Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Girl Scouts - New Army Pass

I leave 8/5 from Horseshoe Mdws to Whitney to Kearsarge with a bunch of really cool Girl Scouts. I'd love to have most current trail conditions for New Army (still dicey avoiding the cornice?), Tyndall Creek (look upstream for better crossing?) and Forester Pass.

Thanks a million!

We did the New Army Pass last Friday (day of a bad storm). We did not use any micro-spikes or crampons. There was some cross country at the top to avoid the snow but very feasible. I think you have to worry more about AMS than the cornice. On the way down we talked with a troop from Carlsbad (boys scouts) which were dealing with one boy getting altitude sickness.

Best of luck for you,

Nei

Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to hear. We're spending two nights above 10,000 feet before crossing New Army, so I'm hopng the preparation, in addition to their experience, is sufficient (worked last time, anyway.)

Thanks again for the help, Nei. San Diego GS appreciates it.

Just got back from the same trip.

New Army takes a detour at the top due to cornice. Just follow the ducks over some class 2 terrain.

Tyndall Creek was the only one I had to wade. Just go straight across, it is very mild. Wright Creek was another my partners decided to wade. I found a bush whack / rock hop about 50 ft up stream. I recommend just wadding with a group like that.

Forester Pass had a lot of snow at the base with really aggressive snow cups. Stay slightly to the right on approach to find the boot pack. Who knows, it might even be gone by the time you get up there. Had to ascend some snow on the south side. Then traverse some on the north side. After traverse to ridge, little snow from then on. Might be a little dicey w/o previous snow experience but no axe/spikes/crampons needed. 9am-10am would be perfect time to start up Forester.

That's excellent information, thank you. When you say 'wade' across Tyndall/Wright creeks, how deep are we talking? I'm happy to bushwack upstream for a better crossing, but we all have water shoes so we're good to get in the water as long as it isn't too deep or swift.

Question: are the lakes just south of Forester still under snow? We were planning on camping at the lakes in the basin just south so we could get a morning start on Forester.

Thanks a million!

Tyndall Creek might have been just past ankles. Even less at Wright Creek. I don't remember exactly. Wade is probably wrong word. Definitely not above knees. Here is photo of Wright Creek on 7/26/2011. Tyndall Creek wasn't much worse.

Lakes just south of Forester had some snow but not completely covered. You should have no problem getting water there. Camp may be a little cold but no mosquitoes. We had planned to camp there but came up short due to big day with big unforeseen delay and ended up camping about a mile down trail just off trail way above Tyndall creek. Great views but added extra gain and mileage to the next day.

Great picture -- just enough water to get the feet clean!

I like the idea of no mosquitoes s of Forester.

Thank you so much!