Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion New Army Pass to Langley

I'm debating on attempting Langley this weekend. Does anyone know if New Army Pass is clear yet? I've had to failed attempts due to weather, and I don't want another one.

Hi Debbie,
Following link is from 5-11-13, so not exactly current, but perhaps good info for your decision.
http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/topics/31343/New_Army_Pass_5_11_13#Post31343
You might want to consider waiting another week or two based on these pictures.
Personally, I'm waiting until the end of June, and plan to hike Langley via Old Army Pass.
Good luck. Post pics & Trip Report when you go.
John

It is still pretty early. There will be much less snow than in the trip report John linked to, but I think you will still encounter snow at NA Pass.

In years past with that snow, people have always reported that they could find a way to climb through the snow, that it was not im-passable.

Do not attempt (old) Army Pass -- It has a wind-blown snow cornice at the top, and until it melts out later, it is pretty treacherous.

Thank you! I loved the pictures!

Thank you Steve, I won't even think about Old Army. I just want to make it to the top and check this one off of my list!

My guess is you can do it via Cottonwood Pass then either skirting Cirque or doing it. CP either is passable or you can use the work around.

This is awfully early to go over NAP.

I'll be up there this weekend. I have a cottonwood lakes permit but might opt to go the back way over cottonwood pass. Will probably make the decision after I talk to the rangers and fellow hikers Saturday morning.

Make sure you talk to a Ranger or fellow hikers who are familiar with current conditions and can assess your level of skill. It's been my experience that desk Rangers will usually try to scare anybody out of doing almost anything. It's understandable, but their paranoia can turn into your missed opportunity.

Be safe, have fun.

Huh??

> Huh??

Ok, maybe not a cornice, but the snow does blow off the area above and collects in a huge cornice-like heap near the top, creating a thick pile of snow with a near vertical wall to climb before reaching the top.

...that better?

Are you implying it isn't that bad?

Are you folks talking about this here windblown snow formation?

I'm implying that to know the conditions is to have actually been there recently, instead of speculating. While there was a cornice in the narrow, steep snow chute to climber's right of the pass, all other areas were steep snow, climbable with proper equipment and skills. The danger of Army Pass lies more in the cliffs immediately below the snow slopes, and the slopes being short and steep enough to lessen the chances of arresting solidly before flying off the end.



Bee, your shot is of New Army Pass, whereas Steve is talking about Army Pass, just to the north. (Nice shot btw!!)

The pic was part of SoBayMark's collection (I think that he explored both passes on that trip, and choose one over the other)

I'll second this and cite two examples.

I was told there was about 10' of snow on the road from Sierra View to Schulman Grove in the White Mountain...the road was dry to the Visitor Center

We were told Cottonwood Pass was impassable but there was only about 50' of snow at the top of the pass that had post holes its whole length...we never had to pull out the tools.

Cottonwood Pass has a "back door" that can be utilized, if it is, in fact, impassable. Just look for it as you near the top, this the approach to Trailmaster Peak.

I ended up going up Cottonwood pass on Saturday and down NAP on Sunday afternoon. The last switchback on NAP is covered with snow but people were going up with boots and poles only. I used micro spikes just to be safe and because I had them. I didn't experience any other significant snow over cottonwood, to lower soldier, or through miter basin to sky blue lake.