Mt Whitney Zone
Posted By: jevdet Langley via OAP - Oct 18, 2020 - 10/27/20 08:01 PM
Oct 18 - We drove up Horseshoe Meadow around 4am, started on Cottonwood trail 430am. Clear sailing up to Old Army, really pristine day. Slow going with the newbies. I left them at the lake below OAP. I went off trail up OAP and found a fun, 15 minute-long class 3 shortcut up some sturdy rock. Hooked up with meandering plateau trail, past the giant cairns, and reached the final summit wall. Decided to turn around...mostly, I didn't want to leave the newbies alone for too long (yes, they're adults!). On our return, which was a VERY long slog with the newbs, I noticed a "Trail Closed" sign strung across the path maybe 200 yards from the lot; it wasn't there when we departed earlier that morning. There was a fire smoldering southwest of Langley, which I assume was the Creek Fire...but it was quite a distance from us. A memorable/pristine day.
Posted By: Steve C Re: Langley via OAP - Oct 18, 2020 - 10/28/20 05:25 AM
Actually, the fire burning in the Kern canyon is what's left of the Rattlesnake Fire.

It IS a long hike into Langley and back out in a day. Good for you thinking about the others in your party.

By the way, there is a no-longer-maintained trail up the South Fork Cottonwood Creek. Takes you clear up to the South Fork Lakes (Cirque Lake) Trail. It doesn't save any distance, but makes a nice loop.
Posted By: jevdet Re: Langley via OAP - Oct 18, 2020 - 10/28/20 04:33 PM
Thanks for the South Fork beta (and for clarifying correct name of the Kern-area fire). On my first go up Langley in 2015, I missed the New Army turn-off and ended up heading to Cirque; I had to bushwhack a bit but got back on NAP trail an hour later. I think if you've got the mojo, getting to the top of Cirque is a nice cap after summiting Langley...but the 300'+ gain up towards New Army, after Langley...woof, it can be a bit of a grind.

Here are some photos from the Langley, Oct. 18 hike: https://www.instagram.com/p/CGoXtUUgb4a/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Posted By: tif Re: Langley via OAP - Oct 18, 2020 - 10/28/20 05:37 PM
I thought all of the John Muir Wilderness was still closed (much of the Cottonwood trails are in the JM Wilderness)??
Posted By: BFR Re: Langley via OAP - Oct 18, 2020 - 10/28/20 09:15 PM
You broke the law. You did this in violation of the governmental order. You should feel lucky you weren't caught. Shame on you.
Posted By: jackeichler Re: Langley via OAP - Oct 18, 2020 - 11/02/20 11:36 PM
Well, the northern part of the Golden Trout Wilderness, which includes Horseshoe Meadow and Cottonwood Lakes is now open. Not exactly sure when that went into effect though.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inyo/
Posted By: BFR Re: Langley via OAP - Oct 18, 2020 - 11/03/20 03:15 AM
Horseshoe Meadow is open but Mt. Langley is not.
Posted By: bobpickering Re: Langley via OAP - Oct 18, 2020 - 11/03/20 06:08 PM
The John Muir Wilderness within Inyo National Forest is open again. Forest Order 05-04-50-20-21 supersedes Forest Order 05-04-50-20-20, which closed JMW within INF through December 31. 05-04-50-20-21 leaves just about everything outside the Creek Fire area open.
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