Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mt. Langley ?

We are looking to climb Langley for the first time this year. I am a Whitney vet, but wanted info on recommended routes and campsites. I heard that New Army Pass is the way to go now, but I was curious if you guys could give me some suggestions. Thanks in advance!

It's a great hike, either overnite or dayhike.

This year, NAP will be the likely way to go until probably mid august, then Army Pass will be the better way. (at least, I prefer it). Summitpost.org may be a good place to get additional info.

I climbed Mt. Langley in July of 2007 (a low snow year) so the route to the top was fairly straightforward. (See route below)




This was on a trip to Mt. Whitney so we came from Horseshoe Meadows and went up NAP to get there. If you are interested in pictures from the route to the top of Mt. Langley (there really is no "trail" just use trails...lots of them!) check out this link:
Mt. Langley route

Bob R gave me some good beta as you near the top - stay to the left for a Class 2 scramble or more to the right for a Class 3 adventure. I stayed to the left and had a great experience getting to the top. Hope that helps. Have a great trip!

It can be reached from Cottonwood, New Army and Army Passes. Army is the most direct be it opens up last. Cottonwood is the least direct and opens up in June, even after a big snow year.

Going up New Army, I would camp at west end of Long Lake, at Army it would be north end of Cottonwood Lake #3 and Chicken Spring Lake for Cottonwood.

If you go via Cottonwood you can bag Cirque Peak on the way to Langley and Trail Peak on the way out.

It's a fun trip.

Be ready to do battle with the skiteers!!!

Is there a daily limit for hikers like Whitney, or do we just need a wilderness permit?

Most Mt. Langley trip begin at the Cottonwood Lakes/New Army Pass Trailhead, which have one of the most liberal backpacking permit quotas in the Inyo Nat'l Forest. If you choose to day hike it, no permit is required.

We will actually be staying 2 nights on the mountain, so do we need a permit for that?

Yeppers, all bp trips in the INF require a permit. You can pick one up at any Inyo RS or the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitors Center.

Go to the Inyo website. You don't have to be rocket scientist to figure out the rules and regs for the rest of the forest...just Mt. Whitney. All the info you need is there.