Route Climbed: Army Pass (old) Date Climbed: June 22, 2002
The weather today was perfect! Climbed as a day hike. Summited by 12:15 PM. Avoided the sandy slope just below the summit by climbing the class 3 rock 100 yards east of the normal route. Still some some snow in the pass but it was soft enough......my running shoes were fine. A climber tried to climb the direct chute up Army Pass (which is still completely filled with snow) without ice axe or crampons and fell most of the way down sliding into the rocks below. He dislocated has shoulder and was pretty beaten up but was able to walk. I helped carry his gear and walked him out to the trailhead then made sure he made it to the emergency room in Lone Pine. Boy was he in pain! He should of known better. It could have been much worse. He was very lucky.
Route Climbed: Winter Route, North of Old Army Pass. Date Climbed: May 27, 2002 and Sept. 23, 1993
A lady was just getting rescued by a Sheriff helicopter. She had a fall on Old Army Pass. Still lots of snow in these passes. Since we didn't have any ice axe or crampons we ascended the less steep "winter route". I think this route is the most direct.
Route Climbed: Old Army Pass / South Slopes Date Climbed: May 11, 2002
Great trip in the early season - there was not a soul in the Cottonwood Lakes Basin the whole time we were there. We (Sven Feldmann and I) went up the main chute of Old Army Pass. The trail (if any ?) in the pass was snow covered completely, so we just went straight up the 35-45 degree snow in the main chute. The rest was easy. A couple of parties had reached the summit the week-end before, otherwise the last entry in the summit log was from February (http://www.climber.org/TripReports/2002/fried14er.html). We went down New Army Pass on the descent. This was easier than Old Army Pass because it is south facing and the snow was not iced up. It also allowed a beautiful traverse of the South Fork Lakes basin - the lakes were starting to thaw. I have posted pictures on my website, referenced in the "links" section of the Mount Langley page. Trip report
Route Climbed: Old Army Pass Date Climbed: 08/27/00
From Horseshoe Meadow parking lot, I rode my mountain bike up to Cottonwood Lake #3. There I stash my bike and ascended up Old Army Pass and then headed north to the summit. I descended from the summit in 2:30hrs to the car. I hit no one with my mt. bike!
Route Climbed: South Slopes via Old Army Pass Date Climbed: July 9, 2001
Single day ascent of this really easy ~21 mile hike. I raced t-storms the whole way, but they never got me. The sandy upper slopes of the mountain were a little frustrating, but the summit was worth it. Car-to-car time: 6 hours and 7 minutes.
Route Climbed: South Slopes Date Climbed: July 30, 2000
Summited and returned in under 24 hours. We camped at the southwesternmost Cottonwood Lake beneath Old Army Pass after a 4 hour hike in. The next morning we made the summit in three hours. Great views of Mount Whitney and Muir to the North.
mdostby - Jun 22, 2002 11:24 pm
Route Climbed: Army Pass (old) Date Climbed: June 22, 2002The weather today was perfect! Climbed as a day hike. Summited by 12:15 PM. Avoided the sandy slope just below the summit by climbing the class 3 rock 100 yards east of the normal route. Still some some snow in the pass but it was soft enough......my running shoes were fine. A climber tried to climb the direct chute up Army Pass (which is still completely filled with snow) without ice axe or crampons and fell most of the way down sliding into the rocks below. He dislocated has shoulder and was pretty beaten up but was able to walk. I helped carry his gear and walked him out to the trailhead then made sure he made it to the emergency room in Lone Pine. Boy was he in pain! He should of known better. It could have been much worse. He was very lucky.
Guilty - May 28, 2002 10:22 am
Route Climbed: Winter Route, North of Old Army Pass. Date Climbed: May 27, 2002 and Sept. 23, 1993A lady was just getting rescued by a Sheriff helicopter. She had a fall on Old Army Pass. Still lots of snow in these passes. Since we didn't have any ice axe or crampons we ascended the less steep "winter route". I think this route is the most direct.
Romain - May 13, 2002 10:50 pm
Route Climbed: Old Army Pass / South Slopes Date Climbed: May 11, 2002Great trip in the early season - there was not a soul in the Cottonwood Lakes Basin the whole time we were there. We (Sven Feldmann and I) went up the main chute of Old Army Pass. The trail (if any ?) in the pass was snow covered completely, so we just went straight up the 35-45 degree snow in the main chute. The rest was easy. A couple of parties had reached the summit the week-end before, otherwise the last entry in the summit log was from February (http://www.climber.org/TripReports/2002/fried14er.html). We went down New Army Pass on the descent. This was easier than Old Army Pass because it is south facing and the snow was not iced up. It also allowed a beautiful traverse of the South Fork Lakes basin - the lakes were starting to thaw. I have posted pictures on my website, referenced in the "links" section of the Mount Langley page. Trip report
sierragator - May 5, 2002 5:58 pm
Route Climbed: cottonwood/old army pass Date Climbed: august 16, 2001Summited in 6 hours back to car in 5. Nice dayhike. The "sandpit" just below the final ascent is a bit tedious. Fantastic views for 360*.
darinchadwick - Mar 31, 2002 6:01 am
Route Climbed: Some other pass next to army pass Date Climbed: May 2000Of all the CA 14ers, this is the slog. Lotta snow so we had to take an alternate pass closer to the summit since we had no ice axe.
sidhayes - Feb 27, 2002 4:22 pm
Route Climbed: Old Army Pass Date Climbed: 7-13-99Climbed Old Army Pass and to the summit in 2:53, down in 2:07.
Guilty - Nov 12, 2001 1:12 am
Route Climbed: Old Army Pass Date Climbed: 08/27/00From Horseshoe Meadow parking lot, I rode my mountain bike up to Cottonwood Lake #3. There I stash my bike and ascended up Old Army Pass and then headed north to the summit. I descended from the summit in 2:30hrs to the car. I hit no one with my mt. bike!
Josh - Aug 8, 2001 5:10 pm
Route Climbed: South Slopes via Old Army Pass Date Climbed: August 6, 2001This was the fourteenth summit of my CA 14er speed climbing tour! Check out the trip report here.
Josh - Jul 15, 2001 2:10 pm
Route Climbed: South Slopes via Old Army Pass Date Climbed: July 9, 2001Single day ascent of this really easy ~21 mile hike. I raced t-storms the whole way, but they never got me. The sandy upper slopes of the mountain were a little frustrating, but the summit was worth it. Car-to-car time: 6 hours and 7 minutes.
tbnelson - Apr 14, 2001 7:25 pm
Route Climbed: South Slopes Date Climbed: July 30, 2000Summited and returned in under 24 hours. We camped at the southwesternmost Cottonwood Lake beneath Old Army Pass after a 4 hour hike in. The next morning we made the summit in three hours. Great views of Mount Whitney and Muir to the North.