I was planning on climbing Mount Langley July 9th via New Army Pass and was not expecting this much snow this time of the year. Does anyone know the current trail conditions for Cottonwood Lakes trail, to New Amry Pass, to Mount Langley. How much snow is there? What are the current high and low temperatures for the area? Are crampons/ice axe necessary? Any answers are much appreciated.

Hello There , you can check the message board on the whitney portal store website(http://www.whitneyportalstore.com) there is a thread entitled "new army pass" that will provide a lot of good information. I hope this may help. i am backpacking through that same area, a few weeks after you do, (july 22-27) ..heading out of horseshoe meadows to mt langley to mt whitney. i expect by then a lot of the snow will be melted. Right now old army is more melted than new army. check out the thread.

SPer dmasten just signed the Climber's Log for Mt. Langley. You may want to send him/her a PM for conditions. Sounds like there is still a lot of snow up there.

Looks like these folks recently made it up New Army Pass over 4th of July weekend:
http://maximumadventure.wordpress.com/2 ... ly-4-2011/

Does anybody know if the road to Cottonwood trailhead is still open?

I am heading to Mt. langely Wednesday, June 13, I'll give you an update on conditions

Peter50 wrote:I am heading to Mt. langely Wednesday, June 13, I'll give you an update on conditions

Tease.


I was in Miter Basin June 20 - 23 (2012), via New Army and Cottonwood Passes.

New Army Pass: No snow on trail as of 6/21 (small snowbank bordering last few feet).

Army Pass: As of 6/21, 40 yards or so of easily passable (no special equipment required, by first hand accounts), steep, exposed snow on the topmost switchback. Boot tracked and very soft by noon. I'd hazard a guess that the entire trail will be ice free within 2 weeks.

I've only ever seen it this dry in late August or September. Mossies were very active only in the evening and early morning – enough so to drive me into my tent or don my head net. Marmots very bold.

Army Pass from Cottonwood Basin (6/20)


Ersatz Crutches ( ?!?) below Army



Army Pass Trail from summit plateau (6/21) - the angle of repose seems to be lessened a bit by the wide angle lens


Mt. Langley and Army Pass (6/21)


Marmot Damage - Sky Blue Lake