What a difference a day makes. My wife and I tried our first Langley in a Day on July 14 but stopped short on it's flanks.
This time we: started earlier (4:30a), packed lighter, knew our preferred route ("Old" Army) and had a beautiful day for it. We think this hike is more difficult than a Whitney Day Hike which we've done numerous times. The last section, from the top of Army Pass to the top of Langley is not one but many trails, each long, sandy (two steps up, one step back), and intermittently boulder-strewn. The summit proper is much smaller, the registry box discovery confirming the ascent much sweeter, and one thing you can't get from Whitney...a perfect view of Whitney only 5 miles away, complete with the stone hut "bump" on top, to die for.
We had the summit to ourselves for about 1/2 hour and only six others joined us. Three other day hikers and three coming up from their camp at Soldier Lake. Soon the puffy white clouds gathered and turned dark. We all left at the same time and got hit with little hail and big rain drops on the way to Army but, thankfully no lightning.
We'll do it again!
Don
