Wow, this forum and you guys are awesome. So much useful info I could never get else where.
One last question, is it safe to camp at the Cottonwood lake during thunderstorm?
(Obviously I won't try to summit Mt. Langley if I see thunderstorm forecast.)
These are my stories and I'm sticking to them...
Too many years ago, a friend and I backpacked up to the Long Lake intending to summit Cirque Peak that day. As we set up camp at about 10 AM, it started to rain and hail. We watch all sorts of folks retreating down New Army Pass because of the weather. One guy in short and t-shirt during the worst of the hail.
We went up the following morning at about 5 AM, by 8:00, we knew we were going to have to hurry to get down before the lightning.
Last year, the same friend hiked to the top of NAP, saw and heard the weather and turned around headed back. There were people still heading toward the summit as lightning was striking it.
You most likely will not be able to see the weather until you top either AP or NAP. If it looks like crap you turn around. My advice is to start early, hit the base of pass at sunrise and be off the summit by 10.
Take a liberal dose of summit fever drugs prior leaving the trailhead.
