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Mount Langley
#48602 10/20/16 01:26 PM
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Has anyone made a recent trip to Mount Langley via Cottonwood Lakes? I would appreciate any current condition status. Thank you.


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Re: Mount Langley
CanadianGirl #48603 10/20/16 01:36 PM
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I haven't seen any reports, but based on the past few weeks weather, it should be clear and open.

But summit temps and conditions can get really cold and windy, so be sure and watch the weather forecasts. The Mt Whitney Weather page (link to the left) and the NOAA Whitney summit forecast should be watched closely.

Re: Mount Langley
Steve C #48605 10/20/16 03:51 PM
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Thank you!


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Re: Mount Langley
CanadianGirl #48606 10/20/16 04:20 PM
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I was just up there on the 8th. We stayed at cottonwood lakes and went up old army pass. Temperatures were probably in the 50s during the day. Very cold at night though. There was a layer of ice on the shallow parts of the lake in the morning. No snow at all on old army pass, which supposedly can keep its snow late into the season since it is north facing.

Re: Mount Langley
chris85 #48612 10/21/16 12:55 PM
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Thank you! That is very helpful info! I am hoping to get up the end of October...to break out the four season gear for a test run! I don't mind the cold. Don't even mind having to take my cramps and axe. I am just hoping Horseshoe Meadows Rd stays open until I make it up!

Thanks again!


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Re: Mount Langley
chris85 #48613 10/21/16 12:57 PM
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A couple more questions please. Did you run into any ice at all near the peak or on the boulders? Did you use 3-season or 4-season backpacking gear? What time of the day did you summit? Thank you!


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Re: Mount Langley
CanadianGirl #48617 10/22/16 09:50 PM
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There was no ice or snow at all that we had to walk on. That being said there was a storm last weekend that left a lot of rain in the bay area. I remember looking at the whitney webcam that weekend and it didn't seem stormy, but it's possible it left some snow or ice up there.

We started hiking from cottonwood lake #4 at about 6:30am and I think we got to the summit just before 10am.

I would describe our gear as 3 season. We had a 3 person NEMO Losi tent, which was decently warm, but the air was perfectly still. I imagine if the winds were ripping it wouldn't have been very warm. I brought a down jacket, down vest, fleece top and bottom, long johns and a hard shell jacket and pants. I had all of that on when we were standing around camp in the evening and I was fine. In the middle of the day even on top it wasn't too cold. I was just wearing my base layer.

I'll link some photos here when I get them on the cloud

Re: Mount Langley
chris85 #48618 10/22/16 10:30 PM
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old army pass from cottonwood lake #4. The trail goes through that diagonal ledge on the left.


This one was within a few hundred feet of the top. There's massive cairns you're supposed to follow after the trail disappears, but we lost them on the way up and it was a little class 3.


It's much smoother if you follow the cairns


This was my first time in the high sierra in October and I have to say it's actually not a bad time to go. I'll probably do another long weekend high sierra trip next October too. The light was really great for photos since the sun was a bit lower in the sky than I'm used to.

Re: Mount Langley
chris85 #48626 10/24/16 02:25 PM
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I don't know if you cared but we just hiked Langley on Oct. 22 via New Army Pass and there wasn't any snow/ice on the trail. Trail conditions were perfect, it was just a little cold with the wind.

Re: Mount Langley
chris85 #48683 11/01/16 02:27 PM
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AWESOME photos! Thank you! It is just so beautiful! I actually prefer the Langley and Cirque area to Whitney! I appreciate all of your info!


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Re: Mount Langley
californiasushi #48684 11/01/16 02:28 PM
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Great! That is super! Thank you for letting me know! Heading up this weekend...I know Whitney has snow and possibly more forthcoming this week. I am hoping Horseshoe Meadows Rd stays open for the weekend. They had to clear a rockfall I was told but other than that my fingers are crossed! Thanks again!


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Re: Mount Langley
chris85 #48685 11/01/16 02:31 PM
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Your pictures are great! I am taking 4-season gear up. The wind-chill can make it tough. But I enjoy the Winter type conditions. Training for Rainier so dealing with the adverse weather conditions is great training.


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Re: Mount Langley
CanadianGirl #48686 11/02/16 01:17 PM
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Thanks, I brought my nice camera hoping to get some cool shots.

Just realized one of my links was bad. Here's the image I meant to include of the top section if you lose the cairns.




There's definitely going to be snow up there now. If you have experience with those conditions, then it's probably fine. I don't recommend old army pass though. That trail goes close to some cliffs and I wouldn't be comfortable up there if it was slippery at all. New army pass is supposed to be less sketchy.

Re: Mount Langley
chris85 #48698 11/03/16 01:09 PM
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Thank you! I am sending pics to some of my group so they can see the latest! Really cool! Did you use a bear canister?


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Re: Mount Langley
CanadianGirl #48702 11/03/16 10:36 PM
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You're going to find snow up there now! Not too deep, but it will be there. There was enough storminess last weekend that dropped up to 6" of snow near the crest.

Also, call Inyo County Roads department and ask about Horseshoe Meadows road. I saw there was some rockfall on the road, and it was temporarily closed. That may be enough for them to close it down for winter. 760-878-0202

Re: Mount Langley
Steve C #48705 11/04/16 02:10 PM
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Thank you! I did get in touch with them. The rockslide was cleared and the road is open!


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Re: Mount Langley
CanadianGirl #48706 11/04/16 02:14 PM
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Looks like a good weekend ahead.

Temps at Cottonwood Lakes: 20F overnight 50 during the day.

Sunny, no storms in the next few days. Have fun!!

Re: Mount Langley
Steve C #48733 11/09/16 02:14 PM
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To follow up, the trail was clear of any significant ice and snow all the way up to Lake One. Snow and some ice to Long Lake from there, we stayed on and off the trail somewhat to avoid the patches. No equipment needed at that point. Stayed at Long Lake overnight. Four other campers only. About 38F overnight. Some wind, but did not reach freezing. All the lakes are VERY low and just beginning to freeze over. Still lots of water for use, we did filter.

Early morning Sunday left for New Army Pass in micro-spikes and poles right out of Long Lake. The hill out of Long Lake is all snow and ice covered. Trail not clearly visible and would be difficult for those that are first-timers to find. Only four other hikers ascending behind us. Two with spikes but not using and do not think the other two had any. Lots of snow and icy patches so spikes were ideal. Also large icy patches near the top of the pass so for safety it is advisable. We could see snowfields across the pass and on Langley. We did not go further as weather came in so it was just smarter to turn around. Two other hikers did as well, not sure about the remaining two.

Weather stayed socked in and dark all day and 50F all the way back to the trailhead. It looked as though Whitney and Langley were probably getting some snow. Cirque was lightly powdered in snow...it was really beautiful all around! We only saw about ten other hikers all weekend on the Cottonwood Lakes trail and New Army Pass! Awesome! Horseshoe Meadows road had lots of fallen rocks but remained open. Next snowfall below 8-9K I'm sure it will be closed for the season. Thank you all for your information! Happy Trails and stay safe!


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Re: Mount Langley
CanadianGirl #48734 11/10/16 10:20 AM
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Thanks much for the report. It is interesting to note that the weather prediction was for clear skies, but you encountered snow and white-out. Your low temperature was a good 15 degrees higher than what was being predicted.

The mountains make their own weather!

edit: hmmm... this link shows the low temps at Cottonwood Lakes. For each night:
   Fri 11/5  23
Sat 11/6 24
Sun 11/7 27
Mon 11/8 28

Last edited by Steve C; 11/10/16 10:51 AM.
Re: Mount Langley
Steve C #48735 11/11/16 10:50 AM
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Mother Nature is definitely in charge! The reason to always be prepared! I spoke with a gentleman on the trail that said the same thing about the temperatures. Apparently the parking lot at the trailhead records much colder temperatures than at Long Lake. Interesting... we were protected from any wind and chill overnight for sure. I'm assuming the freezing temps were above New Army Pass. I also believe it was warmer overnight due to the heavy cloud coverage that rolled in!


CanadianGirl

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