4 Nights and 5 Days over Cottonwood Pass with my brother Marty

 I hadn't been backpacking since going with my brother a few years ago, so was happy to join him in another Sierra adventure a few weeks ago. Our trip started at Cottonwood Pass and the last night I took this picture of my tent at 11,000 foot elevation as the moon was setting.

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We had originally planned to exit at Kearsarge Pass, but changed our itinerary when the Onion Valley hiker parking lot was more crowded than either of us had ever seen. We decided to learn more about this area that is a little south of Whitney. I have identified each camp we made while doing the Cottonwood to New Army Pass loop on the map below.

The last camp is south of the marked location, near Long Lake

We left the truck at 4 pm and got over Cottonwood Pass just before dark. A helo had been circling around the pass for about 20 minute and was at Chicken Spring Lake at dark when we arrived there. It was a very tight takeoff, with bright lights flashing and very noisy. A young woman had altitude sickness or a diabetic episode and her father called in the rescue. It was probably very expensive but a good decision.

Helo takeoff

When Marty did the PCT in 1979, the route from Kennedy Meadows followed the flat contour of many giant meadows that led to Siberian Pass and then joined the current PCT route. We did a day hike from our second camp below Major General Mountain to the Siberian Pass for old times sake. It is not used any more to preserve the fragile meadows.  Marty did a 17 day long slog without reprovision in snowy weather and deep snow, exiting at Kearsarge Pass. I remembered that a with a friend we had attempted delivering the resupply with some search and rescue assistance. We didn't make it over Kearsarge Pass in avalanching conditions, but that's another story.

Marty near Siberian Pass

The meadow in front of our camp below Major General Mountain was pristine and very wet. There were many marmots and no other campsites could be seen. We stayed at a large, flat camp with great views and easy water access.

We got an early start on New Army Pass to avoid the heat and accomplish the 2000 foot elevation gain with the rising sun. We had the pass to ourselves until almost at the top.

Marty starting up the steep portion of New Army Pass

Great view of the south side of New Army Pass

The New Army Pass is quite a perch. It's south aspect is nearly vertical and is a tribute to the trail builders non existent fear of heights. The second lake in the chain was the site of our last camp. It was a perfect night for gazing at the stars and reflecting our good luck to live in such a beautiful world. God bless whoever saved this wilderness for the future.

Backstory:

The last time I had backpacked was about two years ago. Kathy, Marty and I did about 70 miles on the John Muir Trail. By the end of the backpack, I was peeing blood and my fingers had started cramping up from all the stuffing, putting the tent up and down, and getting in  and out of the bear canister. The way my fingers would freeze up in odd positions was quite comical, but kind of a show stopper. Kathy started doing a lot of the work to help me out, so I knew that a few senior adaptive techniques were in order to make me more self sufficient. 

First, rather than use the small bags and cramming the sleeping bag or tent into them, I used some winter stuff bags that have straps that use buckles to cinch down the load. Second, bought a small pair of pliers to deal with the velcro tabs in my self supporting Black Diamond Bibler tent and the straps on the stuff sacks.

Dehydration was probably the source of the pee problem on the last backpack. For some reason, I don't drink well on the move. On this trip I got the idea to wake early and drink a quart before getting out of the tent. This saved the water weight in the pack and seemed to work much better at keeping me hydrated. 

A person younger than 76 probably wouldn't have any trouble using a quarter to turn the three screws in my Kevlar bear canister that make it bear proof. After this trip, I now have a small slot screwdriver in my side pocket to accomplish this frequent task easily!