Mt Whitney Zone Forums The Chat Room Old Army Pass?

Anyone been up Old Army Pass last summer/recently? I've read reports both saying its Class 1/2 with a bit of Class 3 on the top and not too bad, and others saying its Class 3 and extremely dangerous the whole way. I'd like to take this route up and down Langley instead of New Army Pass in June or July with this low snow year (I know its North Facing).
Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks!

It's an abandoned and unmaintained but regularly used trail. If I recall correctly, there are several places where talus slides have covered it so you have to make your way across those.

At the top, wind blows snow off the summit plateau into a cornice-like snow bank at the top -- nearly flat on top, but very steep below. So you have to make your way up the steep bank. Most people do ok with it.

But just so you know, several people have died on or near that spot: One slipped on ice, another fell over steep rocks near the top, possibly disoriented by a storm. Both accidents were odd or unusual, since so many people use the pass with no trouble.

I did a Army/New Army loop on June 28th, 2013. The hike was as Steve described it, with no real issue until I neared the top and encountered the snow covered trail. I could not see the trail on the other side (looking up), so I could not tell if the snow was atop the trail and was "solid" or if it might not cover some hazard, so I did up climb the last 50', which was (IMO) class 3 (exposure similar to the final 400 of MR).

After the up climb I did circle back down the trail to the snow, and could see my earlier position, and believe I could have crossed the snow. However, given what I "knew" the up climb made more sense to me.

Hard to say about this year. Seems likely the snow will be gone by July, but a late storm could change all that.