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Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
Select your Orga #59603 05/19/22 04:34 PM
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I'm headed up there this weekend to backpack into Miter Basin w/Langley climb out of Upper Soldier Lake. From my experiences in past years, NAP will most likely have snow/cornice the last hundred feet or so to the pass. If I recall, I did manage to avoid the cornice and ice on NAP - but I would bring crampons/Ice axe just in case. I watched a YouTube video of a hiker going to Cottonwood Lake #4 last week and OAP had a lot of snow on the north face making it pretty dicey to hike the trail. I've done OAP when we had a very large snow year and I just took the direct route to the pass in the snow/ice using mountaineer tools. If you're going to Langley soon, I'd just take NAP. OAP trail won't be clear of snow until early June. I'll report the conditions later next week when I get back.

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Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
Select your Orga #59604 05/20/22 08:22 AM
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I was there 5/14. Trail conditions are beautiful, HOWEVER, the last 50 - 100 vertical feet of NAP is a snow and ice field. Slip on that you are finito. We did not have an ice axe and were uncomfortable with the idea of attempting with only poles and microspikes with 30+lb packs. Went back down and over to CWL#3. Saw lots of people coming from and going to CWL#4 and #5, not sure if they were going/coming from OAP. I cant imagine OAP being any MORE passable than NAP. If you are comfortable with what I described, then you can get over NAP with little problem. Be safe.

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Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
805_backpacker #59605 05/20/22 01:32 PM
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There was a hiker death on OAP on 5/15.

Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
BFR #59606 05/20/22 06:49 PM
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Here's the Inyo County Sheriff's post on the Old Army Pass accident: Facebook link

Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
Steve C #59607 05/20/22 07:00 PM
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This is really a shame. For those reading this, if you have limited experience in snow, and are considering Langley, please do New Army Pass. It may require an extra few miles, but OAP is just not worth it for a lot of the folks who want to climb Langley.

Last edited by BFR; 05/20/22 07:00 PM.
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Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
Select your Orga #59608 05/20/22 07:04 PM
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Sad news, a deceased hiker and an injured one on Old Army Pass that took place on May 15th. Old Army pass has tons of snow and ice and shouldn't be attempted without crampons and ice axes.

Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
805_backpacker #59609 05/20/22 09:04 PM
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805 backpacker, kudos to you for not pressing your luck when the conditions are too sketchy. Something Jimmy Chin said that I like to keep in mind: "You keep going until it doesn't make sense."

Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
fit2climb #59621 05/24/22 10:17 PM
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Went up to Langley on May 23, 2022

NAP is passible. Early morning hard snow the last 30-40 vertical feet from top of NAP turning to sloshy snow around 11am. I used crampons on the ascent but not on the way down. No snow to Langley. Pleasant temps in the day, but cold frigid nights.

OAP is NOT passible. Treacherous conditions at the last switchback where I am presuming the fatality occurred.

I document all this on YouTube for anyone interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmWXsFq09Es

Hope this helps!

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Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
fit2climb #59622 05/25/22 09:07 AM
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Thanks for sharing. Great video of the Passes.

paul

Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
fit2climb #59623 05/25/22 12:29 PM
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Great info in the vid. Thanks!

Last edited by Select your Orga; 05/25/22 12:33 PM.
Re: Old Army Pass Conditions
Select your Orga #59671 06/28/22 09:50 PM
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I wonder about old army pass conditions these days. Anyone has been there lately? Thanks.

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