Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Army and Snow

How passable is the snow section just below Army Pass (not NAP)? I'm expecting that with this heat that it shouldn't be technical in any way. We will be up there next Thursday. I don't think that there is any other snowy sections but if you've been there recently, let me know.

I hiked up Mt. Langley via Army Pass on 21 June. There were two short snowfields that could be crossed easily without danger. At the top, there was a larger, steeper snowfield that I chose to bypass to the left, which required about a couple dozen feet of easy Class 3 movement. I wore trail running shoes and had no extra gear.

Thanks for the information. I think I saw your or someones picture of Army at that time. I know the area you are talking about. Maybe someone was up on the 4th and it's changed. With this heat, how can any snow be still around?

I just went up Army Pass for the first time July 5. No problems at all. For kicks I did what "highitinerary" mentioned and did a bit of scrambling to the left near the very crest of the pass. I did it with a 30 lb backpack on to test my class 3 which I am just "getting into." It was only a couple dozen feet. Person 10 minutes ahead of me and the 4 guys 5 minutes behind went straight up the trail. Army Pass is much more fun and less of a switchback slog than New Army Pass. I have read in the past on this board that yes, this pass holds much snow. Doesn't seem to be the case at all this year. Go for it.

This is a picture of the remaining snowfield on Army Pass on June 27th, 2007.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2156678200061435028ILDDEc

Even then it was easy, just stepping in the depressions left by other hikers. No need for snow gear.

As an update on my question about snow, I just returned from Cottonwood Basin, Army Pass and Langley (hiked up on Thursday). Your foot will never touch snow going up the pass. At the slide, snow remains just above but there is a clear path around the boulders that is easy and dry.

When we got back to the trailhead on Friday, we drove over to the store for a fabulous chicken burger. My wife and I split one as Doug seems to make these as big as the pancakes. While talking to Doug, up walks Moosetracks who I had never met but Doug introduced us. I now know why she can climb so high so fast. Her personality is so bubbly and upbeat that I think that she just floats up for a couple of thousand feet before her feet hit the ground. Anyway, Laura was very pleasant and interesting.