8. Stay right of the ridge crest and complete a 1/2 mile of class 2+ ridge scrambling to gain the summit. This trail is recommended only for very experienced hikers. Permit tags are available at trailheads and are a two part tag. Regulations:1. For example, the In the "getting there" portion you say that the closest airport is Denver International. If you're interested in climbing a 14er, read the route description to make sure it's within your ability and then print a version for the trail. In early 2020, I spent a lot of my free time hiking up 14ers that I had already summited but in many cases, on different routes. (234), Climber's Log Entries It is 11.4 miles round trip and requires some routefinding through the trees to obtain the ridge. It can be done from any of the 4 trailheads. Massive Trailhead. This part of the trail is almost flat, with minor elevation gain and loss. See this page for more info, References:Colorado's Fouteeners by Gerry RoachBryan Ward, Mountaineer. This will lead you on the North Mount Elbert Trail. Be ready to spend the better part of the day on the mountain, and bring plenty of water. The lower slopes of the mountain are covered in lodgepole pine forests, which gradually yield to Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir. Massive - September 14th, 2003 - Half Moon Creek, Colorado's Elk Range: Four Pass Loop (and More! All 14er routes are more difficult and more dangerous in winter. It's name tells all. 2. However, large fines could be levied within a few years for non-compliance. Distance: 500 ft/ 150 m Elevation: 10,050 ft/ 3,060 m. After 1 mile (1.6 kilometers), you will see another split. 3. The white part goes in the box provided and the card portion is to be attached to the outside of your pack. 1. The wilderness areas are Holy Cross, Maroon Bells/Snowmass, Mount Evans, and Mount Massive. Upon arrival, there were several people on the summit. The optimal time to climb Mt. On some parts, you can choose between more or less difficult routes. Elbert is the highest peak in The Colorado Rockies at 14,440 ft. and is just as scenic as Mt. The trail then leads up to some rocks that look like they could be part of a waterfall during runoff. Of the two hikes, Mt, Massive provides the nicer views than Mt. The west face is reported to be an excellent ski or glissade descent. You will need a four wheel drive with tire chains and good snow conditions, snowmobiles, four wheelers, or skis to get to the trailhead. It seems like the west face of Massive is actually very seldom visited in winter due to the long distance to get there in winter. round trip. Massive and approaching trails. It is 11.8 miles roundtrip with a 4,660 foot elevation gain and follows the fold of the continental divide. Mount Massive is part of the Sawatch Range, which was formed by tectonic uplifting, where two tectonic plates (the now gone Farallon Plate grinding below the North American Plate) featured an active, and somewhat rare subduction boundary. Scott. Afternoon thunderstorms are very common in the summer. The east face route is actually the normal route in winter, and can be approached from more than one direction. You'll reach a saddle where the trail branches. He ran between 54 and 89 miles a day. Timberline Lake Trailhead to Mount Massive Trailhead ... Ultrarunner Bryan Williams set the current Fastest Known Time for the Colorado Trail in 2017, finishing the route in eight days and 30 minutes with the help of a support crew. See the weather for Mount Baldy, California with the help of our live and local weather cameras. The mountain is above treeline, and you will have no protection against a lightning strike. Elbert trailheads. These three photos make up the approach to Mount Massive about 3-3/4 miles into the hike. map makes it look like about .2 miles. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. (12), Additions & Corrections Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. Elbert, forms much of the western skyline of Leadville, which is 11 miles east and slightly north. 5. Drive 0.7 mile, turn left onto County Road 11 and continue another 1.2 miles before turning right onto the Halfmoon Creek road. Leave the parking area and begin hiking up the Colorado/Mt. Massive. Back at the saddle between Massive and South Massive, there is a faint trail that leads down to the valley (the West Slopes). Mount Massive is a designated Wilderness Area; so please leave your bikes at the trailhead and follow Leave No Trace wilderness ethics. I had previously hiked Mt Massive from the fish hatchery but this time decided to take Juno and hike via its Southwest slopes. This is not the official trail to get to the summit of Massive. Turn left. 7. Acclimitization is key to making good times. Best Time to Hike Mount Washington? Whatever route you choose, make sure to get an early start. The mountain still had a considerable amount of snow on it, but the trail was clear. Massive is the second highest peak in Colorado and the third highest in the 48 states, exceeded only by California's Mount Whitney and its near neighbor, Mount Elbert. The trail guide provides mountain data, directions, trail description, photographs, and links to Page 2. It is approximately 9 miles roundtrip with a 3,870 foot elevation gain. The east face route is actually the normal route in winter, and can be approached from more than one direction. Access is via the Native Lake trailhead on the northeast side. The Mount Massive Trail Guide covers the Southeast Slopes Route on Colorado's Mount Massive. It is a shorter path to the summit, but is steeper and more difficult. Our Work: CFI completed major trail construction and restoration on Mt. Made it to the TH around 6 AM. The shortest option seems to be the route up Willow Creek. To get to Leadville, head west on Interstate 70 then take exit #195 on to CO91 south. Massive Trail) - Hike for 2 miles and cross South Willow Creek at 10,900'. Southwest Slopes Route - The shortest route up Mount Massive is only 6.2 miles roundtrip with a 3,870 foot elevation gain. There are several glacial lakes in the wilderness area. Very low temperatures and deep snows are a significant hindrance to … Another route is to follow the closed road from the closure to the summer trailhead and climb the standard Colorado Main Range Trail. From here, you will have to do some scrambling over large boulders to the summit. Walking time: 10 hours Elevations: 4,380 ft. gain/loss Mount Massive Trailhead (start): 10,060 ft. Mount Massive: 14,421 ft. I'm guessing we would've made much better time had we taken it on the ascent too, as we lost a lot of time on South Massive, but we did a rather grand tour loop of the southern side of the mountain, and enjoyed it thoroughly. The trail is partially paved with stones. Round-trip hike took my dog and me around 7 1/2 hours with a nice break at the top with nearly 0 wind. Bring standard winter gear like an avalanche probe, shovel, transceiver, sleeping bag and pad, and a knowledge of how to build a snow cave and dig and analyze a test pit. Continue for another mile and cross Willow Creek at 11,000'. © 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. Massive trail -, This is the "standard" route on Massive, but the alternate. Since then, over 1100 people have joined us on our adventures around the hills and valleys of this beautiful state and beyond. Expect to meet lots of other climbers. The Hike - September 6, 2010. It has a bit of rock scrambling towards the top but nothing terribly difficult. I only spent a few minutes on the top and headed back. Massive Trail. Massive's summit ridge and South Massive. It has five summits above 14,000 feet on a 3-mile-long ridge. With seven distinct summits, four of which are over 14,000 feet, Massive is almost more of a sub-range or a massif than a singular peak. Keep in mind that the dirt road past Colorado 300 is not plowed during the winter. It is larger in size, but further from the trailheads. Turn right (west) on Colorado 300, then turn left (south) on Lake County 11 at 0.7 miles. My TR of Mount Massive via Halfmoon Creek, 14ers.com - The Home of Colorado's Highest Peaks, Winter and spring ascents are done occasionally, especially by ski mountaineers. Willow Creek/East Slopes - This is the standard winter route up Mount Massive. 5.0. If you fly in from sea level and climb the next day, you risk altitude sickness, which could be fatal. 14ers.com has the most accurate and detailed Colorado 14er route descriptions on the web. After the halfway point, hikers will trek through a series of switchbacks lined with alpine flora and massive boulders washed down from historical floods. To reach the standard route for Mt. Mount Massive Trailhead is adjacent to Elbert Creek Campground. It seems like the west face of Massive is actually very seldom visited in winter due to the long distance to get there in winter. It is a class 2 trail on slopes to 35 degrees. All Rights Reserved. Massive tops out at 14,428 feet and follows a beautiful section of The Colorado Trail before ascending to the summit. Southeast Ridge Route - A variation of the standard route, cutting up the prominent ridge to point 12,381. Trail: The trail is well maintained for the first 6.1 miles, but just below the summit it becomes very rocky and somewhat confusing.. Like all winter mountaineering objectives, careful consideration of snowpack stability must be given before attempting a winter ascent of Mount Massive. It took about four hours to summit. Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' The guide books say that you will find a cairn that marks the trail soon after leaving a large meadow. Distance: 13.4 miles (round trip). The preferred method now for dealing with violations is education of the users. Mt. Massive, drive south on US-24 from Leadville for 3.6 miles. This grinding uplifted the Colorado Rocky Mountains, as well as the entire Colorado Plateau which is known as the Laramide Orogeny. Upward I climbed on the mountain's southwest slope. The mountain and 30,540 acres of the surrounding area were designated the Mount Massive Wilderness by Congress in 1980. With a solid 2 miles above treeline, it's a long way to cover if you get stuck in a storm. The blue trail is the most direct to the top. If you don't have much high-elevation, winter climbing experience, be careful in your planning and take a partner. (289), Comments Total time to hike: 9-12 hours (or more) The Appalachian Trail traverses most of the Presidential Range, including Mount Washington, via the Crawford Path Trail. The mountain is above treeline, and you will have no protection against a lightning strike. Elbert, my dad and I headed over to the Mount Massive Wilderness to hike and camp this beautiful mountain. I started at 3AM, so finding parking wasn't an issue. Average hikers should allow about 6 hrs. This route is approached via the Halfmoon Creek Trailhead. Have fun and be safe. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Treeline is just below 12,000 feet. You can score multiple 14'rs all in a single hike! Pass the San Isabel National Forest boundary at 3.9 miles. Hiking along the ridge was a little scary, but as long as you stay on the trail you’re good. Hope this is helpful. It is 500 East 7th (or 8th?) The slopes on the west face are very near the optimal avalanche slope. The grade will level out briefly as the Massive massif comes into view to the west. 9. I wasn't able to find a registry on the summit. (3 ), Mount Massive: Winter Ascent from the Leadville Fish Hatchery TH, All Summitpost Massive trip-January 15-16, 2005, Mt. Massive has more area above 14,000 feet than any other mountain in the 48 states, narrowly edging Mount Rainier in that category. A hike to the top of Mount Major is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon. Massive and Mt. Main Range Trail to Mount Massive Trail - The standard route on the mountain is 13.6 miles round trip with a 4,370 foot elevation gain, via a class 1 trail. Blue bags must be used, and Leave No Trace ethics must be observed. (5), Images I feel its worth mentioning here and in the Mt. 6. After we summited Mt. street. It is a 6.4 mile, moderate to strenuous hike, with an elevation gain of 4,300 feet. The trail is well-defined. Massive trail was long, but rather gentle. The topo. Elbert being a goodly portion of the dramatic vistas from Mt. The hiking group was formed in the summer of 1996 by Russell Gee, Taylor Leal, Peter Saviz, and Steve Walstra. More about the site is in The Best in Tent Camping Colorado by Molloy. Switchbacks and climbing begin almost as soon as you leave the trailhead. elbert description mentioning Leadville Municipal Airport which is the highest public airport in the US at 9927ft. The top ridge on this massive mountain includes a number of points over 14,000', false summits. Tour de Massive - This tour of all 9 of Mount Massive's summits is significantly harder than just the main summit. Keep in mind that you have to abide by wilderness regulations while in this area. Didn’t even need my puffy jacket or melly! One route is from the Fish Hatchery, and in winter, this may be the most used route. Two National Forest campgrounds are located on Colorado 300 on the way to Mt. Depending on your fitness level, the main trail can take anywhere from 5 hours to a long day. The first ascent was in 1873, by Henry Gannett. As most everyone knows by now, Massive is the second-highest peak in Colorado and the third highest in the lower 48. West Couloir via Halfmoon Creek Trail - This route is another popular way to get to the summit, via a class 2 scree couloir. Stay on the right to continue on the North Mount Elbert Trail. Another route is to follow the closed road from the closure to the summer trailhead and climb the standard Colorado Main Range Trail. Elbert is the highest point in Colorado, and the second highest mountain in the lower 48, the hike via the Northeast Ridge is relatively easy, and relatively safe. Great forest, wildflowers, and of course the views are amazing with this being the second highest peak in the state! You'll eventually pop out into a wide expanse of hill. But if you get there later in the day, you might have a problem finding close parking. Turn right (SW) at 1.8 miles onto another dirt road marked with signs for Halfmoon Creek. My first semi-decent picture was taken at the split between the North Halfmoon Trail and Mt. The highest of Massive's many summits is visible (center-left) in the photo on the right. Reach the saddle between Mt. All pets must be leashed.3. Follow this steep, and somewhat loose trail, back to the “North Halfmoon Trail”. I think that Colorado 14ers Initiative did some work on this trail some time back, and it certainly shows. View Mount Massive Image Gallery - 234 Images. Overall, an excellent and not too strenuous hike. Going straight to the question, the best time to hike Mount Washington is between May and October. Mt. The hike sports some of the best views of The Leadville Basin and the surrounding mountain ranges. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Mount Massive is one of Colorado's most magnificent and gigantic peaks. ... We are now leveraging our big data smarts to deliver on the promise of IoT. So for those who want to climb in the area and have access to a private or charter plane, leadville airport is a way better place to fly into. The shortest option seems to be the route up Willow Creek. There is currently no penalty if one does not have a permit. Turning right will take you on the Continenal Divide Trail . 8 h 43 m. Leave the parking area and begin hiking up the Colorado Trail (also the Mt. The trail switches back up the side of Mount Massive several times and affords awesome views of the valley below and the awesome peaks across the way, including Colorado's highest, Mount … Eventually you reach a fork in the trail and start climbing. Several Colorado wilderness areas now require a free user permit to be in the wilderness, or shortly will require same. Acclimitization is key to making good times. Duration – 7 to 9 hours (book time) Difficulty – Strenuous Class: Class 2 Hike Seasons – Year-round (caution and experience needed in winter – see below) Trailhead Location – Mount Massive trailhead – 10,070 feet (directions below) Trail Map Climatic conditions are essential when you are hiking. I woke up at 4 a.m. and was hiking by 6 a.m. from the North Halfmoon Trailhead. Fantastic Hike. Massive. I did the whole thing in short sleeves and leggings. There are two primary trails, two seldom used trails from the north, and several seldomly climbed ridgelines and slopes up Mount Massive. Massive from 2006-2009. Some parts of it were soggy but not enough to slow you down. The closest airport to the trailhead is Denver International, approximately 140 miles away. $3). Massive is June through September, depending on snow and weather conditions. One of the keys to a successful summit is to make sure that you're properly acclimated . The mountain, along with Mt. The cost to stay here is approximately $7 a night. We hike at a different location in the Bay Area (and sometimes farther away) nearly every weekend. It was rare due to the angle of subduction, which was only about 20 degrees or so causing volcanism to occur much further inland than normal. Routes Depending on your fitness level and the route you choose getting to the top will take 45 minutes to an hour and a half. It's a long day with the 14 miles RT, but the hike is quite enjoyable. In the last ten years, Mount Massive like other readily accessible fourteeners, has become very popular for climbing on summer weekends. Massive trail - 1.Cross South Willow Creek after 2 miles and continue another mile before crossing Willow Creek - 3.Continue northwest up a hill and to reach a trail junction at 11,300' and turn left onto the Mt. However, it is very popular trail, but the turn for the climber's trail is difficult to find. If properly acclimated to the elevation in the area, climbing Mount Massive is a nice day hike. ), Holy Cross Ridge (UN13,831,UN13,768 & UN13,248), UN13,823 "Lackawanna Peak" and UN 13,660B, Hiking, Mountaineering, Scrambling, Skiing. Conventional wisdom says if they can reach the end of the trail in under two hours, they’re ready to conquer the state’s tallest peak. There is a permanent snowfield that must be crossed near the top, so outfit yourself accordingly. For current mountain conditions, contact the Pike & San Isabel National Forest, Leadville Ranger District office, 2015 North Poplar, Leadville, CO 80461, (719)486-0749. 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