TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

Post by Bluewater »

hikerdude87 wrote:Beautiful pics! Thanks for the report.
Thanx hikerdude!
User avatar
Bluewater
Topix Expert
Posts: 584
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 3:33 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Laguna Beach
Contact:

Re: TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

Post by Bluewater »

Wandering Daisy wrote:[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... nice_1.jpg[/rimg]

same cornice farther up the trail, June 22, 2006. We came down it with crampons and belayed with a short rope.
That looks familiar, thanks for posting the photo. That must have been a fun down-climb. :thumbsup:
User avatar
Hobbes
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1120
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:09 am
Experience: N/A
Location: The OC

Re: TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

Post by Hobbes »

What a difference 10 days make in spring. Less than 5 miles north @ 11.5k+ on 5/13:

Image

I'm actually getting a little worried the snow will have melted enough by our 5/31 start that it will just be generic snow, rather than a fun & challenging spring transit over the high passes.
User avatar
Bluewater
Topix Expert
Posts: 584
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 3:33 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Laguna Beach
Contact:

Re: TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

Post by Bluewater »

Hobbes wrote:What a difference 10 days make in spring. Less than 5 miles north @ 11.5k+ on 5/13:

Image

I'm actually getting a little worried the snow will have melted enough by our 5/31 start that it will just be generic snow, rather than a fun & challenging spring transit over the high passes.
It's gonna be beautiful out there next week!
User avatar
copeg
Founding Member & Forums Administrator
Founding Member & Forums Administrator
Posts: 2109
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 9:25 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Contact:

Re: TR: Cottonwood Lakes ~ May 2016

Post by copeg »

Great trip report as always. Thanks for sharing! What a gem - being able to not only see the bighorns, but get a photo of them. Also love the sunrise/Cirque photo
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: liquidaddicted, shawnterustic and 131 guests