Mount Pickering is located west of the Sierra Crest in the Whitney Region south of Mount Whitney(14,494'). The Sierra Crest is bounded by the Kern River to the west and the Owen's Valley to the east. To the north of Mount Pickering are Mount Chamberlin(13,169')and Mount Newcomb(13,410'), and to the south is Joe Devel Peak(13,325').

The following pictures shows Mount Pickering and Joe Devel Peak from the summit of Mount Irvine:

Getting There - Road

Horseshoe Meadows Road
The Horseshoe Meadows Road leads to the trailheads that are most commonly used to reach Mount Pickering, which are the Cottonwood Lakes and New Army Pass trailheads.

Directions: Drive west from Lone Pine along the Whitney Portal Road for 3.2 miles. Head left or south on the Horseshoe Meadows Road. Continue on Horseshoe Meadows Road for about 20 miles (up the many switchbacks). You can take a right hand turn near the end of the road (there is a sign at the junction) to get to Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead or you can continue on to the end of the road (0.3 mile past the junction of the road to Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead) to Horseshoe Meadows and parking for the Cottonwood Pass Trailhead.

Getting There - Routes

Cottonwood Pass Trail
This trail leads from the end of the Horseshoe Meadows Road to the summit of Cottonwood Pass in 3 1/2 miles. From Cottonwood Pass, the Pacific Crest Trail traverses the southern slopes of Cirque Peak before climbing and then descending to a junction with the Siberian Pass Trail after 5 miles. At this junction continue north one mile to the junction with the New Army Pass Trail. From this junction continue north 0.5 mile to Lower Soldier Lake, which is a good camping spot. For the southeast ridge route follow the directions from Lower Soldier Lake that are described below.

Cottonwood Lakes Trail and New Army Pass Trail
From the trailhead along the Horseshoe Meadows Road, the easy trail to Cottonwood Creek and on to Golden Trout Camp is 2 miles. The trail then heads up the creek another 2 miles to Cottonwood Lakes basin. The trail to New Army Pass takes off to the west, passing Long Lake and High Lake. The summit of the pass is approximately 3 miles beyond the Cottonwood Lakes basin. The trail descends the western side for 2.5 miles to the Siberian Pass Trail. The trail then goes north for 0.5 mile to the Soldier Lake Junction.

There is also a trail over Old Army Pass ( 0.5 mi NE of New Army Pass) but it holds snow longer into the summer than New Army Pass and rockfall sometimes covers the trail. The Old Army Pass Trail is not maintained, but last time I was on it in August 2005 it was easy to follow.

Southeast Ridge (Class 2) Route from Lower Soldier Lake: At the northwest corner of Soldier Lake you will find a use trail that climbs steeply to a saddle. Hike up to the saddle and then drop down on the other side (west side) of the saddle to Rock Creek. Cross the creek and head up the north side of the Erin Creek Drainage. Before you reach Erin Lake, you turn right (north) and climb up the slabs/sand/talus to the gentle southeast ridge. Follow this ridge to the summit of Mount Pickering.

I have not hiked the following routes:

Southwest Ridge from Joe Devel Peak - Reported to be Class 2

South Slope - A Class 2 talus and sand route.

Southwest Slope from Primrose Lake - Class 2

East Slope from the highest small lake to the west of Sky Blue Lake - Class 2

Camping

Good camping can be found at Lower Soldier Lake or along Rock Creek.

Camping at Horseshoe Meadows:

Cottonwood Pass (Golden Trout) Backpacker (walk-in)campground, 18 sites, open 5/26-10/10, $6.00 fee

Cottonwood Lakes Backpacker (walk-in)campground, 12 sites, open 5/26-10/10, $6.00 fee

External Links

For permit information (permits are required for backpacking , but not day hiking), contact the Inyo National Forest

Trip reports from Climber.org can be found here:

Climber.org Trip Reports for Peaks beginning with the letter "P"

Pictures of my trip to Mount Pickering are here:

Pictures of my trip to Mount Pickering on July 16, 2006

Images