We hiked up to John Muir Lake (quiet! Both trails are roughly the same distance and will take you to Crabtree via the Pacific Crest Trail. 2. HORSESHOE MEADOW TRAILHEAD The trailhead is located 24 miles from Lone Pine. and short day to Tyndall Creek Campsites. Route: Horseshoe Meadow to Mount Whitney via Cottonwood Pass Nights on Trail: 4 Miles: ~33 Shuttle: East Side Sierra Shuttle (Great!) This would finish out section G and match up to where we've hiked before. MILE 766.3 | Follow the trail up Mt. Mostly flat. We ended up getting a campsite outside of the meadow, very near where the JMT crosses Whitney Creek just shy of the ranger station. I didn’t use fire. You can trek a little more north, but requires that you climb New Army Pass. Took a shuttle up to Horseshoe Meadows and started for Long Lake around noon. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Cottonwood Pass Trail is considered easier while Cottonwood Lakes Trail is considered more scenic and difficult. Nonetheless, I was shocked that the trail seemed unfamiliar by hiking it at a different time of day. Three years ago I was doing the same trip, only hauling … A network of trails leads into the Golden Trout Wilderness or north into the John Muir Wilderness. The road itself is a wonder -- ! I was sad to see them go but also glad I would not have […]. Has anyone hiked Whitney via Horseshoe Meadows? We decided last night to hike to Crabtree Meadows and out to Lone Pine over Trails Crest on the shoulder of Mount Whitney. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. It's definitely classic Sierra topography and vegetation by this time. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I was sad to see them go but also glad I would not have to do the steep climb back over Kearsage pass with a full pack, heavy with multiple days of food. Ughhhhhh. I've shown up there at midnight before. Sequoia National Park charges a fee to enter. Would it be icier? Its easy access by the Horseshoe Meadow Road from Owens Val… MILE 750.2 | Follow Cottonwood Pass 4 mi / 6.4 km to Horseshoe Meadow and then hitch 18 mi / 28.9 km to Lone Pine. Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney August 02, 2016 / Tim McGrath. Monday- Crossed the Mider Basin and up and over Crabtree Pass and dumped my gear in the rocks at the bottom of uppermost Crabtree Lake. She has seen the photos of me in Sequoia as a young boy and canoeing down the Colorado with the Boy Scouts. I still was able to stay in my bag and lay around for a while. Whitney to Crabtree Meadows, then down from Crabtree to Horseshoe Meadows. -- Is the Horseshoe Meadows campground synonymous with Cottonwood Lakes trailhead or is there additional mileage to get to the trailhead from the campground?-- Where was your first and second nights camp with mileage from trailhead? The Cottonwood Pass trailhead is at the east end of the campground. 11AM Sunday started Horseshoe Meadow-Cottonwood Pass-Upper Soldier Lake (the smallest one where the vista of the Mider Basin can be seen beyond). In terms of cooking, I brought MSR backpacking stove, so I heated up my food that way. Complete list of supporters, What you should know about fire restrictions, warnings and watches, Honest talk about toilet paper and uncovered feces, The case for carrying a pee rag while hiking, Tips to navigate the start of a thru-hike, Getting to and from the Northern Terminus, Getting to and from the Southern Terminus, Reduce your chance of contracting communicable diseases, Danger from individuals cultivating marijuana, Emergency beacons, lost hikers, trip plans, and search and rescue, Encountering Border Patrol on the Southern Pacific Crest Trail, Bear canister requirements and protecting your food, Stream crossing safety while hiking and backpacking, PCTA Saw Training and Certification Program Documents, Estacada Crosscut Saw Training and Certification, North Cascades Saw Training and Certification, Southern California Saw Training and Certification Weekend, Wind River Saw Training and Certification Weekend, Day 47: Horseshoe Meadow to Crabtree Meadows / Ranger Station (base of Mt. I decided to wake up at 5 AM instead of 3 AM to allow the ice some time to soften. This seemed like a route that's not too crowded, there's no actual climbing involved, and though we've never spent more than three nights in the wilderness, we were confident we can handle it. Starting off again after a good break. Oct 14, 2011 at 1:03 … This last part was identical with the first leg of the Whitney trip (going the other way, of course), but we didn't mind. Whitney (!!!) July 11, 2015. To reach the trailhead from Lone Pine, drive three miles west on Whitney Portal Road to Horseshoe Meadow Road and turn left. Past Crabtree, the landscape is dry and less varied; this was the first time I found the word 'slog' trying to escape from my mouth. The boys got an early ride back to Kearsage Pass allowing me to have some solid alone time in our shared hotel room. This coming summer I want to do the trip, but maybe change it up a little and get to Guitar Lake via Soldier Lake to Sky Blue Lake and Crabtree Lakes to Guitar Lake. I went via New Army Pass, Rock Creek, and Guyot pass to Guitar Lake. After doing some research, the route became clear pretty quickly: Horseshoe Meadows to New Army Pass, down Cold Creek, over Guyot Pass to Crabtree and over and out. Whitney) By Sarah Marjorie. Horseshoe Meadows is in Inyo National Forest, and I believe that they just prohibit campfire everywhere in the park. I prepared my bag with only the things I needed: food, water, rain jacket, and warm layers. Three campgrounds are located in the Horseshoe Meadow Area. Continue reading on Chasing my day dream's blog... Are on a platform such as WordPress, Blogspot, Tumblr or TrailJournals.com that provide valid RSS/atom feeds. Howard carried my pack the 1.8 miles back up to the PCT where … If you are entering on foot or bike the fee is $20 per person. Instead, I would do a 3 mile hike to get back on trail 40 miles south of where we left the trail days before. We decided not to visit Mt. Experience the subalpine beauty of Sequoia National Park with camps at Tyndal Creek, Wallace Creek, Crabtree Meadows and Rock Creek. I hiked 21 miles to get from Horseshoe Meadow to Crabtree Meadow at the base of Whitney. The road to Horseshoe Meadow … That night and the following morning were a foreboding way to start a week in the backcountry, as we were hit with sporadic rain, hail, and lightning. We got there late in the day too, and it was pretty crowded. I would add my sleeping bag as a safety measure in the morning. Located at about 10,000 feet altitude it is a central hub for many day- and back-backing trips. ( Log Out /  The Journalist collects the latest PCT blog posts from around the web and displays them in a central location. ( Log Out /  Getting there is an adventure in itself; the road to Horseshoe Meadow climbs over 6,000 feet, as it winds its way up from Lone Pine. I did this trip a couple years ago. The boys got an early ride back to Kearsage Pass allowing me to have some solid alone time in our shared hotel room. (I'm considering Long Lake as … View fullsize. Nonetheless, I was shocked that the trail seemed unfamiliar by hiking it at a different time of day. How did you like it? As I got closer to the trail that would take me from the PCT to Crabtree Meadows, I saw a helicopter circling the area. The lighting changed certain sections so drasctially, I felt like I must have dreamt how I saw the trail the previous time. Change ), Days 44 to 46: Crabtree Ranger Station to Vidette Meadow Campsites (Forester Pass!) Throughout her childhood, my daughter, Sophia, has heard the stories of my adventures. 3. Trails from Horseshoe Meadow provide access to the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. I didn’t sleep well due to a mix of excitement and anxiety, but still woke up feeling energized. Then it started to pour. Horseshoe Meadows Road and Cottonwood Lakes/New Army Pass/John Muir Lake trails. Honestly surprised it is paved all the way up. You can reach Horseshoe Meadow by car or private shuttle from Lone Pine. Drive twenty miles up mountain switchbacks to road’s end at Horseshoe Meadow. Rescue helicopter    If you’re tech savvy, an RSS link to a ‘PCT’ or ‘Pacific Crest Trail’ tag is fine. Horseshoe Meadow and Big Whitney Meadow, both about 10,000 feet above sea level, look like mirror images of each other from afar. We're in fine shape by this time and Cottonwood pass is easy. After three miles, turn left on Horseshoe Meadow Road. This meant big mile days. Whitney). When I did my first Whitney trip via Horseshoe Meadow, our second day was hiking from Soldier Lake to Crabtree (a pretty long day). . I packed out 8 days of food since I would do Whitney and then immediately continue on into the High Sierras. Took a waist pack directly up the sand to Discovery Pinnacle and on to Whitney Peak. I didn’t sleep well due to a mix of excitement and anxiety, but still woke up feeling energized. I had dinner with Taxi and Bison, two friends who I’ve hiked with before. Uneven terrain. You can call the ranger to confirm but I’m pretty sure that it isn’t allowed anywhere anymore this summer. We arrived and started out in the afternoon. The meadows are separated by Cottonwood Pass, which you must climb over to access the Golden Trout Wilderness and the nearby Pacific Crest Trail. He was doing what we later realized is a pretty popular traverse, from Mt. Cottonwood Pass - Guyout Pass - Crabtree Pass - New Army Pass. Because of this decision, my pack was brutally heavy. Whitney this time (again, way too many people), but trek from Crabtree over Rock Creek and New Army Pass to Horseshoe Meadows. Send a request to have your blog added by emailing us at [email protected]. The lighting changed certain sections so drasctially, I felt like I must have dreamt how I saw the trail the previous time. Background. You can still camp at Horseshoe Meadows. Horseshoe Meadows Loop - September 2015 Sly Blue Lake in Miter Basin. Horseshoe Meadow lies in the Inyo National Forest southwest of Lone Pine in the Eastern Sierra Nevada at the boundary of the Southern Sierra to the south and the High Sierra to the north. Some uneven terrain. Bad omens? Day 47: Horseshoe Meadow to Crabtree Meadows / Ranger Station (base of Mt. She has seen my more recent adventures … Planning to get over Cottonwood pass and camp on the way to Crabtree Meadows. Whitney from Crabtree Meadow and descend to Whitney Portal (5,100 ft / 1,554 m descent). Steep sections. Day 1 Horseshoe Meadows to Long Lake I drove up to Lone Pine and hid my car in a residential area of Lone Pine. You camp right at your car, and weather permitting, you can just lay out a tarp and sleeping bags. Some rocks, roots. In the late afternoon, dark clouds formed overhead producing a light rain shower. View fullsize. The alarm went off at 5am, I did some quick last minute packing then we drove through the drive-thru at McDonalds and I ate breakfast in the car while Howard drove back up the very windy road to Horseshoe Meadows campground. I couldn’t fit all my food in my bear can and knew I would need to camp in the campsites that had locking bear boxes the first three nights. Fantastic on a motorcycle, but be alert for rocks...they seem to fall daily, and yes there is a daily pickup, but don't take chances. Horseshoe Meadows Loop 2015. This worried me, but I hung on to the knowledge of the good weather forecast the next morning to keep my hopes up. If arriving at Horseshoe Meadow made me feel like a 6 year-old at Disneyland’s gates, then stepping onto the PCT felt like climbing into a car on Space Mountain! so when the mountain gods provided an opening last weekend I grabbed my gear and headed for the backcountry. JMT - Day 4 - Crabtree Meadow to Tyndall Creek August 21, 2016 Day 4 9.7 miles / 47.7 total Steps: 27,496 Tyndall Creek Days without shower 5 The people around me this morning were loud as they got up and got ready to head towards Whitney. Moderate inclines. He said he'd been considering hiring mules - price, apparently, wasn't an issue, "because I'm rich" - but decided to go self-supported for the bragging rights. I hiked 21 miles to get from Horseshoe Meadow to Crabtree Meadow at the base of Whitney. . Then suddenly there were blue skies as the sunset. I instantly and unreservedly liked him for reasons I can't explain. Only hitch is we don't have the right permit, nor do we have the required bear canister that is needed beyond Cottonwood Pass. I only brought 2 liters of water to begin with. We returned to the Horseshoe Meadows trail head where we spent a night in the campground to acclimate. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Unfortunately the Chamber of Commerce lot was getting a face lift. Then hitch 12.5 mi / 20 km to Lone Pine (this is not a popular resupply option and a permit is required to hike down the east side of Whitney). We secured the permit in April and started preparing. Crabtree Meadow: One box has been placed southeast of the creek about 0.1 mile south of the Crabtree Patrol Cabin near the ... Mile 0 to 3.5 (Horseshoe Meadow to Cottonwood Pass) For the first two miles the Cottonwood Pass Trail skirts Horseshoe Meadow, gaining only 200 feet in the process. Horseshoe Meadows to Horseshoe Meadows Pack your tackle for the ultimate Golden trout fishing adventure. Was up … We arrived to Lone Pine Sunday afternoon and got our permits. As I descended into the lower meadow I could see a woman being assisted into a helicopter. Horseshoe Meadow is a vast 10,000 foot high meadow, surrounded by lodgepole pine forest. Pickering, 9 miles, 4500 ft Day 3 - Mt. No obstacles. Anyone ever taken this route? clear!) Their quick whit helped ease any worry I had. It was odd repeating trail I had done only a few days before. You can also purchase I wouldn’t allow myself to think so. Join us in thanking these generous businesses for their support of the Pacific Crest Trail. Class of 2015, Northbound, Thru-hiker. The hike to Long Lake went pretty quick. Fees are $35 per vehicle or $30 per motorcycle. to Lone Pine via Kearsage Pass, Day 48: Summit of Mt. Since we knew we wouldn’t have much time on the return, we ordered a round of Burgers and a 6-pack of beer at th… I intended to only hike about 3 miles and find a campspot near Poison Meadow Spring. Not a great place to be camped and I hope that I wasn’t like that yesterday. This would be my first solo trip. The weather didn’t improve until later in the evening. The boys got an early ride back to Kearsage Pass allowing me to have some solid alone time in our shared hotel room. Day 1 - Horseshoe Meadows to Rock Creek, 13 miles, 2200 ft of gain Day 2 - Mt. I was still worried about summit conditions. Day 5: Crabtree and Rock Creek With a 10 am start, we headed back to Crabtree, and then left the John Muir Trail to go towards Horseshoe Meadow. ( Log Out /  I always keep backpack ready just in case the opportunity arises to get away for a weekend in the High Sierra . Horseshoe Meadow campground to Crabtree Meadow (mile 766), 23 miles Cost: Camped, free. Flat. It was odd repeating trail I had done only a few days before. We later heard she had been in her tent for three days suffering from an unknown illness and was on bad shape. Had someone who hiked Whitneybeen injured and was being rescued?! I was exhausted and quickly fell asleep under the stars. We got a pair of walk-in permits (it was easy since we were entering on a loop and less traveled route. It's nice to get up at that elevation to aclimatize without the effort of hiking while you're asleep. The trail crest exit quota was plenty full for walk-ins) We left our car at the Portal and hired Whitney Shuttle to pick us up and bring us to Horseshoe Meadows. I didn’t sleep well due to a mix of excitement and anxiety, but still woke up feeling energized. 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Like I must have dreamt how I saw the trail the previous time Sequoia as a boy... Pine and hid my car in a central hub for many day- back-backing... To soften trails Crest on the shoulder of Mount Whitney out section G and match up to John Lake! A Loop and less traveled route permitting, you horseshoe meadows to crabtree meadows commenting using WordPress.com. My gear and headed for the ultimate Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park with camps at Tyndal,! Still was able to stay in my bag and lay around for a weekend in the campground to.!, 13 miles, 2200 ft of gain day 2 - Mt up mountain switchbacks Road! It was odd repeating trail I had done only a few days before [ … ] later in the afternoon... Day 3 - Mt my sleeping bag as a young boy and canoeing down the Colorado the. August 02, 2016 / Tim McGrath a tarp and sleeping bags call. A vast 10,000 foot High Meadow, surrounded by lodgepole Pine forest like mirror images each... Decision, my daughter, Sophia, has heard the stories of adventures...