The Adventure Begins (Day 2 of a 5 part series)

The adventurers awaken early to set out on their expedition. A stop is made to gather nourishment at McDonald’s and a meeting held with the local Ranger. The severe Ranger and her sensitive assistant takes down copious amounts of information about the travelers and their planned route, warns of dangerous frozen precipitation above 12,000 feet and verifies the adventurers are “bear aware”. A tale is told of persons either missing or perished on nearby Mt. Whitney the previous day. And so the pair nervously departs the settlement of Lone Pine.

The eager explorers motor 20 miles and gain 6,000 feet in altitude to the start of the Cottonwood Lakes Trail. At the trailhead the optimistic pair set out in good spirits and briskly hike 4 hours to Cottonwood Lakes. Along the way they maneuver across babbling brooks, encounter ice along the trail, cross a large talus and marvel at the sub alpine terrain. Cottonwood Lake #3 being the first lake of the chain induces the hikers to pause for a spell. They speak for a time with Jason who bestows on them gifts of apple and GORP.



The adventurers continue on to Long Lake where a tent is pitched, and camp set up. Our heroine splashes in the frigid mountain lake and is refreshed. The bear canister is opened, the campstove lit and a rehydrated dinner enjoyed by the shore of the lake. The bear vault is then stored well away from the camp and the weary wanderers retire to their silicone impregnated nylon shelter.



Day 1; Day 3 ; Day 4; Day 5;