Snow Nymph trip report: Mt Langley (14, 025')

“Photos: http://community.webshots.com/album/81770004PJlKqa

SnowDude, Asandygal and I started this trip at Cottonwood Lakes trailhead (9,660') at 9:40am Saturday. We got in at 2am so we got a late start. We were at Lake #3 by 12:30, and found the WLD group camp by 1pm. No one around, but their packs were all there. WLD hiked Langley Saturday with his group, but he was the only one that made it. The others made it to 13,180' (I think). When he left the summit, it was raining, a little thunder in the distance. They got back to camp at 5:50pm looking like drowned rats.

The ranger that gave Asandygal and I our permits for the Lamarck Lakes trip stopped by camp and hung out for a little while. The Aussie girl that WLD met on the summit and her friend stopped by for awhile. She was training for a Nepal 28 day trek in October. She also has a season pass for Mammoth. Fun night at camp!

SnowDude, Asandygal and I left camp Sunday morning at 8:25am, got to the top of Old Army Pass at 9:30am. Summit at 11:25 am with no visibility. On the way up, I was trying to get pics thru the clouds when it opened up. The first time I opened the camera, I was too late and the clouds came in again, so I waited with the camera til I had a view. It was eerie hiking in the clouds alone. I had no sense of direction. I hiked to the other edge where it dropped down, then realized I had to veer right.

We found the entry of Jack McBroom in the register. Fourteen 14ers in 3 days & 16 hrs (or something like that). It got cold, so we left at 12:05pm, OAP at 1:10pm, back at camp 2:00pm. At camp we looked up at Langley, and only a few clouds, with blue skies. Aaarrgghhh! If we would have waited a little longer at the top, the views would have opened up for us!

Got packed up, and just hung out yakking away. We were on the trail by 3:50pm. About 2/3 of the way down the trail we took a break and a hiker guy pass us, I said "Hi" like I usually do and his jaw dropped as he did a double take. It was A-Dog! (friend from Mammoth) We sat around another 35 min, then hiked out together. Dinner at the Pizza Factory, then home. A fun weekend again.”

“Cool report! Thanks!”

“...and I see you got to meet Karinn from WanderWomen. I met her at San Gorgonio...lotsa fun.”

“Great pics and report, as usual!”

“So how high was the snow level? Any lakes still partially frozen?”

“Your love for the mountains comes through again. And it was great to kind of join you.

"Nature in the highest degree belongs to those who love it the most."

Marvelous.

Oh - With those storm clouds looming above, I wouldn't have continued on. I'd like to stay I wouldn't hesitate to turn around. We can never ever lose sight of the practice of stopping short instead of hiking up into a storm.”

“First of all, I know where I lost 17', but Mt Langley is really 14,042'! Must've got my peaks mixed up!

The couple we met (the Langleys) just happen to be good friends with a woman I know in Mammoth! This woman also knows Sierra Mel! How's that for a "small world"!

Tekdude, the weather was weird on Sunday. It wasn't storming, only cloudy. If there was thunder/lightning, we would have turned back. Asandygal was up there last year, and the weather turned on them. She heard buzzing and thought it was birds over the edge. Then the hairs stood up, and she felt the electricity in her fillings. They got outta there really quick.

Idaho Bob, No frozen lakes, and the snow patches were on Old Army Pass (12,000') and a few snow patches above 13K. You can see a "L" on Langley. That was the biggest snow we saw on that trip.

We saw a lot more snow last weekend while doing Mt Lamarck, but that was 60 miles north of Lone Pine.

The Saturday group hiked in the rain. We heard thunder in the distance. Several groups went up on Saturday. On Sunday we were the only ones to sign in.”

“Is the route up Langely to go to a notch to the left of the peak, and then go around the back side to the peak? Langely was one of the first Sierra peaks I climbed, and as I recall one of the prettiest.”

“I am still astounded by you guys that get out on a regular basis and push the edge of the envelope. Being here in Southeast Georgia, I seldom get above 300' above sea level!!
The Ocala National Forest in Florida is my favorite, but, I still like the mountains. Thank you and yours for keeping the spirit of adventure alive to inspire us underlings to reach for the clouds and push our own limits.
Good luck in your future endeavors and please keep posting your accomplishments !!!! You are truly an inspiration !!!”

“I am still looking for a sleeping bag for the " below 80 " temps....
Anyone ???”

“Idaho Bob,
The class 1 route is to the left, with a gradual climb up a sandy trail between boulders, then goes over the long hump to the summit. We went straight up the boulders between the 2 patches of snow (snow to the right looked like a "L" from camp. Two years ago the east face was covered with snow, so we went straight up the "L". We talked to a guy Saturday that came down a different way (Diaz Pass), which we might try next time. There are so many different routes up there, we want to try them all.

Trekker John,
Thanks. I'm packing right now for this weekends trip. I'll be backpacking near Bishop this weekend with another female (another girlz kick butt weekend?). Plan is to do Cloudripper. Kewl name, huh?? I'll have another trip/pics on Monday!”