theREALCarpeDM - Aug 2, 2022 7:56 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2022
From Sandbeach TH
I was super slow from Orton to Chiefs Head; guess I'm still not back in mountain shape. But it was good to get out again with dpage.
JesseSumrak - Aug 2, 2020 3:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2020
Tanima, Alice, Chief's Head Combo
After Tanima and Alice, our party made our way down to the saddle between Chief's Head and Alice and decided the weather permitted. Beautiful hike up and amazing views of the entire park! No weather conflicts, either. Went down the pass to Snowbank Lake and returned to Thunder Lake for a successful 3-peak combo.
Summitted Chiefs Head on a backpacking trip to Thunder Lake. We left camp at 4:40 am and climbed up Boulder-Grand Pass. Once on the pass at 6:10 morning clouds rolled in, obscuring our entire ascents of Tanima and Mount Alice. Luckily the clouds broke as we were descending Alice around 8:30. The hourglass ridge traverse was listed as Class 3 but felt closer to hard class 2. After reaching the saddle, we summitted Chiefs Head. This was definitely one of the best views in the park. Absolutely stunning views of Longs Peak, Wild Basin, Glacier Gorge, and the far northern and western reaches of the park. We decided to make it a loop and descended down the Lion Lake basin. Luckily, on our glissade down the ice shelf that deposits into Snowbank Lake, we stuck to the right and avoided a potential 25 foot plunge off the ice shelf into the lake. These lakes are probably some of the prettiest in the park.
Climbed with Scot from Wild Basin, up to Lion Lake #2 and then up onto North Ridge (which is actually on Chiefs Head's south side) to the summit, traverse to McHenrys and then back down. We wanted to climb Mt Alice but weather moved in.
Last peak of the day for us. Descent via Chiefs Head / Pagoda Col was miserable!
shknbke - Dec 9, 2010 12:03 am Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2010
From Glacier Gorge
From Stone Man Pass, combined with Spearhead. Never get tired of Glacier Gorge!
Brian Kalet - Sep 7, 2010 1:12 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2010
Triple Crown
With McHenrys & Alice.
boisedoc - Jul 5, 2010 12:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2010
great views
via Sandbeach Lake. Long dayhike from Copeland Lake. Great views all around including Longs, Pagoda and Alice
argothor - Jun 21, 2010 10:24 am Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2010
Sandbeach Lake to Chiefs Head
Backpacked in to Sandbeach Lake, and then on the following day hiked up to Mt. Orton, followed along North Ridge to the the southern flake of Chiefs Head. From the summit there are very nice views of Longs' western side, looking down on Spearhead, the Mummy Range and the summits of numerous peaks on the west and south side of the Wild Basin. Glorious day, the weather was beautiful.
Timothy Pearl - Jun 15, 2010 11:52 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2010
PCH couloir
With Mikey B. Like he said below. And I'm now living proof that you can get a decent sunburn on a rainy/snowy whiteout day. 5800' vertical, 13.5 miles, 16 hours. In crampons for at least 7 hours. OOoof.
MikeyB - Jun 14, 2010 11:47 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2010
Up the Pagoda/CH col.
Long day in rain/snow with Tim P. from Glacier Gorge in less than ideal conditions. Will have to go back on a sunny day to take in the missed views. Hard to find Stone Man Pass in the whiteout/cloudy cover, so we reclimbed and descended the col. Overall, a fun col. to climb!
Hiked both peaks after a camp at Sandbeach Lake. Amazingly good views of Mt Alice, The Spearhead, Glacier Gorge, and the Pagoda-Longs-Meeker trio. Visited Keplinger Lake on the way back to camp.
SarahThompson - Apr 14, 2008 11:36 am Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2007
Twice
3/11/07 - From Sandbeach Lake TH. Last hike of the winter season, and it was a big one! Most of the trail to Sandbeach Lake was tracked, except for the last half mile or so. From the lake, we climbed NW over unranked Mt. Orton and then to the summit of Chiefs Head. Views were incredible. 17 miles was a PR for a winter hike, took 13.5 hours!
9/13/15 - As part of the Glacier Gorge Traverse: Arrowhead -> McHenrys -> Chiefs Head -> Pagoda -> Longs -> Storm.
Climbed this huge mountain from Wild Basin with a camp at Thunder Lake. I'm glad I did. The south face of Chiefs Head is huge and concave anf great to look at from the Snowbank Lake area.
smudge - Sep 20, 2006 2:14 am Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2006
North Ridge (actually the SE ridge of CH)
Cooler summit than I thought it would be! Great day out! Climbed w/ Alice and Tanima! Saw your name in the register beave!
thebeave7 - Sep 5, 2006 5:44 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2006
Flattop to Chiefs Head Traverse
The last peak of the day, #7, would have liked to gone further, but Pagoda was a little spicy for me. Great views of Longs, the Keyboard, and Pagoda. A fun and worth while day.
theREALCarpeDM - Aug 2, 2022 7:56 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2022
From Sandbeach THI was super slow from Orton to Chiefs Head; guess I'm still not back in mountain shape. But it was good to get out again with dpage.
JesseSumrak - Aug 2, 2020 3:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2020
Tanima, Alice, Chief's Head ComboAfter Tanima and Alice, our party made our way down to the saddle between Chief's Head and Alice and decided the weather permitted. Beautiful hike up and amazing views of the entire park! No weather conflicts, either. Went down the pass to Snowbank Lake and returned to Thunder Lake for a successful 3-peak combo.
BKiser90 - Jul 31, 2020 3:02 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2020
Tanima, Alice, and Chiefs HeadSummitted Chiefs Head on a backpacking trip to Thunder Lake. We left camp at 4:40 am and climbed up Boulder-Grand Pass. Once on the pass at 6:10 morning clouds rolled in, obscuring our entire ascents of Tanima and Mount Alice. Luckily the clouds broke as we were descending Alice around 8:30. The hourglass ridge traverse was listed as Class 3 but felt closer to hard class 2. After reaching the saddle, we summitted Chiefs Head. This was definitely one of the best views in the park. Absolutely stunning views of Longs Peak, Wild Basin, Glacier Gorge, and the far northern and western reaches of the park. We decided to make it a loop and descended down the Lion Lake basin. Luckily, on our glissade down the ice shelf that deposits into Snowbank Lake, we stuck to the right and avoided a potential 25 foot plunge off the ice shelf into the lake. These lakes are probably some of the prettiest in the park.
alpineair - Nov 14, 2013 9:29 am
Cold!Was trying for Alice but the Hourglass was heavily corniced and we did not have a rope, so we "settled" for CH. Long hike from WB in the winter.
milan - Oct 22, 2012 5:33 pm Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2011
Long dayI was lonely the entire day. It was wonderful weather and great trip. I gave up my plan to go for Alice since I was tired.
wmolland - Jun 28, 2012 12:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2012
From AliceA nice, short scramble over from Alice. Then onward to Orton!
seano - May 30, 2012 6:41 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2012
East ridgeFrom the Pagoda-Chief's Head couloir. A long but easy boulder stroll. Trip report.
chicagotransplant - Oct 2, 2011 9:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2011
Wild BasinClimbed with Scot from Wild Basin, up to Lion Lake #2 and then up onto North Ridge (which is actually on Chiefs Head's south side) to the summit, traverse to McHenrys and then back down. We wanted to climb Mt Alice but weather moved in.
thatnissanguy - Sep 12, 2011 10:55 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2011
As part of GGTLast peak of the day for us. Descent via Chiefs Head / Pagoda Col was miserable!
shknbke - Dec 9, 2010 12:03 am Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2010
From Glacier GorgeFrom Stone Man Pass, combined with Spearhead. Never get tired of Glacier Gorge!
Brian Kalet - Sep 7, 2010 1:12 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2010
Triple CrownWith McHenrys & Alice.
boisedoc - Jul 5, 2010 12:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2010
great viewsvia Sandbeach Lake. Long dayhike from Copeland Lake. Great views all around including Longs, Pagoda and Alice
argothor - Jun 21, 2010 10:24 am Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2010
Sandbeach Lake to Chiefs HeadBackpacked in to Sandbeach Lake, and then on the following day hiked up to Mt. Orton, followed along North Ridge to the the southern flake of Chiefs Head. From the summit there are very nice views of Longs' western side, looking down on Spearhead, the Mummy Range and the summits of numerous peaks on the west and south side of the Wild Basin. Glorious day, the weather was beautiful.
Timothy Pearl - Jun 15, 2010 11:52 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2010
PCH couloirWith Mikey B. Like he said below. And I'm now living proof that you can get a decent sunburn on a rainy/snowy whiteout day. 5800' vertical, 13.5 miles, 16 hours. In crampons for at least 7 hours. OOoof.
MikeyB - Jun 14, 2010 11:47 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2010
Up the Pagoda/CH col.Long day in rain/snow with Tim P. from Glacier Gorge in less than ideal conditions. Will have to go back on a sunny day to take in the missed views. Hard to find Stone Man Pass in the whiteout/cloudy cover, so we reclimbed and descended the col. Overall, a fun col. to climb!
tomlauren - Jul 22, 2008 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2008
Orton - Chiefs HeadHiked both peaks after a camp at Sandbeach Lake. Amazingly good views of Mt Alice, The Spearhead, Glacier Gorge, and the Pagoda-Longs-Meeker trio. Visited Keplinger Lake on the way back to camp.
SarahThompson - Apr 14, 2008 11:36 am Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2007
Twice3/11/07 - From Sandbeach Lake TH. Last hike of the winter season, and it was a big one! Most of the trail to Sandbeach Lake was tracked, except for the last half mile or so. From the lake, we climbed NW over unranked Mt. Orton and then to the summit of Chiefs Head. Views were incredible. 17 miles was a PR for a winter hike, took 13.5 hours!
9/13/15 - As part of the Glacier Gorge Traverse: Arrowhead -> McHenrys -> Chiefs Head -> Pagoda -> Longs -> Storm.
Kane - Jan 12, 2007 8:28 pm
West RidgeClimbed this huge mountain from Wild Basin with a camp at Thunder Lake. I'm glad I did. The south face of Chiefs Head is huge and concave anf great to look at from the Snowbank Lake area.
smudge - Sep 20, 2006 2:14 am Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2006
North Ridge (actually the SE ridge of CH)Cooler summit than I thought it would be! Great day out! Climbed w/ Alice and Tanima! Saw your name in the register beave!
thebeave7 - Sep 5, 2006 5:44 am Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2006
Flattop to Chiefs Head TraverseThe last peak of the day, #7, would have liked to gone further, but Pagoda was a little spicy for me. Great views of Longs, the Keyboard, and Pagoda. A fun and worth while day.