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Brian Dickson | profile | all galleries >> California 2019 >> 5_cottonwood_to_whitney tree view | thumbnails | slideshow
The final ascent to Whitney looking back south west
This was the last 3 days of our holiday (24th - 26th September)and we chose a hike near Mt Whitney with some trail and cross country over Crabtree Pass. We left our car near Lone Pine and hitch hiked up to Cottonwood Lakes trailhead with the intention of finishing at Whitney Portal trailhead and hitching back down to the car at the end. It all worked out well and we had a stunning short hike in this southern section of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Also see our hiking blog
Map of the hike
Map of the hike		 September 2019 Sierra -Camp near Independence the night before heading up to Cottonwood Lakes
September 2019 Sierra -Camp near Independence the night before heading up to Cottonwood Lakes		 September 2019 Sierra - Independence town -Lighting up the sagebrush
September 2019 Sierra - Independence town -Lighting up the sagebrush		 Hiking from Cottonwood Lakes past Foxtail Pines
Hiking from Cottonwood Lakes past Foxtail Pines 		Nearing New Army Pass on trail looking back east
Nearing New Army Pass on trail looking back east		 Windy at the pass!
Windy at the pass!
We descended west then hiked north up Rock Creek
We descended west then hiked north up Rock Creek		 Nearing Sky Blue Lake as the sun set
Nearing Sky Blue Lake as the sun set		 September 2019 Sierra -Camp near Sky Blue Lake
September 2019 Sierra -Camp near Sky Blue Lake		 September 2019 Sierra - Sky Blue Lake in the morning
September 2019 Sierra - Sky Blue Lake in the morning		 Hiking above Sky Blue Lake weaving crossing country through the boulders and slabs
Hiking above Sky Blue Lake weaving crossing country through the boulders and slabs		 g12/95/381395/3/169855478.INAJw4wT.jpg
Descending from Crabtree Pass
Descending from Crabtree Pass 		Skirting the highest Crabtree lake heading west
Skirting the highest Crabtree lake heading west		 The descent down past Crabtree Lakes was a grand cross country hike mostly on easy rough granite slabs
The descent down past Crabtree Lakes was a grand cross country hike mostly on easy rough granite slabs		 g12/95/381395/3/169855482.tmURN52b.jpg Crabtree Lakes
Crabtree Lakes		 Lower Crabtree Lake lunch stop
Lower Crabtree Lake lunch stop
September 19 We kept going down and across to Crabtree Meadows and joined the John Muir Trail stopping to camp below Guitar Lake
September 19 We kept going down and across to Crabtree Meadows and joined the John Muir Trail stopping to camp below Guitar Lake		 September 2019 Sierra -Guitar Lake camp on beautiful polished granite
September 2019 Sierra -Guitar Lake camp on beautiful polished granite		 September 2019 Sierra -Guitar Lake camp
September 2019 Sierra -Guitar Lake camp		 Guitar Lake camp
Guitar Lake camp		 September 2019 Sierra -Guitar Lake camp
September 2019 Sierra -Guitar Lake camp		 In the morning we set off up the John Muir Trail towards Mt Whitney- watched by this Marmot
In the morning we set off up the John Muir Trail towards Mt Whitney- watched by this Marmot
Pika's were out gathering food for the winter
Pika's were out gathering food for the winter		 092606 Above guitar lake DSC06003 04.jpg
092606 Above guitar lake DSC06003 04.jpg		 Near Whitney trail junction
Near Whitney trail junction 		Hiking north up the final slopes of Mt Whitney 4,421m
Hiking north up the final slopes of Mt Whitney 4,421m		 Looking west over our ascent
Looking west over our ascent		 g12/95/381395/3/169855556.L5uYbqfh.jpg
On Whitney summit
On Whitney summit		 On Whitney summit
On Whitney summit		 We set off east on the long descent (maybe 6,300ft) back to the trailhead at Whitney portal
We set off east on the long descent (maybe 6,300ft) back to the trailhead at Whitney portal		 Whitney descent
Whitney descent 		Whitney descent
Whitney descent 		Lower down we crossed greener meadows beginning to look a bit autumnal
Lower down we crossed greener meadows beginning to look a bit autumnal
Foxtail pines and back up to Whitney summit
Foxtail pines and back up to Whitney summit		 Nearing the trailhead
Nearing the trailhead

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