Mistakes at Chicken Spring Lake

Post by **tekewin** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 3:57 pm

Went on a training hike on Saturday 6/8/13, from Horseshoe Meadows to Chicken Spring Lake, about 10 miles south of Mt. Whitney. Went with one friend and his two Brittany Spaniels.

Short version:
We were feeling good at the lake and I pressed to head on to Cirque Peak which would have added about 4 miles RT and 1600' gain. We split up at one point where I headed up the ridge and he continued on PCT looking for a better way. About a half mile short of the peak, I started running out of water and decided to return rather than dehydrate. He did find a better way up and I met him coming up while I was coming down. Before coming up the ridge, he dropped his pack in the boulder field, marked with ducks, but we could not find it on the way down, even after an hour of searching. Since he drove, I had some tense moments thinking his keys were in his pack and we would be stuck if we couldn't find it. In fact, he had his keys, but we never found the pack. The dogs nearly overheated getting back to the lake.

Full version:
http://ironhiker.blogspot.com/2013/06/c ... -lake.html

Chicken Spring Lake

My friend and one of the Brittanys at the lake

Boulder scramble to the Cirque ridge

As close as I got to Cirque Peak before running low on water

View from the ridge to Whitney Meadows

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 5:19 pm

teke- if that was my pack sitting out there, I'd probably put up a post on both the Whitney Portal and Whitney Zone websites. After seeing your post, someone may very well come across the pack and grab it for your buddy.

http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum ... p/ubb/cfrm

http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/

Post by **tekewin** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 5:26 pm

Good idea, Rico. I will clear it with him before posting.

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:55 pm

Thanks, tekewin. We're heading up to Horseshoe Meadows in about three weeks for a Trail Pass - Bullfrog Meadows - Big Whitney Meadows - Chicken Spring Lake - Cottonwood Pass loop. How is the water situation? Big Whitney Meadows looks somewhat dry for this time of year.

Post by **tekewin** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:35 am

Mike,

I can only speak to the Horseshoe Meadows to Chicken Spring Lake area. The two stream crossings in Horseshoe had good flow and of course the lake is not going anywhere. However, there was very little snow left anywhere.

This site might be useful to you:
http://goldentroutwilderness.wordpress. ... dows-loop/

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:18 pm

tekewin wrote: ↑Mike,

I can only speak to the Horseshoe Meadows to Chicken Spring Lake area. The two stream crossings in Horseshoe had good flow and of course the lake is not going anywhere. However, there was very little snow left anywhere.

This site might be useful to you:
http://goldentroutwilderness.wordpress. ... dows-loop/

Thanks, tekewin. Excellent site!

mangus7175 · Post by **mangus7175** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:30 am

I hope you guys find that pack somehow...it would really bite if some asshole took it

Awesome photos BTW