North Massive?

[nunns]

I was reading Andrew Hamilton's synopsis of winter 14ers history and he mentioned North Massive. I know that Roach mentions Massive having something like 7 subpeaks, but I kind of thought that all but the top one lacked enough prominence for most people to take the others seriously. Is North Massive now becoming part of a typical 14ers climbers list?

Sean Nunn
Raytown MO

[yaktoleft13]

No. It's traditionally climbed as part of the winter 14ers because some guy one time decided to do it, but is not a 14er, and one's a finisher in any season if they climb all 58 and not North Massive

[supranihilest]

"North Massive" is map soft-ranked and LiDAR unranked. People climb it more in winter because Aron Ralston did but overall it's not that great of a peak and people can safely ignore it. There are far better unranked 14er sub-summits or lower peaks to climb.

[justiner]

No. It's traditionally climbed as part of the winter 14ers because some guy one time decided to do it, but is not a 14er, and one's a finisher in any season if they climb all 58 and not North Massive

El Diente and Challenger Point actually have less prominence than North Massive (less isolation too). So if those are important to you, on paper, North Massive may be important, too.

[the_hare]

As far as I understand it, the 3rd winter 14er finisher Aron Ralston climbed N Massive in winter and Steve Gladbach, the 4th finisher, considered that as upping the ante for winter 14ers. He wrote this in his TR for his finisher: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=9674
"The current "Game"

If you want to follow the precedent set by Mereness, Bock, Ralston (also Nolan and Burleson who are still playing), this is how they did it. If you want to play a different game, you'll get no criticism from me; however, this is how it's been done thus far!

First, of course, you must summit all of Colorado's 59 fourteeners in winter. Aron set the current precedent of counting 59 fourteeners in the winter quest. Mereness and Bock climbed 58 (That is 53 ranked + 5 unranked.) Aron further added North Massive, a not-too-difficult, soft-ranked 14er that only recently has gained popularity."

Sounds like other ppl were interested in climbing N Massive at the time as an unranked 14er. I think because Steve was such a beloved & influential figure in the 14er community other winter finishers followed his lead. I appreciate it in that sense, to me it frames completing this winter 14er list as part of a communal tradition instead of an isolated individual project.

[Scott P]

"North Massive" is map soft-ranked and LiDAR unranked. b.

Clarification: Since there is LiDAR coverage for that peak, it is no longer soft ranked. Peaks with LiDAR coverage have to have a 299' rise to be soft ranked.

[supranihilest]

"North Massive" is map soft-ranked and LiDAR unranked. b.

Clarification: Since there is LiDAR coverage for that peak, it is no longer soft ranked. Peaks with LiDAR coverage have to have a 299' rise to be soft ranked.

That's what I said, just in more words.

[HikerGuy]

I have no opinion on North Massive when it comes to list inclusions. However, if you are doing the Centennials, Mount Oklahoma->North Massive->Massive Green->Mount Massive is a fun loop.

[Skimo95]

I have no opinion on North Massive when it comes to list inclusions. However, if you are doing the Centennials, Mount Oklahoma->North Massive->Massive Green->Mount Massive is a fun loop.

The most informative post yet. Thanks for this HikerGuy, seems an OK repeat will be in the books. I’ll probably complete the snowflakes, and don’t really give a s**t whether I do or don’t summit N Massive. That being said the pioneers prior have nothing but respect and admiration from myself.

[madmattd]

I have no opinion on North Massive when it comes to list inclusions. However, if you are doing the Centennials, Mount Oklahoma->North Massive->Massive Green->Mount Massive is a fun loop.

Need to put this on my list to look into, looks neat. (Bonus for not descending the scree slope on Oklahoma!)

[justiner]

Oklahoma to Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness HP (and the mania of Massive after) is a great traverse. I wish the rest of the ridge on the divide there was of the same quality.

IMG_6276-1024x535.jpg (245.53 KiB) Viewed 558 times

[andrewhamilton]

Need to put this on my list to look into, looks neat. (Bonus for not descending the scree slope on Oklahoma!)

From massive i looked at the ridge-line from Oklahoma heading north and I thought it looked easy. It was surprisingly spicy! Definitely not what i expected. A fun sawatch route for sure!

Also i don’t think North Massive’s a bad summit i actually think it’s kind of cool. That comment in my trip report was just my annoyance at how it became “required”. Seemed arbitrary, but i guess that’s not a bad reason if we are following in the footsteps of Aron Ralston and Steve Gladbach.