I made it to about 11,500' on Army Pass. Followoing the Trail, a big, sun-cupped snowfield stopped me...
The ramp leading up to the Pass is still mostly snow...I didn't feel like working across the snowdield and then having to negoitatie all of the ramp...
I'd call Army Pass a Go With Gear...I did have crampons...
On to New Army Pass...
Trivial until the last 30-50'. A coup;e I passed were asked if they had crossed..."No, just acclimatization to the Pass. There are some poeople coming down now. I don't know what they are doing. It will be obvious when you get up to the 2 rock outcrops at the Pass..."
It was...
I was too stressed about the time, so only a photo looking down...
Essentially, you take a few steps on snow to a rock slab...turn left and follow the steps up over what's left of the Cornice...it was EASY...
Here are a few more photos from the day:
Langley from the top of New Army Pass.
Langley from the New Army Pass Trail.
Cirque Peak and what's left of the Cornice at the top of New Army Pass.
Looking towards Whitney from New Army Pass.
The original plan was to cross Army Pass and head for the Trail Junction that Jim F mentioned as a path to the Soldier Lakes area...It was too early to head back to the bike (can't stand the hot rides home...), so I headed for New Army...Crossed New Army...Looked at Langley...it looked like too much work...headed down to the PCT and humped my was past (bazillions) of PCT Hikers...made it back to the Trailhead without a light and then walked the mile back to the bike by headlamp...man am I beat...these modeate mileage days are behind me...at least I know the Epics, like HM to WP (in a day) can't be done any more...I suffered, but, in the end, it was still that fun kind of suffering.
