A friend's 14 year old son is heading out on his first backpack in the next few days on a loop from Horseshoe Meadows>Cottonwood Lakes>Mt. Langley>Soldier Lakes>Cottonwood Pass>Horseshoe Meadows. Weather appears good but I know little about snow conditions. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Very little snow below 11,000 feet, with patches in shady spots. None in Horseshoe meadow; area fairly dry. Snow tongues in gullies and north aspects of ridges on Trail Peak, Cirque and Langley as seen from "edge of the world" peak to the south Wednesday. Could not see Cottonwood Pass. I would expect one could avoid almost all snow on the loop you describe. Old Army pass will have steep snow.