Mt Whitney Zone Forums Thread Like Summary - New Army Pass Conditions

Hey everybody,

I saw the thread on the OAP conditions and NAP conditions as of 5/14. Just wondering if anyone has a more recent update on NAP? Was planning on taking a trip up there this weekend but don't have ice axe or crampons.

Thanks

I was up on Mt. Langley yesterday - May 23, 2022...

Do NOT take Old Army Pass. The trail is not passible and probably won't be for another 3-4 weeks depending on weather. The last switchback is covered with large snow banks making it very treacherous for travel.

ZERO snow on Langley trail from NAP/OAP - just small patches.

New Army Pass is passible. I arrived at the snow cornice at 730am, which covers the last 20-30 vertical feet of the trail. The snow was solid so I used my crampons. Ice axe is not needed - just trekking poles. By the time I got back to the pass after Langley, the snow was very sloshy. I was able to dig some of the snow out with my ice axe and make a trail to adjacent boulders which can be down climbed to the trail. Marked it with cairns.

I have a short video on YouTube documenting the trail conditions on both NAP and OAP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmWXsFq09Es

Safe travels!