Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board MT LANGLEY: NEW ARMY PASS VS OLD ARMY PASS

A month ago I climbed Mt Langley using OLD Army Pass. Staurday I would like to do the same thing using NEW Army Pass.

Is there a "clear" trail from NEW Army Pass to Mt Langley? I called the Forest Service today, but they were clueless.

THX

There is no Old Army Pass in the Cottonwood area.

New Army Pass is an easy trail to follow from High Lake.
Expect to add and extra 800ft of gain on the way out plus mileage to get back to NAP

Once you crest New Army Pass and head down the other side, you will pass right by the top of Old Army pass and use the same route up Langley.
I recommend the South Fork short cut to Long Lake when using New Army Pass. As soon as you cross South Fork of Cottonwood Creek on the main trail, go about 100 feet and step over a log to the left of the trail and find the well used use trail up the South Fork. The trail is always on the North side of the creek. It is easy to follow all the way to South Fork Lakes. At South Fork Lakes you intersect the Cirque Lake trail. We followed the Cirque creek trail west around the left of the lower South Fork lake, then left the trail and contoured above the lower and middle South Fork lakes, then crossed the drainageand went north of the upper SF lake. Then up to the left of the inlet until we reached the main trail along Long Lake.
This explanation is quite wordy, but should make sense when you look at your topo map.
Have a great climb!

Here is a map of the route described above (click for larger map).



When you get to the top of New Army Pass, you will see the top of (Old) Army Pass down the hill to your right. Simply hike down the hill to the top of the old pass and then continue as normal from there.

The top of (Old) Army Pass is at lower right in this photo from the top of New Army Pass:

THX FOR ALL THE INFO

Made the round trip Saturday in 12-hours.

Not bad for a 54-year guy.