Hello folks. I am planning a trip in an area that is unfamiliar to me, and would appreciate trip/routing/camping location advice.
I'd like to hit both Langley summit and Miter Basin/Sky Blue Lake. I gather one option is Cottonwood Lakes TH-High or Long Lake-New Army Pass (drop pack)-Langley summit-New Army Pass (regain pack)-Soldier Lake-Miter Basin/Sky Blue Lake-???
Is this correct? A few questions:
1. What is the distance/how much time should one allot from Soldier Lake to Sky Blue Lake? Are there obvious use trails? (I have some topo maps, but they don't fit together so well so I am finding this a little challenging.)
2. What would be the best way back from Miter Basin to the trailhead? Should I exit toward Cottonwood Pass TH and then work my to Cottonwood Lakes TH?
3. Can I use Old Army Pass instead to go up Langley, and then, after summiting, work my way back to the New Army Pass trail and then down to Soldier lake?
4. What camping spots can you recommend, and how many days would you recommend? I do love camping at lakes. Sky Blue lake sounds ideal. The Cottonwood Lakes do too.
5. Would it be better to start with Miter Basin and then hit Langley? Certainly, I can see that, from an acclimatization perspective, it might be better to get a few extra days at altitude before going up Langley. But I kind of like the idea of hitting Langley first, and then spending a day or so relaxing in the Miter Basin area. I will build some acclimatization in at the front end regardless (e.g., night at Tioga Pass, night at Horseshoe Meadows, and then presumably night at one of the Cottonwood Lakes).
Many thanks for any comments, suggestions, advice, etc. This trip will probably be around Labor Day.
