Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Cottonwood Pass/Cirque or Old Army pass/Langley

Anyone out there been up to Cirque by way of Cottonwood pass, or Langley by way of old Army during the last few days? I need a good Whitney training hike for this Saturday. I've been to Langley in the past, but any good routes up Cirque from the Cottonwood direction?

Thanks very much in advance!

Yesterday I hiked to Cottonwood Pass; went cross-country to Trailmaster, Peak 12417, Peak 12525 and Cirque Peak; then went cross-country back. I like that ridge.

Thanks. Is Trailmaster the peak about halfway between Chicken Spring lake and Cirque Peak? Where did you take off up the hill? Beyond Chicken Spring? I have a book that describes the best route as going north on the PCT, past the gully that leads up to the saddle, then up the hill, but it looks like the ridge just NW of the lake is pretty gradual as well.......
Thanks again, I appreciate the input.

How did New Army look?

In that area the ridge generally runs NW-SE. The peak you see NE of Chicken Spring Lake is informally known as Trailmaster (12,336). West of it is a cluster of rocks - Peak 12417. NNW of that is Peak 12525. NNW of that is Cirque Peak. I like to go cross-country straight from Cottonwood Pass toward Trailmaster, and then climb as many more peaks on the ridge as I feel like climbing.

I did not zoom in on New Army Pass, but at this time of year I would guess that the remaining snow near the top can easily be bypassed.

Thanks. Maybe we'll give the direct from the pass a try then.
Be safe out there!

Did Langley via Old Army Pass on 07/23. Climbed straight up the snow chute with ice axes and crampons...it gets pretty steep. The trail still had several sections covered with large snow drifts...very sketchy so we took New Army Pass on the way down. Two very small easily crossed snow patches on New Army.