Horseshoe Meadow

With our resupply box sorted out into our packs, we headed back up into the wilderness via a friendly hitch. From Lone Pine it’s about a 6,000 foot climb to the Cottonwood Lakes Trail Head, so the drivers who take PCT hikers up are very generous. Thank you so much, Lone Pine trail angels!

The PCT runs 1,000 feet above the western edge of Horsheshoe Meadow, which is pretty big and marshy in places. There are so many meadows and ponds up here that it’s hard to believe we are at 11,000 feet! I have heard that some hikers get altitude sickness, especially after going down to get resupplies, but Dad and I thankfully don’t have any issues.

Our first campsite was at Chicken Spring Lake, just over Cottonwood Pass to the northwest of Horseshoe Meadow. Dad had bought a fishing license when we were in Lone Pine. Golden Trout are stocked in this area, and we were looking forward to catching one or two for dinner! Our plan was to really enjoy the Sierras… slow down from a cracking pace and take the time to drop a line in a few lakes and enjoy the sunsets.

Bears don’t tend to be a problem up here, and hikers are required to do their part to keep it that way. We carry our food in heavy bear-proof cans and keep food supplies away from our tent during the night. We wash out our food cups by swirling filtered water in them and then drinking it rather than throwing the water with food smells on the ground around the campsite. Okay, that last one sometimes isn’t the greatest experience, but I think it’s probably better than a midnight bear encounter!

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