TR: Horseshoe Meadow to Cottonwood Pass to Siberian Pass Creek to Boreal Plateau to Big Whitney and out - Lollipop Loop
Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:25 am
On July 6, 2019 I backpacked from Horseshoe Meadows, over Cottonwood Pass, and on past Chicken Spring Lake on the PCT. I turned off the PCT and down toward Siberian Pass Creek before dropping all the way down to Rock Creek on the PCT. I set up camped at about 10,500' along the Siberian Pass Creek, which would have set me up for a climb up Mount Anna Mills as I had planned but I decided that might not be a good idea without crampons or an ice axe. I got a good night sleep and packed up in the morning just wandering along Siberian Pass Creek and then I turned up toward the high point of the Boreal Plateau. It turned out to be a glorious hike - beautiful views and easy terrain. I scoped out what looked like a gentler route to Anna Mills from Funston Lake but decided to save that for another trip when I was able to camp closer to Funston Lake.
I didn't have my route planned out but it became obvious my maps were right and there was an easy route down from the Plateau to Rocky Basin Lakes; so, down I went. From Rocky Basin Lakes I followed the lakes and then the outlet creek down along a trail that faded in and out until I hooked into the official trail where it crossed Barigan Stringer Creek. I followed the trail through the woods toward Big Whitney Meadow. The sky became cloudy, which kept the temperature pleasant. The mosquitoes were a bit annoying in this area but the light breeze helped. I continued on through Big Whitney Meadow and gave up trying to keep my shoes dry in the meadow along the way in the slushy meadow. When I reached the woods on the east side of the meadow I camped for the night, which set me up for the final climb back up to Cottonwood Pass the next morning and a quick hike out on July 8th.
The snow certainly made the scenery more beautiful but my route was generally snow free except where I crossed one short section of easy snow cups, there was plenty of water along the way and I never had to carry much water, some of the tarns looked more like lakes, the weather was beautiful, and I it was a really enjoyable outing. My GPS tracked the trip as 31.75 miles with 5,300 feet elevation gain.
Some pics I took: https://kathywing.smugmug.com/Californi ... 19-070819/
I didn't have my route planned out but it became obvious my maps were right and there was an easy route down from the Plateau to Rocky Basin Lakes; so, down I went. From Rocky Basin Lakes I followed the lakes and then the outlet creek down along a trail that faded in and out until I hooked into the official trail where it crossed Barigan Stringer Creek. I followed the trail through the woods toward Big Whitney Meadow. The sky became cloudy, which kept the temperature pleasant. The mosquitoes were a bit annoying in this area but the light breeze helped. I continued on through Big Whitney Meadow and gave up trying to keep my shoes dry in the meadow along the way in the slushy meadow. When I reached the woods on the east side of the meadow I camped for the night, which set me up for the final climb back up to Cottonwood Pass the next morning and a quick hike out on July 8th.
The snow certainly made the scenery more beautiful but my route was generally snow free except where I crossed one short section of easy snow cups, there was plenty of water along the way and I never had to carry much water, some of the tarns looked more like lakes, the weather was beautiful, and I it was a really enjoyable outing. My GPS tracked the trip as 31.75 miles with 5,300 feet elevation gain.
Some pics I took: https://kathywing.smugmug.com/Californi ... 19-070819/