Cottonwood Lakes and Mt. Langley

It was a long shot, posting a 3-night backpacking trip only a few days in advance. But the weather forecast was looking great, I was burnt out at work, and I hadn't been hiking in the Sierra for over a year. I needed a break, so when nobody signed up, I headed out anyway. Sure, I missed the camaraderie of past trips, and hiking alone certainly carries risks. But I went to bed and woke up when I wanted to, and I ate and took breaks when I wanted to, and, if I wanted to linger in a meadow or ponder a wildflower or watch a marmot, I could. Hiking or backpacking alone isn't for everybody, but it certainly isn't without its rewards, if you're well-prepared and you bring the right attitude. 

The constellation of Cottonwood and South Fork Lakes, plus the lordly mountains around them – including 14-er Mount Langley – offer backpackers limitless opportunities for exploration.  We’ll attempt a route combining some of the best lakes and some of the best high country, looping along the Pacific Crest Trail.

This will be a strenuous backpack, covering about 23 miles in three days at a purposeful pace, so this trip is suitable only for experienced backpackers in very good shape.   Most of our trail will be along well-maintained trail, but our route may take us over some high-elevation passes and, weather permitting, 14,027-foot Mt. Langley. Because of the strenuous nature of this trip, the leader reserves the right to qualify participants. This is a consciously low-impact outing, so carpool participation is encouraged and participants are urged to contribute to their vehicle’s shared mileage and gas costs as well as their share of the backcountry permit fee. Participants are also required to pack or rent a USFS-approved bear canister.

This trip is strictly dependent upon a favorable weather forecast. A National Weather Service forecast of rain within 72 hours of our start will cancel or re-route this trip at the sole discretion of the leader, as will fewer than three confirmed signups as of 8:00pm, Tuesday, August 18. This trip will be by individual commissary, and we’re not planning any shared meals, so please plan to provide your own four-day supply of food.  We will aim to return to Los Angeles by 7pm Sunday, August 23.