slagerjon - Sep 1, 2013 12:11 am Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2013
cirque
Fun. Mild dayhike from horseshoe. Bagged trailmaster prior to.
jdmorehouse - Aug 4, 2013 7:29 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2013
East Face
I started off with a small group from Horseshoe Meadows and hiked up to Mount Langley. On the way back, I broke off at Old Army Pass and headed up to Cirque. The route out there is straight forward, but very rocky. Upon reaching the summit I saw that the registers went back to 1989, but were in poor shape, so I didn't spend time reading them, not wanting them to fall apart. I dropped down off the east face and encountered plenty of steep, loose, avalanche prone scree, and fortunately, plenty of class 3 rock to hang onto while working my way down about 1200' to the moraine below. Once past the moraine, the going was easy. Beautiful meadows, streams, and ancient trees. I followed the South Fork of Cottonwood Creek and eventually ended up on the main trail out of Horseshoe Meadows, about a mile from the parking lot. The distance came out about the same as an out and back to Langley, but with an additional gain of over another 1000'.
Vic Hanson - Jul 7, 2013 8:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2013
2 of 2
Started from Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead about 10:30, hiked up via New Army Pass, went too far to the left on the scramble up the rocks so had to traverse almost the whole summit plateau, took a more direct route down and then climbed Cirque Peak. Got to the summit there about 7:00 pm and then dropped down to the PCT to camp by an unfortunately dry lake. After hiking some on the PCT, camped at Chicken Spring Lake the 2nd night, very delightful!
dgrutherford - Apr 17, 2013 4:47 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2012
S/W Face
Part of a 3 day backpacking trip. EPIC!
MiguelVieira - Nov 15, 2012 1:05 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2007
From Langley
Hiked here from Langley, then down New Army Pass in a thundershower.
orbitor - Oct 15, 2012 1:47 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2012
From New Army Pass
Incredibly clear day with incredible views. Good trail to New Army Pass, then easy traverse along the crest to summit. Short scramble for last 300'. Descended to PCT and looped back to Horseshoe Meadows via Cottonwood Pass.
An old favorite. I have climbed it many times, sometimes from New Army Pass, sometimes from Cottonwood Pass. I like to combine it with other peaks along the ridge. The summit is very comfortable and provides spectacular views.
GigaMike - Feb 4, 2011 2:35 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2010
North Slope
Hiked Cirque via the North Slope from Horseshoe Meadows with my friends Hudie and Brooke.
onramp36 - Oct 5, 2010 2:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2009
East Face from Long Lake
Backpacked to Long Lake, stashed packs, then scrambled up the East Face.
DanSD - Sep 29, 2010 10:28 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2007
Change in Plan
Carrying a 50 pound pack up this hill from Chicken Spring Lake, on what was supposed to be a 4 day trip taught me how quickly I can get out of shape. Looking up at Langley, across New Army Pass, then down at High Lake, the nearest source of water, I knew it was time to bail.
Went up via Old Army and came down via New Army. I stopped just shy of the summit - was feeling the altitude! Friends Greg and Albert made it all the way to the top. Loved the views from up here - outstanding.
Dave Daly - Sep 8, 2010 11:51 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2010
NE Ridge First Recorded Ascent?
Deb and I took a day off from our FA pursuits and decided to stroll out to Cirque Peak from Golden Trout Camp area. We were going to scramble up the north slope but the sight of the ridge coming down the NE side looked enticing. Deb mentioned to me that she had seen nothing about it in Secor's book (only the East Ridge and the standard New Army Pass way). We left the trail between Long Lake and High Lake and set out sights on a subtle ramp-like weakness that headed SW and up to the ridgeline itself. Once on the ridge, we followed mainly the left side of the ridge, skirting mid height on most of the towers and genedarmes encountered (mostly 4th class with a few low 5th class spots in between). Mid way up the southern side of the ridge, we moved into a steep recess, again, encountering exciting exposed 4th/5th class climbing on steep cracks and knobs. The ridge backed off to 3rd class and eventually gained the upper part of the north slope and bending slightly south to the summit. I've checked the archives of the SPS TR's, Bob Burd's TR's and the recent edition of Secor's High Sierra guidebook. Nothing. We even looked for signs of passage and found nothing (ie ducks, cairns, bail gear, etc). Perhaps its been done but never recorded. And I supposed that could be said for alot of other ridges and such. We'll call it an FA unless someone can otherwise prove its been done before. See photos for the Cirque Peak page.
ScottHanson - Aug 20, 2010 11:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
from Cottonwood Pass and PCT
Did Cirque on ninth day of SC2010. My sixth SPS peak in 2010.
CWessels - Aug 14, 2010 11:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2010
North Slope/Ridge
Totally worth it if you're headed to Langley and have extra time. Lots of (big) loose stuff on the way up, but it's still fun. You can find class 3 sections if you look for them...more if you stick to the edge of the ridge.
brichardsson - Sep 8, 2013 2:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2013
nice peakvia new army pass
slagerjon - Sep 1, 2013 12:11 am Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2013
cirqueFun. Mild dayhike from horseshoe. Bagged trailmaster prior to.
jdmorehouse - Aug 4, 2013 7:29 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2013
East FaceI started off with a small group from Horseshoe Meadows and hiked up to Mount Langley. On the way back, I broke off at Old Army Pass and headed up to Cirque. The route out there is straight forward, but very rocky. Upon reaching the summit I saw that the registers went back to 1989, but were in poor shape, so I didn't spend time reading them, not wanting them to fall apart. I dropped down off the east face and encountered plenty of steep, loose, avalanche prone scree, and fortunately, plenty of class 3 rock to hang onto while working my way down about 1200' to the moraine below. Once past the moraine, the going was easy. Beautiful meadows, streams, and ancient trees. I followed the South Fork of Cottonwood Creek and eventually ended up on the main trail out of Horseshoe Meadows, about a mile from the parking lot. The distance came out about the same as an out and back to Langley, but with an additional gain of over another 1000'.
Vic Hanson - Jul 7, 2013 8:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2013
2 of 2Started from Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead about 10:30, hiked up via New Army Pass, went too far to the left on the scramble up the rocks so had to traverse almost the whole summit plateau, took a more direct route down and then climbed Cirque Peak. Got to the summit there about 7:00 pm and then dropped down to the PCT to camp by an unfortunately dry lake. After hiking some on the PCT, camped at Chicken Spring Lake the 2nd night, very delightful!
dgrutherford - Apr 17, 2013 4:47 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2012
S/W FacePart of a 3 day backpacking trip. EPIC!
MiguelVieira - Nov 15, 2012 1:05 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2007
From LangleyHiked here from Langley, then down New Army Pass in a thundershower.
orbitor - Oct 15, 2012 1:47 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2012
From New Army PassIncredibly clear day with incredible views. Good trail to New Army Pass, then easy traverse along the crest to summit. Short scramble for last 300'. Descended to PCT and looped back to Horseshoe Meadows via Cottonwood Pass.
ScrambledLeggs - Sep 17, 2012 6:26 pm
PCT AscentI climbed Cirque during my 2012 thru hike.
muajee - Sep 17, 2012 3:34 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2010
via East SlopeA fun scramble from East Slope and descended via New Army Pass.
joshvulich - Aug 4, 2012 1:15 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2012
From South East slopeImpromptu climb up the south east while exploring the Cirque Lake area.
mengbo - Jul 29, 2012 7:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
From Cottonwood LakesJuly 27, 2012: Trailhead -> Cottonwood Lakes
July 28, 2012: Cottonwood Lakes -> Old Army Pass -> Mt Langley -> Cirque Peak -> Cottonwood Lakes (pack out) -> Trailhead
krrt2000 - Feb 27, 2012 12:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2007
SW SlopeWith Jim, Scott and Mike, nice trip
hightinerary - Jul 30, 2011 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2011
Old FavoriteAn old favorite. I have climbed it many times, sometimes from New Army Pass, sometimes from Cottonwood Pass. I like to combine it with other peaks along the ridge. The summit is very comfortable and provides spectacular views.
GigaMike - Feb 4, 2011 2:35 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2010
North SlopeHiked Cirque via the North Slope from Horseshoe Meadows with my friends Hudie and Brooke.
onramp36 - Oct 5, 2010 2:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2009
East Face from Long LakeBackpacked to Long Lake, stashed packs, then scrambled up the East Face.
DanSD - Sep 29, 2010 10:28 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2007
Change in PlanCarrying a 50 pound pack up this hill from Chicken Spring Lake, on what was supposed to be a 4 day trip taught me how quickly I can get out of shape. Looking up at Langley, across New Army Pass, then down at High Lake, the nearest source of water, I knew it was time to bail.
I'll be back.
tarol - Sep 27, 2010 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2010
Nice PeakWent up via Old Army and came down via New Army. I stopped just shy of the summit - was feeling the altitude! Friends Greg and Albert made it all the way to the top. Loved the views from up here - outstanding.
Dave Daly - Sep 8, 2010 11:51 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2010
NE Ridge First Recorded Ascent?Deb and I took a day off from our FA pursuits and decided to stroll out to Cirque Peak from Golden Trout Camp area. We were going to scramble up the north slope but the sight of the ridge coming down the NE side looked enticing. Deb mentioned to me that she had seen nothing about it in Secor's book (only the East Ridge and the standard New Army Pass way). We left the trail between Long Lake and High Lake and set out sights on a subtle ramp-like weakness that headed SW and up to the ridgeline itself. Once on the ridge, we followed mainly the left side of the ridge, skirting mid height on most of the towers and genedarmes encountered (mostly 4th class with a few low 5th class spots in between). Mid way up the southern side of the ridge, we moved into a steep recess, again, encountering exciting exposed 4th/5th class climbing on steep cracks and knobs. The ridge backed off to 3rd class and eventually gained the upper part of the north slope and bending slightly south to the summit. I've checked the archives of the SPS TR's, Bob Burd's TR's and the recent edition of Secor's High Sierra guidebook. Nothing. We even looked for signs of passage and found nothing (ie ducks, cairns, bail gear, etc). Perhaps its been done but never recorded. And I supposed that could be said for alot of other ridges and such. We'll call it an FA unless someone can otherwise prove its been done before. See photos for the Cirque Peak page.
ScottHanson - Aug 20, 2010 11:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
from Cottonwood Pass and PCTDid Cirque on ninth day of SC2010. My sixth SPS peak in 2010.
CWessels - Aug 14, 2010 11:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2010
North Slope/RidgeTotally worth it if you're headed to Langley and have extra time. Lots of (big) loose stuff on the way up, but it's still fun. You can find class 3 sections if you look for them...more if you stick to the edge of the ridge.