Notch Mountain

Route: Horsehead
Posted On: 9/8/2024, By: TakeMeToYourSummit
Info: I climbed this route as a short loop starting up Halfmoon Pass & descending via the Notch Mountain Shelter trail - but this would be a valid route to start the Halo Ridge route (as shown by a few reports on this site). The trail as described up Notch Mtn is as listed on this site; a trail through the trees, followed by a choose your own adventure up to the ridge. Plenty of fun, optional scrambling on the way up to the summit. There are some cairns as you head south from the summit that will guide you onto slabby choices which will position you a bit below the notch on the east side. Once you regain the notch - hook a left & let the fun begin! There are a few potential class 3 bypasses to the first few ledges, but as you advance you will be forced into class 4 & eventually class 5 (5.0 to 5.2 is my guess) terrain. The second to last section saw me starting up a crack (orange line) - only to slowly downclimb & decide to work my way to the right on a skinny ledge. The way I went up the last section involved me arm jamming my left arm while stemming out to a foothold on the right. Above my right foot was a jumble of smaller rocks - one of which I managed to get to move a bit. Luckily, the rest of my limbs held & I quickly shifted my right hand to a rock deeper in the alcove. I was able to get both hands on the lip of the deck & I worked my way above the arm jam crack - topping out using a mantle-like move. I took a longer break near the south summit than I had at the north summit - elated to have pulled off the route! Fun times were had at the hut & the hike out. Nice meeting you Adam (for a little bit) & Matt (for a lotta bit). 

Route: Notch Mtn via Half Moon Pass
Posted On: 10/18/2021, By: kcovingt1
Info: Lots of snow! More snow than we We're expecting. Up to a foot or two in some sections. It was a beautiful day and there is now a solid trench up to the shelter! Be careful going into the boulder and talus. It's easy to fall through. 

Route: Notch Mtn via Half Moon Pass
Posted On: 10/18/2021, By: kcovingt1
Info: Lots of snow! More snow than we We're expecting. Up to a foot or two in some sections. It was a beautiful day and there is now a solid trench up to the shelter! Be careful going into the boulder and talus. It's easy to fall through. 

Route: Notch/13248/Holy Cross Ridge/13768/Holy Cross
Posted On: 10/9/2020, By: JasonKline
Info: Summer conditions. No snow or ice. Bathroom was locked at Half Moon Trailhead. 

Route: Notch Mtn via Half Moon Pass
Posted On: 5/28/2020, By: Clint the climber
Info: The road is dry from the closure up to the Tigiwon Community house. From the house, there are intermittent patches of snow. Some guys were able to make it to the trailhead on bikes with little issue. After the trailhead, there are many snow patches up to 11,000'. Between there and Half Moon Pass, there is continuous snow. Starting at the pass we went directly up to gain the ridge instead of following the notch mountain trail that contours to the east. Once on the ridge we met up with the trail and followed it to the summit. From the pass to the summit, there were about 3 inches of new snow along with a couple of snowfields between Half Moon Pass and the ridge. 

Route: Halo Ridge
Posted On: 9/26/2019, By: supranihilest
Info: Easy trail to follow to Half Moon Pass, then a steep ascent up rough talus and boulders the entire way to the summit. The rock was stable but there was no end to it once you got on it, and it wasn't as easy as simply ascending in a straight line. Generally an easy if tedious peak. 

Route: from Half Moon pass
Posted On: 3/6/2017, By: SnowAlien
Info: Ascended from camp on Half Moon pass on mostly snow-covered boulders for a sunrise summit. Reasonable winter route. Glissaded down some snowfields as snow felt stable. Lots of postholing on the 0.5 mile long ridge. 4 hr RT from camp.