R03 TR: Cottonwood Basin August 9-10 2014

[richlong8]

The weekend of August 9-10, I headed up to the Horseshoe Meadows trailhead. Like many of you who come up from the south, this trailhead is an old friend. It was especially thrilling to me to take my 2nd backpack of the year, continuing my rehab from 2 back surgeries last fall. I packed into the easternmost South Fork Lake, which is about 4-4.5 miles from the parking lot. This trail is much less used, and less crowded, and more of a direct route than the main trail. The fishing was pretty good at the lake, campsite was good, and it was relatively uncrowded compared to the rest of the basin.
After making my camp on Saturday afternoon, I headed up to the upper South Fork lake, staying about 100-150 feet above the lakes until I reached the NW side of the uppermost South Fork Lake, intersecting the New Army Pass Trail about 10 minutes below Long Lake. I had some success fishing at Long Lake and High Lake, especially High Lake, for modest size trout.
The next morning, I rolled out early, and hiked up to Cottonwood Lakes #1-5, fishing a bit, and lounging around. I saw a buck at the first lake, and numerous other people camped around Lakes #3-5. This was a very enjoyable trip. The weather was a little cloudy, but no rain, and I reluctantly left my campsite at South Fork Lake about 3pm for the journey home. My back seems to be holding up well. I carried about 18 pounds, plus another pound of camera, and half a liter of water in a belt holster. What a joy to get back out into the High Sierra!

[maverick]

Hi Rich,

Great to see you get out a second time this year after your surgery!

[Troutdog 59]

Very nice pics Rich and good to see another trip so quickly! Kudos to you! Kinda funny as I started backpack king some 40 years ago while living down south in the SF Valley, but I have never even been to Horseshoe Meadows. Might need to change that soon. Thanks again for the report!

[giantbrookie]

Good to see you back in the high country and carrying a load. Nicely done. Best wishes for continued rehab and strengthening. You're already back beyond the average adult who never gets on the trail to places like Cottonwood Lakes.

[richlong8]

Thanks for the encouragement. I shared the trail early Sunday morning with this young adult!

[ndwoods]

Thanks, been wondering about this area. Congrats on your back!