Route Climbed: Mount Massive Trail from Half Moon Road Closure Date Climbed: 16 Jan 2005
Reached the summit with Henrik (hmronnow) as part of the all-SP team also including Scott Patterson, Emilio (ungerfeld) and Joel (photo61guy). Started from the road closure on Half Moon Road and headed west into the woods. After six and a half hours of tedious trail breaking through consistently knee-deep powder we had only covered 1600' and about three miles, making camp just below the Colorado Trail. While camp was being set up Henrik, Joel, and I helped break trail up to treeline to speed the next day's ascent. The next day the wind was strong above treeline, but Henrik and I made the summit in the clouds after 4.5 hrs. Joel turned around just below 13000' while Scott descended with a fatigued Emilio after nearly reaching the 13900' saddle. The descent to camp took only 2 hours and with a still-broken trail the descent to the car only took 1.5 hrs! A fantastic trip on a challenging climb with great partners! Now's the time to climb Massive though with a veritable highway to the top - hurry before the next snow!!
Route Climbed: North Half Moon Creek Date Climbed: August 22, 2004
Had a great hike, but boy did we make it tougher than it should have been. Totally missed the "large rock cairn" marking the turn on the trail...not sure what we were looking at, 'cuz it was large and tough to miss!
Route Climbed: West Slopes Date Climbed: October 14, 2000
A very long day on this mountain. We missed the cairn so ended up hiking up the entire basin and climbing the scree slope to the ridge. We then had to traverse the ridge over the minor summit. Alot of wind at the top too! Spent over 9 hours on this mountain, which would have been quicker had we turned at the cairn.
Route Climbed: Tour du Massive Date Climbed: September 18, 2004
Took the standard route to the main summit of Massive. Then skirted below the summit of Massive Green and hit North Massive and Point 14,169. Came back to Summit Massive Green and back over the main summit of Massive. Finally summited South Massive. This was a very long intense day and was fun to do Massive again.
Route Climbed: Main Range Trail/East Slopes Date Climbed: September 6, 2004
Only a dusting of snow on the mountain (if even that much). Easy hike below treeline and just above treeline...then the fun starts. Gain a lot of vertical in just over a mile. We were discouraged by the summit ridge at first, but it was only light scrambling.
The most incredible views! We started too late and just made it back before dark, as we underestimated the decent. Start early!
Third time was a charm for me! Had to turn around twice before due to weather and a chest cold. Oh yeah, saw a herd of approx. 10 deer on the trail. A good omen! My friend ran out of water on the way down, but was able to filter some from a stream just below treeline.
Route Climbed: Standard (Mt. Massive Trail) Date Climbed: August 22, 2004
Got a late start at 6:30 summitted about 10:45. Was snowing pretty good. Heard thunder as we were leaving the summit about 11:00. Booked down to treeline where it rained on us the rest of the way. Great long hike. Amazing views from the entire ridgeline.
Route Climbed: Mt. Massive Trailhead ( near north Mt. Elbert Trailhead ) Date Climbed: 8-14-04
It was a easy hike belowe the treeline. It was a little hard above the treeline but I did make to the summit. It has a beautifull view. I enjoyed it a lot.
Route Climbed: West Slopes Date Climbed: Summer, 1991
Quite a distinctive mountain--I like it! Climbed with Aaron Johnson up the steep west slopes (but a good, easy trail), which proved to get us to the summit relatively quickly, but nothing like how fast we descended the wonderful scree slopes a bit further north on the same side! What a wonderful day!
Route Climbed: Southeast Ridge Date Climbed: June 2003
After hopping over 3 summits to get there, our group finally stood on the main summit after a very cold and windy ascent. A quick descent down the snow fields made up for it, though. Pretty good workout, I'd say.
Route Climbed: Tour de Massive Date Climbed: July 12, 2002
This is simply the ONLY way one should climb Massive. How else can one experience the massiveness of Massive unless you walk along all its massive summits? Views from the ascent up to North Massive almost brought me to tears. Do this hike NOW!
Route Climbed: West Slopes alternate, including Date Climbed: October 19, 2002
We kicked steps into a snowslope to reach the ridge west of "North Massive." We summitted that peak, and continued the circle tour to Massive's summit. A trip report is available here.
bc44caesar - Jan 17, 2005 1:41 pm
Route Climbed: Mount Massive Trail from Half Moon Road Closure Date Climbed: 16 Jan 2005Reached the summit with Henrik (hmronnow) as part of the all-SP team also including Scott Patterson, Emilio (ungerfeld) and Joel (photo61guy). Started from the road closure on Half Moon Road and headed west into the woods. After six and a half hours of tedious trail breaking through consistently knee-deep powder we had only covered 1600' and about three miles, making camp just below the Colorado Trail. While camp was being set up Henrik, Joel, and I helped break trail up to treeline to speed the next day's ascent. The next day the wind was strong above treeline, but Henrik and I made the summit in the clouds after 4.5 hrs. Joel turned around just below 13000' while Scott descended with a fatigued Emilio after nearly reaching the 13900' saddle. The descent to camp took only 2 hours and with a still-broken trail the descent to the car only took 1.5 hrs! A fantastic trip on a challenging climb with great partners! Now's the time to climb Massive though with a veritable highway to the top - hurry before the next snow!!
Natasha - Oct 14, 2004 3:41 pm
Route Climbed: North Half Moon Creek Date Climbed: August 22, 2004Had a great hike, but boy did we make it tougher than it should have been. Totally missed the "large rock cairn" marking the turn on the trail...not sure what we were looking at, 'cuz it was large and tough to miss!
mr_g - Oct 12, 2004 8:57 am
Route Climbed: West Slopes Date Climbed: October 14, 2000A very long day on this mountain. We missed the cairn so ended up hiking up the entire basin and climbing the scree slope to the ridge. We then had to traverse the ridge over the minor summit. Alot of wind at the top too! Spent over 9 hours on this mountain, which would have been quicker had we turned at the cairn.
xskier77 - Sep 27, 2004 11:14 pm
Route Climbed: Tour du Massive Date Climbed: September 18, 2004Took the standard route to the main summit of Massive. Then skirted below the summit of Massive Green and hit North Massive and Point 14,169. Came back to Summit Massive Green and back over the main summit of Massive. Finally summited South Massive. This was a very long intense day and was fun to do Massive again.
Brad Snider - Sep 21, 2004 9:37 pm
Route Climbed: Tour de Massive Date Climbed: July 5, 2004My 7th Fourteener. (+North Massive+Massive Green+South Massive). Great fun and first experience in the beautiful Sawatch Range!
Larry V - Sep 12, 2004 6:37 pm
Route Climbed: east slopes Date Climbed: July 1972Climbed with Sarge (dog) and dad. Best scree descent I can remember.
MelM - Sep 7, 2004 6:49 pm
Route Climbed: Main Range Trail/East Slopes Date Climbed: September 6, 2004Only a dusting of snow on the mountain (if even that much). Easy hike below treeline and just above treeline...then the fun starts. Gain a lot of vertical in just over a mile. We were discouraged by the summit ridge at first, but it was only light scrambling.
The most incredible views! We started too late and just made it back before dark, as we underestimated the decent. Start early!
Third time was a charm for me! Had to turn around twice before due to weather and a chest cold. Oh yeah, saw a herd of approx. 10 deer on the trail. A good omen! My friend ran out of water on the way down, but was able to filter some from a stream just below treeline.
F Bomb - Aug 23, 2004 12:05 pm
Route Climbed: Standard (Mt. Massive Trail) Date Climbed: August 22, 2004Got a late start at 6:30 summitted about 10:45. Was snowing pretty good. Heard thunder as we were leaving the summit about 11:00. Booked down to treeline where it rained on us the rest of the way. Great long hike. Amazing views from the entire ridgeline.
pusdkq6ee - Aug 20, 2004 3:39 pm
Route Climbed: Mt. Massive Trailhead ( near north Mt. Elbert Trailhead ) Date Climbed: 8-14-04It was a easy hike belowe the treeline. It was a little hard above the treeline but I did make to the summit. It has a beautifull view. I enjoyed it a lot.
colint - Aug 10, 2004 3:15 pm
Route Climbed: standard Date Climbed: July 2002This route is long and crowded. The mountain is impressive, though. I would like to try some of the harder, shorter routes in the future.
odysseus - Aug 2, 2004 2:26 pm
Route Climbed: Colorado Main Range Trail Date Climbed: July 28, 2004As Roach states " a long hike"... A pleasant walk in the woods followed by an uphill grind. A lot of fun!
Saintgrizzly - Jul 29, 2004 2:40 am
Route Climbed: West Slopes Date Climbed: Summer, 1991Quite a distinctive mountain--I like it! Climbed with Aaron Johnson up the steep west slopes (but a good, easy trail), which proved to get us to the summit relatively quickly, but nothing like how fast we descended the wonderful scree slopes a bit further north on the same side! What a wonderful day!
scvanm - Jun 29, 2004 2:57 pm
Route Climbed: East Slopes Route Date Climbed: June 27, 2004Reached summit at around 8:00 AM. Great climb.(Sean,Kristin,Barry,CJ,Helen, Matt)
lostman - Jun 9, 2004 3:14 pm
Route Climbed: West Slopes Date Climbed: July 2003Plenty of snow!
brentonjweaver - Jun 4, 2004 1:30 am
Route Climbed: west slopes Date Climbed: September 2003Climbed in an early season snowstorm. Bagged all 5 over 14k according to roach.
DaveC - May 21, 2004 9:07 pm
Route Climbed: west side from n halfmoon lakes Date Climbed: june 99this route, contrary to dawson's description, does NOT avoid heinous scree. in fact it defines it.
sbkelley - May 12, 2004 6:15 pm
Route Climbed: Southeast Ridge Date Climbed: June 2003After hopping over 3 summits to get there, our group finally stood on the main summit after a very cold and windy ascent. A quick descent down the snow fields made up for it, though. Pretty good workout, I'd say.
Ryan Kowalski - Apr 19, 2004 4:14 pm
Route Climbed: Tour de Massive Date Climbed: July 12, 2002This is simply the ONLY way one should climb Massive. How else can one experience the massiveness of Massive unless you walk along all its massive summits? Views from the ascent up to North Massive almost brought me to tears. Do this hike NOW!
RyanS - Apr 12, 2004 12:29 pm
Route Climbed: West Slopes alternate, including Date Climbed: October 19, 2002We kicked steps into a snowslope to reach the ridge west of "North Massive." We summitted that peak, and continued the circle tour to Massive's summit. A trip report is available here.
coloradoiceclimber - Apr 10, 2004 4:21 pm
Route Climbed: North Halfmoon Lakes Trail Date Climbed: June 23, 2001Great day out with Mark and Zach. Our route was deffinetly the road less traveled!