Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Loop route from Horseshoe Meadow ?

I've heard there is a route that can be taken from Horseshoe Meadow, heading out New Army Pass, bagging Whitney and returning by way of Old Army Pass, bagging Langley on the return. Where do you pick up the trail after Whitney?

Carol;
This can be done, but Old Army Pass and New Army Pass cross the same divide and are simply alternates that are very close together. You can do Whitney from Horseshoe Meadow by going up Rock Creek past Sky Blue Lake, crossing what is sometimes called Crabtree Pass, descending to a lake below, then ascending Discovery Pinnacle and joining the Main Trail near Trail Crest. It's a fairly long route and it makes sense to descend via the Main Whitney Trail, as there is no loop as such. The route back otherwise is simply back-tracking. Pick up a copy of R.J. Secors' book "The High Sierra, peaks, passes, and trails"
It will provide details that are clearer than what I've just described.

Thanks Adrian for your quick reply. I'll purchase the book and make a decision. I've heard of it and am sure my questions will be answered. Thanks again. Have a great day!

The normal route from Horseshoe meadows goes over either New Army (or just next door Old Army) pass or Cottonwood pass (which we took because the pass is at a lower elevations) and then west, looping back up around the back to the Guitar Lake area and then up to Whitney. Some people leave their tent on the west side and then return to Horseshoe meadows. Others backpack one way and come down the regular Whitney trail to the portal. This trail is on most maps.

Adrian describes the shortcut going through Rock Creek and past Sky blue lake. This route is not for the faint of heart. The 1-2 miles from Sky Blue lake over the pass, down to the lake and up the 1700 foot soft sandhill to the top of Discovery pinnacle is very difficult and time consuming.

Do a search above for "crabtree pass" You will see a post called Time from Whitney to sky blue lake via crabtree pass on Sept 16, 2003. It has some good information on that option

I personally do not believe it is easier then staying on the trail for 8-10 more miles. However, the Rock Creek route to sky blue lake is perhaps some of the most beautiful country ( and very remote feeling) of anyplace around Whitney.

Or, you can go over New Army Pass and do Langley before going down through Rock Creek to its lower crossing and over Guyot Pass. Everything depends on your skill level.

My advice is to pick up the the 4 quads involved, Cirque Peak, Langley, Johnson Peak and Mt. Whitney, and sit down and study them before making a decison on the route.

Bill

Thanks everyone for all the great information! This board is great and so is everyone I've talked to. I've got some research to do, but still have a little time before getting passes. Will be there in early August. Thanks again. :-)

I have often thought about doing that same route or a variation on that route. Recently I used the search function on this very board. I looked up "Crabtree Pass" and I got a whole hockey sock full of information

Thanks Demonguy. Sounds like you might play hockey.

Actually I don't play hockey. I am one of a few Canadians who skates poorly. "A Whole Hockey Sock Full" is just a way of saying bunches. But I do hike , x-c ski and backpack