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What better way to climb the second highest peak in the Rocky Mountains than to leave the trailhead in the afternoon? I don't see anything that could possibly go wrong with that plan. As I hiked solo toward Mt. Massive from the Leadville Fish Hatchery just before 2 p.m., I just hoped that the National Weather Service was very, very reliable in its forecast.
"I set out running but I'll take my time."
I followed the Highline Trail from the Fish Hatchery. Although the views were generally lacking, the solitude was enjoyable, as I only saw 3 people the entire day, and all of them were below my route's junction with the Colorado Trail. I left the trail at 11,300 ft. as though I were headed for the East Ridge route on Massive, but instead I veered left at treeline in order to climb South Massive first.
I made the first 5 miles to the meadow above treeline in just under 2 hours, which was not bad considering the huge, slushy snowdrifts on the off-trail portion.
Mosquito Range from the 12k meadow
I intersected the standard Mt. Massive trail for a few hundred yards before departing to climb a direct route up South Massive. The clouds began to clear over Massive proper, as promised by the NWS.
Mt. Massive as seen while climbing S. Massive
I reached the rock obelisk that forms the summit of South Massive around 5:45 p.m., and the early evening light was making Elbert and company look especially beautiful.
Mount Elbert and company from S. Massive
Shadows grew longer as I traversed to the true summit of Mount Massive.
S. Massive as seen while climbing Mt. Massive
I summited Mt. Massive, a new personal elevation record at 14,421 ft., around 6:30 p.m.
"While the firelight's aglow strange shadows from the flames will grow."
The early sunset light began to make La Plata glow with unearthly fire.
La Plata from Massive's summit
"Eyes alight with glowing hair, all that fancy paints as fair."
Sunset also touched the flanks of Huron and the Apostles with a different hue.
Huron and the 3 Apostles from Massive's summit
I set up my bivy system (consisting of a tarp, inflatable pad, bivy sack, and sleeping bag) a few feet below the summit block on the only flat ground around.
Bivy at the summit of Mt. Massive
Sunset lit up a thin bank of clouds to the west. I was feeling fairly confident that the weather would hold, just as NWS had predicted.
Sunset from Mt. Massive
Alpenglow touched the flanks of Mt. Elbert, the high point of the Rockies.
Alpenglow on Mt. Elbert
"Counting stars by candlelight, all are dim but one is bright, the spiral light of Venus rising first and shining best."
I never had any problems with sleeping at the high altitude, but the noisy wind woke me up every few hours.
Stars over the Elk Range
"Fire! Fire on the Mountain!"
The first light of dawn ignited Mt. Sherman.
Mt. Sherman at sunrise
A thin layer of clouds had blown in overnight, providing the perfect sunrise display.
Sunrise from Mt. Massive
"Sleeping and perchance to dream."
The Buffalo Peaks and Twin Lakes took on a cool pink cast.
Buffalo Peaks and Twin Lakes
Pikes Peak looked larger than life against a pumpkin-orange sky.
Pikes Peak
Striated clouds over the central Sawatch stole the show for a few minutes during sunrise.
Sunrise over Elbert, La Plata, etc.
The core sunrise grew ever more intense.
Sunrise over Quandary and the DeCaLiBron
The pinnacle of Massive caught some stunning light as well.
Summit of Mt. Massive at sunrise
It's amazing how much difference a few minutes made in the view of La Plata.
La Plata at first light La Plata a few minutes later
"Standing in a shaft of light...rising up to Paradise."
Grizzly Peak caught a distinctive yellow hue.
Grizzly Peak A at sunrise
Castle, Conundrum, and Cathedral were more orange and pink. I guess dragging a 300mm lens up a 14er was worthwhile...
Castle and company
As the sunrise died down, I headed on to my next objectives, Massive Green, North Massive, and the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness HP. I had spent about 11 hours on the summit of Mt. Massive.
Massive Green and North Massive
Snowmass and Capitol stole the show for awhile. The connecting ridge looks so benign from a distance.
Snowmass and Capitol
Massive Green was an easy hike.
Massive Green
I took a direct route to North Massive that required a fun little scramble. The summit view of the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness was spectacular.
Looking west from North Massive
Pt. 14169, sometimes called Far Northwest Massive, was a low-prominence summit on the Continental Divide that was very easy to tag. The wind was getting out of hand at this point, so I descended quickly.
Pt. 14169
I headed east from Pt. 14169, linking some glissades and dropping into a remote basin north of Massive's east ridge. Along the way, I spotted a herd of 14 elk.
Elk herd
Shortly before rejoining the Highline Trail to make a lollipop-shaped route, I was rewarded with a final view of Massive above a little lake.
Final view of Mt. Massive
I returned to the car a little after 10 a.m., glad to have completed a "Massive" hike.
--All lyrics credit Grateful Dead--
My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):
You are more courageous than me, of that there is no doubt. Last time I camped in an exposed area above treeline an electrical storm convinced me that there are better places to camp.
That looks like a great way to do all those massive peaks. Do you happen to have travel time, mileage, elevation? Just to get a rough idea.
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