The assault of Langley Peak was always about altitude. The 3 people involved, me, David and Tony were well aware of that. Dave & I train at sea level, so hiking to a 14,050-foot peak we knew would be problem. Tony lives at 7.500 feet in Colorado, but even he did 2 months of training at higher peaks near him. Our plan for the altitude was simple. Spend one night at the Horseshoe meadows trailhead campground (10,000 feet) , and the first day hike to one of the lakes (11,000 feet) before New Army Pass. After two nights getting acclimated to the altitude, we would be better able to challenge the peak.
When we first got to Horseshoes meadows, at 10,000 feet, the walk to the picnic table from the car brought shortness of breath. I had expected spending the night there to make a big difference, but the next morning, I did not feel that much better. When we started the hike, I did not feel great, but I did not feel worse. After we had been hiking a few hours, around midafternoon, I realized I felt great. No problem with the altitude at all, which at the time was around 11,000 feet. After pressing through the lighting and hail storm, we camped at High Lake at 11,500 feet.
The next morning was the New Army Pass challenge. It was definitely a challenge, but the altitude (12,500 feet) did not play a part. We were told by people at the trailhead that a “snow Avalanche” had closed the New Army Pass near the top. A detour was available, but we were told most people were taking the “Old Army Pass” route. We decided to stay with the New Army Pass route. Each of us met the New Army Pass challenge at different times.
Dave left camp early because he wanted to return home that night. He got to the detour first. Dave is the best athlete of us 3, and in the best shape; but high places with no ledges is not his comfort zone. He decided not to continue, and returned to camp, packed up and returned home that night.
Tony got to and over the detour before me because I was stopping to take pictures; and because he is 11 years younger the me. He continued all the way to the top of Langley, and returned to camp by 5:30. It was one hell of an effort. He has climbed the highest peak in the continental USA, Mt Whitney (14,500 feet), and he said this climb was 10X harder because the trail was much rougher, and there were many places where you were climbing not hiking.
I finely made it to the detour and scrambled / crawled my way over it. When I finally got to the top, I felt great. Once on top of the Pass however, I realized I had a problem. I had already decided I would probably not make it all the way to the 14,000-foot peak. I had already climbed around 12,500 feet. I had intended to go up at least another 1,000 feet. However, after the Pass there was a a long fairly deep valley. I sat down and did some serious thinking. If I go down that valley and up some portion of the other side; that means I will have to come back UP that valley. Something about that just did not appeal to me; - so I turned around and when back to camp. The hike out the next morning was great, but the 6 hr. drive home was tough.
I broke up the hike to cover each day:
Day 1& 2 1st night and hike to High Lake Click HERE
Day 3 New Army Pass Click HERE
Day 4 Return to trailhead Click HERE