7/4/2023 Route: Emerald/Iowa Combo Posted On: 7/4/2023, By: Tony1 Info: A little less snow than I expected based on the previous entry for Emerald. Almost summer conditions. Photo #2 makes it look snowier than it is. Dry trail to the Belford split. Between the Belford and Missouri trail splits, the creek completely overtakes the trail for a while, but otherwise mostly dry. Between the Missouri split and Elkhead Pass, just a couple of snowfields, the upper of which is somewhat large but melting quick and it's easy enough to just go straight across. Between the pass and Emerald, I took a slightly lower route than the preferred route listed on this website in order to avoid snow and found it easy enough to avoid most of the snow between the pass and the peak. No snow between Emerald and Iowa. I came down the north side of Iowa and used some snowfields to make the descent easier. Snow was mostly supportive while soft in the afternoon. I brought spikes and gaiters but never used them. I did tolerate wet feet almost the whole way back from Iowa. I expected to have to turn around with the forecast and late start but ended up having some insane luck here with dodging weather. Long, brutal hike but very rewarding. |
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8/15/2021 Route: Emerald/Iowa Combo Posted On: 8/16/2021, By: E_A_Marcus_949 Info: Started from Missouri Gulch --> Elkhead Pass --> Emerald Peak --> Iowa Peak. Straight-forward grassy slopes up to the summit. Herd of ~15 mountain goats watched our progress the whole way. Summer conditions. |
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8/14/2021 Route: Slope of Suck Posted On: 8/16/2021, By: Grover Info: Hiked up Iowa Peak from Clohesy Lake on Saturday. Since I orphaned Iowa during my outing to Emerald a few years ago, I used Missouri's West Ridge Route to start, then beelined directly to the Slope of Suck, to access the low point of the ridge between Mizzou (#almamater) and Iowa. Even though this slope was slightly tedious at times, it was worth it. I stayed hikers LEFT going UP, hikers RIGHT going DOWN, to stay on the talus. If doing a loop of Emerald and Iowa, I recommend this as your exit point. You should stay ABOVE the willows too, I might add, as some other TR's have mentioned. |
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7/7/2021 Route: Missouri / Iowa / Emerald Posted On: 7/7/2021, By: mijoflynn Info: Did Missouri --> Iowa --> Emerald today. Creek crossings in Missouri Gulch are now easy. In the upper gulch, the trail was a little muddy, probably because of the deluge the area got Tuesday night. There are two snow fields sticking around just before you reach Missouri's northwest ridge, but neither will cause you any trouble. Otherwise, summer conditions to Missouri's summit. I was surprised to find a good trail down Missouri's south ridge -- it's easy class 2. There's a fainter trail up Iowa's north ridge. Both are in summer conditions. |
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5/8/2021 Route: Emerald/Iowa Combo from Missouri Mountain Posted On: 5/9/2021, By: supranihilest Info: Easy and snowy Class 2 route from Missouri Mountain via Missouri's south ridge. The ridge has a considerable amount of snow and there were a few short snow pitches along the way, but overall it was a quick and easy climb of Iowa from Missouri. Traction, an ice axe, and flotation were not used for the ascent but you might want them just in case. |
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7/1/2020 Route: Emerald/Iowa Combo Posted On: 7/2/2020, By: cdgibbons Info: Summer conditions. I placed pen/paper in the register. No other climbers. |
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6/26/2020 Route: Missouri to Iowa Posted On: 6/27/2020, By: Clint the climber Info: The ridge between Missouri and Iowa is completely dry. |
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6/7/2020 Route: Via Missouri Mountain Posted On: 6/8/2020, By: wintersage Info: Entire way from Missouri Mountain's summit to Iowa Peak was dry, with a few small snow patches that can be crossed without traction. |
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5/30/2020 Route: Missouri Gulch Posted On: 5/31/2020, By: angry Info: Trail is mostly dry to Elkhead Pass. There are a few snowfields to cross, but did not necessitate snowshoes. Made our own route up Iowa first by climbing the rock far right of the Iowa/MIssouri saddle to gain the ridge. Summit register needs pen/paper. |
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8/31/2019 Route: Missouri/Iowa/Emerald Posted On: 9/2/2019, By: madmattd Info: Descended South Ridge of Missouri on a solid use trail which continued, though fainter at times, to Iowa. Pretty straight-forward descent off Missouri, it looked trickier than it was. Easy tundra descent from Iowa to Iowa/Emerald col. |
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7/21/2019 Route: Emerald/Iowa Combo Posted On: 7/21/2019, By: WildWanderer Info: Snow avoidable from Emerald to Iowa |
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6/20/2018 Route: Emerald/Iowa Combo Posted On: 6/21/2018, By: DavidEStaunton Info: Climbed from Missouri. I summited Missouri at 7:59a.m. and was on top of Emerald at 9:09a.m. Don't remember summit time for Iowa. Easy to get 2 centennial 13ers. The return can Be very interesting though. I returned via Elkhead Pass, and that was strenuous. |
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10/21/2016 Route: Emerald/Iowa Combo Posted On: 10/22/2016, By: JasonKline Info: Mostly clear from Missouri Gulch up to junction for Elkhead Pass and Missouri. After that, the loop containing Missouri, Iowa, and Emerald over to Elkhead Pass had many spots with an inch or two of ice and snow. Microspikes would have been helpful on the slippery spots, but the spots were so intermittent that I didn't put on traction. |
