From the trailhead (
1), follow the excellent trail for 1.25 miles to reach an open area, at 11,200' -
2. Continue to the other side of the clearing to reach a junction -
3. Turning right will take you up Mt. Massive; Continue straight on the North Halfmoon Lakes trail. Hike up through the trees and pass a long rock-slab to reach a clearing where you can see 13er Mt. Oklahoma -
4. Continue to 11,600' and reach a flat, rocky overlook where the trail continues north. You've hiked this high on the North Halfmoon Lakes trail to avoid the ugly terrain down near the creek but now you must bushwack west to reach K49. Leave the trail and walk west into the forest -
5.
After a short distance, without gaining or losing much elevation, you'll reach the first of two stream crossings -
6. Find a log or some other way across and continue to another stream. Once you've made your way across the two streams, continue sidehilling west/southwest through small clearings (
7) and forest for over 1/4 mile before angling down to the creek. Again, the point of this bushwacking is to avoid the ugly terrain near the creek, down to your left. Exit the forest to reach the creek near 11,600' -
8.
Cross the creek and follow the south side for approx. 0.3 mile before beginning your hike southwest up the north slopes of K49 -
9 and
10. Walk up easy terrain (
11) to reach a flat spot, near 12,100', where you can see the north ridge and summit -
12. Pick your line and zigzag southwest toward the ridge -
13 and
14. Once you gain the ridge crest (
15) you'll see the remaining route to the summit -
16. Follow the ridge south to reach steeper terrain near 12,900' (
17) and continue to the summit -
18,
19 and
20.
(WINTER) HOLD ON! If you don't have much high-elevation, winter climbing experience, be careful in your planning and take a partner. All 14er routes are more difficult and more dangerous in winter.
