The HM/Cottonwood pass route gets a lot of flak - I think its worth putting in context... This is the High Sierra. Within reason, its all absolutely stunning. I've done the HM route a couple of times, and its spectacular. Might not be the best route out there, but hard to see how you'd find it disappointing. Its also logistically very easy - both times I've left my car in Lone Pine and gotten a shuttle up to the start and back from the end, saving a couple of hours of driving.
The section over Siberian Outpost is sandy and undulating, but the alternate dropping down to rock creek is beautiful and has lots of water and is only 0.5 mile longer - well worth going this route.
There'a also an amusing trail sign on the way that was obviously once meant to be on Whitney but they made a spelling mistake, so flipped it around and engraved one of the park boundary signs on the back instead... anyone else ever seen this?
It's 42 miles and total about 9k ft ascent. I've done it in 1.5 days once and 8 days once (with a 7 and 9 yr old). I think 4 days would be really comfortable.
