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

I'm taking my 12 year old daughter up to Cottonwood Lakes in two weeks with a climb up (Old) Army Pass and up Langley. Anyone have a snow report for up there? I'm sure the slide area will still hold something but I'm hoping the route won't be too difficult for her (snow wise). Thanks.

Hi all, still looking for a snow report on the Old Army Pass trail from Cottonwood. Thanks for any input.

We hiked to the top of Mt. Langley last year the end of June...on the 25th

Here are two pictures of Army pass and the snowfield at the top of Army Pass, within our Mt. Langley photo album.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2420427810061435028QbFOSM

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

Snow wasn't much of a concern then, nor would it be now.....I wouldn't worry about the snow in two weeks.

It is a long way from the Lakes up to Mt. Langley and back. Start hydrated and carry plenty of water.


Compare the snow in Bob R's trip to the top of New Army pass on May 31st of this year......not much snow in the area for that early in the summer.

http://markirving.smugmug.com/gallery/5085635_H7AL2#P-2-20

And from a trip a few days ago

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2468028190103716125kJBZBU

Hey Ed,

I was up at Cottonwood Lakes last weekend. We took the east-southeast ridge to the east ridge to the summit, and descended via a 3rd class gully on the south face. I spoke with a couple of guys on the summit who said that they had come up via OAP, but that it still had considerable snow and low margin for error. Alot can change in a week though. Also I met some guys on the way in who had just cleared NAP, so I know that is passable. Talk to the rangers at the Lone Pine Visitors Center. They usually have pretty good info.

Thanks for that. I'm not worried about me but I want my daughter to be in a safe range and I think by the time that we go, that should be the case. If not, down we go and maybe up NAP. Your info is helpful.

Ed

If you stay on the 'trail' (rather than the direct route up), you probably will have very little problem even at the top. You probably know that the trail is no longer maintained and is a bit sketchy for the first 1/2 hour or so leaving the end of the lake up to the switchbacks that lead up to the long traverse. The end of the traverse is fairly well protected from falling and should be well trampled by then.

You can always take a short hike up to the lake to look at the top from below. There should be no cornice on the snow and you will probably see the 'dirty' tracks across the top to the pass.

If it looks too bad, jump between lakes 1 and 2 (it is a dry crossing if you patiently look for the use trail) and go up New Army then while doing the dip toward the Langley massive, take a peek over the edge to see if the trail leading directly left is clear for the way back. Makes a good loop, albeit a mile longer and a bit more altitude gain/loss. You just have to leave an hour or so earlier for same summit time.