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Peak(s):  Point 14,020 - 14020
Point 14,169 - 14169
"North Massive" - 14340
Date Posted:  06/01/2009
Date Climbed:   05/30/2009
Author:  DHatfield
 Mopping up the Massive Group   

Point 14,020 (14,020')
Point 14,169 (14,169')
"North Massive" (14,340')
Partner(s): Susan Paul
Distance: Approx. 10.0 miles
Elevation Gain: Approx. 4,100'

I already had Mount Massive - twice, in fact - plus South Massive, North Massive and Massive Green, but I still needed Point 14,020 and Point 14,169 (AKA Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness Highpoint) to complete my sweep of the 14K+ summits on the massive, Massive massif. Susan had just two of the six, so she came along in hopes of mopping up the rest along with me.

We drove up Friday night, set up the tent as an "emergency backup shelter," and then - despite the weather report calling for precipitation overnight - laid out our sleeping bags in the back of the open truck bed so we could sleep in the open air. I read a chapter from "Ride the Breath" then quickly fell asleep, thanks to the white noise of the creek bordering the South Halfmoon Trailhead. Around midnight I woke up and noticed the sky was clear and very starry - which was great for two reasons: we weren't going to get rained or snowed on overnight, and we'd have a nice clear start on the next day's hike.

In the morning, after some hot cream of wheat, fig newtons and tea, we headed up the 4wd road to the North Halfmoon Trailhead, filled out the wilderness permit, and continued on. We stepped off the trail briefly to let 3 younger, much faster hikers pass by on their way to Massive's main summit. The snow in the trees past the junction to the southwest slopes to Mount Massive (where we went straight, instead of cutting off and up to the right) was sporadic at first, but higher up there were large rolling mounds of snow, and steep, hard snowfields. We worked around them in some places, and just walked right over them in others - it was still cold enough that they held our weight, even without snowshoes.

Near the North Halfmoon Lakes we started to hike northeast on dry ground toward the basin below Massive Green, and eventually hit a huge snowfield that filled the entire basin.

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First views of Point 14,020 and North Massive.

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Hiking up the basin toward North Massive with Massive Green on right.


Under the brilliant sunshine, and with all that heat reflecting off the snow, we were soon down to our base layers. We both thought it reminded us of our trip to Gannett Peak last year, with how great the snow was - and how hot the glacier had been.

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We ascended the snow slope on far left to gain the ridge.

This is an amazingly beautiful place, and the snow still supported our weight quite nicely. We climbed up the steep broad slopes in an ascending traverse to gain the ridge, stopping to pick out the couloir we would use for our descent from Massive Green, and a big pointy rock that would help us identify it from the top - some of the other couloirs would lead us to cliff faces, and we didn't want to make that mistake.

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Gaining the top of the ridge southeast of Point 14,020.

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Elbert looks to be getting some weather.

From the ridge we headed north.

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Hope it's not coming this way.

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"Susan, I'm getting concerned about this weather."

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"Looks good from here Doug!"

Then west to nab Point 14,020 where we had fantastic views of the Elk Mountains, among many other peaks.

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Me on the summit with Massive Green and Mount Massive in distance.

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Looking southwest at the Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak.

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Looking west at Snowmass Mountain and Capitol Peak. Hey Susan can you see North Snowmass? We still have to get that one yet.

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But for today let's head over to the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness HP (Point 14,169).

After a brief break we quickly headed northeast to Point 14,169, which also happens to be the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness HP. Up to this point we could see many peaks all around us getting snow showers, but we hoped we'd be able to dodge the weather and snag our summits before the clouds headed our way.

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Me on the summit of 14,169.

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Looking west as the ceiling bears down on us.

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Looking northwest.

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Looking north toward Holy Cross.

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"Hey Doug, c'mere and hold my ice axe, will'ya?"

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Summit 3 for the day, North Massive - and we better hurry the F up.

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Scrambling up toward the summit of North Massive with Point 14,169 in distance.

We enjoyed a snowy scramble to the summit of "North Massive" and then the weather hit: snow, wind, fog... the usual.

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Typical summit shot.

We eyed the slabby ramp off "North Massive," now covered in snow, and the ridge - disappearing in the clouds - over to "Massive Green," and decided to save it for another, drier, day.

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The ridge over to Massive Green looked a bit too spicy with this weather.

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Common sense finally kicks in and we get the heck out of Dodge.

Naturally, within 20 minutes of our descent, the snow quit and the sun came out. Oh well.

We retraced our route back down and were quickly reminded of the dangers of climbing steep slopes on hot days, late in the day. We heard our first "WHOMP" high on the slope, so rather than continuing straight down, quickly beat a sharp descending traverse across and down the slope, and the basin. We didn't stop moving till we were well out of the deposition zone - about a hundred "whomps" later. I sure was glad to get out of that basin!!

Crossing the flats, the sounds of collapsing snow continued at an alarming rate - step, whomp, step whomp. It was funny, now that we were out of danger, but after post-holing up to our crotches a few times, and having to physically dig ourselves out of the heavy, wet snow in order to continue, we couldn't help but think about how impossible it would be to get a person out of that stuff, in an avalanche. That was sobering. At one point we heard the rumbling of rockfall behind us that went on for a good thirty seconds. At that point we agreed that punting "Massive Green" due to the weather had been a blessing in disguise, as the conditions in the basin had turned even more dangerous, and we were happy to be out of there.

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Leaving the basin behind.

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Mount Oklahoma to the southwest.

At the lake, we broke through some pussy willows, picked up the trail, and made it back to "dry ground." We were already discussing a return trip so Susan could pick up "Massive Green" - coming in from the east since neither of us has done that route before. The hike out went quickly, but - just like our last trip - we spent the last 30 minutes hiking, and breaking camp, in the rain.

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Bye-bye Mount Massive.

This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in snow, and there are more awesome couloirs to climb than I could count, but it could also be an extremely dangerous terrain trap. Enjoy the beauty - explore with care.



Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25


Comments or Questions
cftbq
User
Thanks
6/2/2009 4:36pm
Doug, this is really a very poetic TR; I didn‘t know you had it in you! And yes, you two are slightly crazy...


Aubrey
User
funny
6/2/2009 5:45pm
Great stuff. The quotes/captions cracked me up.

We climbed in that area last year. It‘s a pretty cool place that doesn‘t see too many humans.


susanjoypaul
User
Cloud computing
6/2/2009 9:44pm
I can‘t remember a hike where we spent so much time checking out the clouds bearing down over us - or the snow breaking apart under us. We should both have whiplash :-) Thankfully, all I got was a wicked sunburn... here‘s to fewer close calls, and more safe retreats.


AdamC
User
:)
6/2/2009 10:00pm
Those are some beautiful pics. Nice report


globreal
User
3 Summits!
6/2/2009 10:59pm
Good job, but also good call to listen to that ”gut feeling” to get out of there. Glad to hear you didn‘t get ”whomped!” I had one come right at me on Sunday as I was crossing a snow field below Challenger. I ran off that snow field as fast as I could! Scarred the be-jeebers out of me! You both are amazing to watch and read about... all that you climb. Hope to join you someday.


DHatfield
Thanks for your comments
6/3/2009 5:13pm
AdamC and globreal.

globreal - Like wise on joining us on an outing, now just if our schedules would line up on something.


DHatfield
Thanks
11/30/2010 5:28pm
Zack. You are more then welcome to come along anytime. Let us know when your schedule frees up and we'll let you know what we planning. Looking forward to it!!


DHatfield
Thanks for comments
11/30/2010 5:28pm
cftbq - I'm full of surprizes and with a little help one can do a lot. I like crazy. It's a good thing.

Aubrey - Glad you liked the report. I find it very funny just typing it up too. Your right I don't think many people go back there. I was in that basin 4 years ago and didn't see a soul. Great if one wants some solitude.


EatinHardtack
User
You two are machines
2/5/2011 12:22am
enough said, I got to get out with you sometime



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