Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

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DogMama
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Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

Post by DogMama »

I am planning to head up to Cottonwood Lakes on June 16 and was hoping to visit Miter Basin again. Does anyone know the status of the cornice at New Army Pass?

Thanks!
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maverick
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Re: Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

Post by maverick »

Only info I could find: https://www.mountwhitneyforum.com/ubbth ... ber=106894
You can also check some of the PCT journals.
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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FrankPS
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Re: Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

Post by FrankPS »

Going over Cottonwood Pass is about the same mileage as New Army Pass, is 1000' less elevation gain and won't have a cornice. Not that this answers your question...
'
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Gazelle
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Re: Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

Post by Gazelle »

The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before. Albert Einstein
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astrogerly
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Re: Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

Post by astrogerly »

I’ve been in the zone every weekend for the past month, including Saturday. There is still a wall of snow at the top… maybe the heat this week will speed the melt up, but who knows. The zone was holding more snow than last year at the same time - but New Army itself looked about the same. Yeah, I actually looked at photos from last year… apparently our hiking pattern has been the same both years 😂
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khamike
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Re: Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

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DaveMc
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Re: Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

Post by DaveMc »

I’m also going into Cottonwood Lakes on June 16th and hoping to clear New Army Pass to get into Miter Basin! My best resource as we get closer has been AllTrails. The Cottonwood Lakes Trail and the Mount Langley via Cottonwood Lakes pages both have had regular photo updates and, as of this weekend, some pretty solid reviews:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/cali ... akes-trail

Recent review: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recor ... il-2cc73b2

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/cali ... nt-langley

I’ve walked some snowfields and hiked a glacier before, but nothing steep and exposed. So this will be a new challenge for me. I’ll have my microspikes and am planning on bringing along an ice axe for the first time. I’ll also have a first time backpacker with me - just to add another wrinkle. So I’ll need to find a path with minimal sketch factor.

If any lurkers have any advice or tips, I’m all ears!
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DogMama
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Re: Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

Post by DogMama »

Thanks all, great info!
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lvray
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Re: Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

Post by lvray »

Taken June 5 New Army Pass
newarmy.jpeg
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paul
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Re: Status of Cornice at New Army Pass?

Post by paul »

I was at the top of NAP on 6/8. I came from the west and did not try to get down the east side. The snow at the top was about 30 feet of very steep soft snow. Folks had been doing it, there were footprints in the snow. I did not have an ice axe, was wearing traill runners, and did not have confidence in being able to control my descent, so I turned around. The weather was and has been warm, so it will have melted more by now. If i had an ice axe and boots , I would probably be comfortable going up it.
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