Page 1 of 1

Mount Langley via Old Army Pass - 8/3-8/4/2013

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 1:29 pm
by mcphersonm80
After acclimating at Onion Valley for a couple nights, we headed down to Lone Pine hoping to grab a couple walk-in permits to camp at Cottonwood Lakes but with no luck. Dayhike? Sure.

After some delicious pizza in town, we headed up the ridiculous Horseshoe Meadow Rd. Lots of rock and slides on the road due to the recent storms that passed through. Don't look down.

Horseshoe Meadows campground was more wide open that I imagined, and there were a ton of cars but hardly anybody around. We grabbed a site, set up camp and kind of just sat around. Langley can be seen from camp, but overall it has a more Western Sierra feel to it... not a bad thing, but I ended up taking hardly any pictures here. ::shrug::

Image
Sunset from Horseshoe Meadows

We got up at 2:00am and broke camp and ate some oatmeal, coffee, etc. No moon, so the stars were incredible, I don't know if I've ever seen the Milky Way so clearly. We then hit the trail about 3:20am, hoping to get to the lakes by sunrise.

The trail starts out virtually flat and stays that way for several miles through dense forest with a couple easy stream crossings. By the time we reached the lakes basin, the sun started hinting at a new day on the horizon.

Image
Orion and a New Day

Image
Dawn at Cottonwood Lake #1

The temperature was nice and low, particularly by the lakes, and the trail stayed nice and easy. Despite all of the permits apparently being taken, we didn't see a single campsite or human in the area. Not a complaint, just an observation.

We were a bit ahead of schedule, as those first 6 miles or so fly by, so we got to the hill between lakes 3 and 4 and decided we'd wait for the photo ops. We climbed up to the top of the hill and waited, admiring the incredible reflections and surreal landscape around us.

Image
Waiting for the Sun

Image
Blue and Gold

Image
Enjoying the Show


When the sun finally did rise, we filtered from Lake 4 and scratched our heads, wondering how the hell we'd manage to get up over Army Pass. From below, you can see the final ramp leading up and over, but to get to that ramp is extremely unclear from that vantage point.

Image
Old Army Pass

Image
Rounding the Lake


Even though it looks impossible, just follow the use trail. It eventually switchbacks up through the talus, disappearing in a couple spots but remaining easy enough to follow the whole way. There are a couple sketchy spots, as the trail hasn't been truly maintained in decades, and it's easy to see and somewhat sobering knowing that several people have fallen from here. Lacking snow or ice, a little vigilance gets you through.

Image
Is that an arch? On Tatooine?

Image
Ascending Army Pass


Once over the pass and into Sequoia National Park, things level out on the plateau and clear use trails and a ridiculous number of cairns will lead you most of the way. Other than the high altitude and the grizzly marmots, there's nothing difficult about this stretch. The views west are awesome, too.

Image
Joe Devel Peak

Image
7 feet tall, approx 1500 lbs. Do not piss him off.

Image
Walk that Way


It's not boring by any stretch, but between the top of the pass and the base of the Langley summit plateau, there's really not much to say. Enjoy the views and marvel at how easy it is, if you've acclimated properly.

Whoever said Langley was tougher than Whitney is messing with you. It's not even close, if you ask me. :?

Eventually, the path will lead you to some fun Class 2 (or higher if you want) stuff. Choose your own adventure. Those books were fun.

Image
Class 2 Party Time

Image
Well would you look at that... The San Gabriels!

Image
Great Western Divide and Sequoia NP


Soon, the rocky stuff gives way to sand, and you pick one of a gazillion use trails to finish the climb. It takes a little while, but soon you'll top out at 14,042'. Again, whoever said this is tougher than Whitney should be removed from your friends list.

The views are extremely cool and that drop to the north..... :shock:


Image
Southernmost 14er in CA (and I'd assume the US, right?)

Image
People Summiting Whitney. Congrats, you little pixels!

Image
Panorama from Mt Langley

Image
They thought it was cold up there....

Image
Lone Pine from the Top


The hike down was quick and easy, although that forested 5 miles between the lakes basin and Horseshoe Meadows seemed WAY longer than it should have.

Image
Langley above Lake 1

Image
Trail and Cirque Peaks

Image
Never thought I'd say this, but there might be too many marmots up here.


More photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wattifoto/ ... 969240795/



PS - So much easier than Whitney. Don't climb OAP if there's snow/ice.

Re: Mount Langley via Old Army Pass - 8/3-8/4/2013

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 5:24 pm
by MattCav
Well done McP. Love that whole area.

Re: Mount Langley via Old Army Pass - 8/3-8/4/2013

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 8:38 pm
by tekewin
Aces!

Dude, I love that shot of Whitney. You must have some mega-powerful camera gear. Other photos are great, too. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Mount Langley via Old Army Pass - 8/3-8/4/2013

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 10:27 pm
by Sitting Bull
Wow, awesome trip + photography!

Re: Mount Langley via Old Army Pass - 8/3-8/4/2013

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:17 pm
by mcphersonm80
Thanks for the comments :)

I always like trying to identify peaks when I'm up there. If interested, here's my take on the view from Langley:

Image
(click for absurdly large and readable version)

Re: Mount Langley via Old Army Pass - 8/3-8/4/2013

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 3:51 pm
by JeffH
Yeah, I need to get up to Langley, too... I've only been to the lakes basin which is really a great reward for a couple hours of walking.
Awesome shot of Orion and daybreak.