Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board New Army Pass Route

I need info on the New Army Pass Route, specifically whether or not there is route navigation involved.

I hiked Whitney for the first time last fall up the Whitney Trail (Route 6) on a two day trip. This summer I'm planning on a longer route and four or five days. I have Paul Richins book "Mount Whitney: The Complete Trailhead to Summit Hiking Guide" and it's a great book. In the description of the New Army Pass Route there's mention of cross-country travel, but I'm not sure whether that just means uneven or difficult terrain, or if it means I'll need to use my map and compass. Anyone? Anyone?

More than likely you will have to use your map and compass. The trip up from Crabtree Lake to Trail rest will be scree and/or talus.

If you are looking for a trail hiking trip go over either Cottonwood or New Passes down to Rock Creek then up on Guyot Pass. This trip is class 1 all the way.

E-mail me if you want some additonal infomation.

Bill

I took that route some years ago and found a topo map pretty useful. Specifically I took the Rock Creek route. There are good sheltered camp sites on Soldier Lake which is reached by a short spur trail to the right after you enter the timber on the west side of New Army Pass. There is ( or was ) a bear box at soldier Lake. An overland route crosses a low ridge west of Soldier Lake and you can see the use trail ascending that ridge. The topo map is needed to get your bearings on linking up with the use trail going up Rock Creek Canyon. There's a good use trail until Sky Blue Lake, after which there are various ways to go, some better than others and confusingly marked with cairns (ducks). You will end up on the west side of a lake with the pass on the other side of the lake. The east side of the lake would be tough to get around so aim for the west side. from this point on I wouldn't describe the route as class 1, as there are some steep rocky places that are pretty creepy when you're carrying a pack. The descent to the upper crab tree lake is steep rough talus. After that you've a steep slog on gravelly slopes to discovery Pinnacle. Then you're on the main route. Your other route is Pacific Crest Trail to Crabtree Meadows. That one is class 1. Good luck.

adrian

Last year I considered the same New Army Pass route as described by Paul Richins, but in conducting some research, I concluded that the necessary navigation was not to difficult as long as you are soewhat proficient with a compass and a topo map.

Let me suggest the Cottonwood Pass route if you have any hesitation. This route is very comparable to the New Army Pass route in distance and significantly less in elevation gain. I completed this route last August and it was beautiful, espicially out of Rock Creek towards Crabtree Meadow.

Every year I plan on taking a different route to the peak. This year my plan is to start out of Onion Valley. Paul Richins book is extremely helpful in describing trail expectations and possible alternate side routes, if time allows.

Hope this was helpful.

I was in a group this summer and can confirm the difficulty encounterd from Crabtree lake through the scree. We were too beat and had to go down to Horseshoe Meadow and back up.