Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Current Conditions: Army and New Army Pass

I went up Army Pass and down New Army Pass yesterday. Snow conditions were good to excellent. The trail up to Army Pass was much better than the trail to New Army Pass in my opinion. Lots of snow fields, but the snow is very well consolidated and post-holing was minimum. The stream crossing to the trail to New Army Pass is a wet one! Especially late in the day when we came down.

I was glad we took crampons. It made it safer and easier to go up the snow to Army Pass. We didn't use them for the descent of New Army Pass.

Pictures are at: Dayhike over Army Pass and down New Army Pass

Great pictures, and thanks for the report Walter. I wanted to do Langley via Tuttle Creek, but might chicken out as I'm not sure I'm in that great of a shape. I might do the main trail in two weeks if I can't get a permit for Whitney.

Great pictures and report. What do you think are the chances of a group mostly with Kathoola spikes and trekking poles going over new army pass July 15? I know there are a number of passes around there, any better? One of us will have an ice axe.

We are doing cottonwood to Whitney Portal. The only road blocks I can fore see are New Army Pass and the 99 switchbacks?

lesper4,

Snow levels go up about 500 ft/week this time of year in the Southern Sierra's. So in 3 weeks the snow conditions can be completely different. It's hard for me to predict that far out. I would estimate the snow level at this time to be around 11000'.

If I was going from Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney Portals I would go over Cottonwood Pass (~11140') instead of New Army Pass (12310'). It is more likely to be clear of snow by that time and the total distance is about the same. Then, your main concern would be the 99 switchbacks below Trail Crest (~13700'). Keep checking the message boards to see if they are passable by then. Good Luck and be safe!

Thanks for the advice I will definitely look into that.

There is more snow there now then in late may of 2009!

Aparently from what I heard Cottonwood pass is clear. The next option is to stay on the PCT (following the ridge) or going back to the rock creek trail (which may have more water crossing)? Are those water corssing bad?

Still watching the 99, lots of people going up this weekend, we will see.

I have heard that the Rock Creek crossing is the worst in that area. Luckily it sounds as if there is a log over the creek just up the trail. Check out the picture here. I believe the rest of the crossings between HSM and Whitney will be passable without too many problems.

http://postholer.com/journal/viewJournal...;photo_id=29409

Does anyone have any current condition reports from Army Pass?

New Army is good and mostly clear except near the top like Whitney's 99 Switchbacks. Nothing to worry about.

Still a bunch of snow near Old Army last weekend.

Thanks for the reply. You would not by chance have a picture from Army Pass. Do you think there was a boot track usable?

Sorry Tom, I was at New Army. I just crossed over to the other side going down at the first lake because the New Army trail had too many mosquito. I didn't take any pictures. This is New Army if you're interested.