Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Old Army Pass Conditions

Any current beta on Army Pass? I understand NAP is mostly clear, but I'd prefer to go over OAP if it's melted out. Planning for Langley in mid-July.

Just got back from Langley on June 20. Old Army is snowed in at the top. Prob use NAP.

Thanks for the info. I'm still a little over 3 weeks out from my Langley date, so hopefully the melt will continue at a good clip. This will be the last of 4 hikes that week and I'd really prefer not to deal with that extra gain over NAP if I can avoid it.

You could take the Thompson "shortcut."

What are your other three hikes?

Hey, Tom!

Cathedral Peak and Cloud's Rest in Yosemite, and the Whitney MR (permits allowing). Also, possibly Mt. Gould.

You going to be out there in July? Don't think we've been there yet in July that we haven't run into you.

Oh, and I read about Doug's Langley "shortcut" in a Bob Burd account. You first, Tom . . .

No, I won't make it to Lone Pine till August this year.

I took the Thompson shortcut to Langley last year, and liked it! It's steep and loose at the end, but when you reach the ridge you're just 3/4 of a mile from the summit. Also, there's water along the route.

To hike up to Old Army Pass, do you need ice axe and crampons, or would ice axe and microspikes be good enough?

Hey Bulldog,

I do not think the route described by Bob Burd is the "normal" Thompson shortcut. Burd's route was along a ridge, with lots of difficult climbing. I believe Doug's suggested route (and the same route I think taken by Tom) is to go to Lake 6, turn left, and slog up the chute. I tried to find my way up this route last year, and found myself lost amongst giant boulders, and eventually decided I did not have time on that day. At this point in time I believe the trick is to stay right en route to Lake 6. Down low, the valley is wide open, and lures you to the left. After Muir Lake go North, but stay close to the right side of the valley (my opinion - not supported with successful assent). More info can be found at:
http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum/...=true#Post96104

Hey Bulldog,

Are you planning Langley as an overnighter or a dayhike? I need to give Langley another try before we move in January. I've been thinking about trying sometime in July or August.

I would guess that OAP will be melted out in a couple of weeks. Temps have been quite high at 10k: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryDaily?CWD

Right. I hiked toward Muir Lake, but then kept going all the way to the last (northernmost) lake. From there there are no route-finding issues - just go up and to the west. I doubt it is faster than taking Army Pass, but I prefer cross-country travel to trails.

Tom, sorry to hear that. Hope to catch you next year - have a blast in August!

John and Tom: I was almost positive that's what happened with Bob Burd's route on the shortcut. He was clear in his TR about the fact that he had never talked to Doug directly about the route, but had received the information second-hand. He had a very rough day, and those are rare for Bob Burd.

Lyndon, congrats on your HST! I'll be doing Langley as a dayhike on either the 17th or 18th. If all goes as planned I'll have dealt with about 14K' of gain over the days just prior, so this one may be ugly for my eastern legs. I'm always up for company on a hike, though. My plan is to hike with my wife and daughter out to Cottonwood Lakes, then let them relax there if they want (very likely) while I move on to Langley.

John, thanks for the link to that thread - good stuff. Doug's line is classic: "If you don't know where you're going, you can never get lost!"

Thanks!

Those days just might work for me. Keep me in the loop and I'll put in a request for the time off. It probably really depends on my wife's work schedule.

Hey Lyndon,

If for some reason that does not work for you I will be hiking Langley/Whitney on July 24/Aug. 28. Order is not important to me.

John

The Thompson "Shortcut" via Lake 6 was noted as an alternative to Old Army Pass which ascends from Lake 4. Do not forget that in between these is Navy Pass coming off Lake 5. Bob Rockwell comes to mind when Navy Pass is mentioned, as perhaps he was the one who originally gave it that name.

I might be in the Miter Basin next week. If so, I will attempt to check the status of some of these paths.

Jim

Thompson/Kirk Route on Langley...

Thanks John. Keep me in mind.

I will take a good look at my schedule next week, once my wife's work schedule is set.

Will do Langley this week...any last minute reports on our favorite Old Army? Will carry microspikes just in case...thanks in advance!!!

Good question. There is some snow, but it is easy to get around it. Microspikes not necessary

Thanks...have scooted by the patches of snow by using "footprints" near the top in the past...sounds like more of the same