Mildly embarrassing - but a domino effect of issues plagued this day. Starting with trying to locate the N Halfmoon TH on the day of the hike. Went off the google maps on a burly jeep trail, and gave up, burning an hour of time. Started up the standard East slope route around 6am, roughly doubling mileage for the day from 7.5 to 14.5. Did not pack extra water, hiked more during the heat of the day, ran out of water on the way down, blew out the toebox of my trail runners from my brace rubbing funny on it. Accidentally added 2 mi to this route by hiking past a turn off point on the CT x_X Fun but little used glissade route down the face of the summit block. Thankful I had enough gas in the tank, food, good weather, and sun coverage to make it, but more difficult thank it needed to be. 12hr truck to truck
Kiefer - Feb 2, 2024 9:19 am Date Climbed: Feb 1, 2024
East Ridge
Up the East Ridge (bomber trench in the trees) and across the ridge over to North Massive. Descended down into the East Basin following some recent tracks and back to the standard trail. Cold day before the storm.
LazyJSkwires - Oct 7, 2023 8:06 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2023
Cold then not cold
The day started cold and windy once I broke out of the treeline. There were some patches of snow along the trail at a few points. The rest of the hikers out there with me today braved the relentless wind... well the wind let up in the afternoon then it was time for the short sleeve Tshirt. Got pretty warm by the time I got down. I took the time to head over to South Massive while I was up there, looked like a short jaunt up and I was feeling good
Matt McCullough - Oct 5, 2023 2:11 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2023
Southwest slopes route
Camped along the way toward the North Half-moon Lakes past the fork to the summit. Climbed starting just before dawn the next day.
cmcalhoun - Jun 17, 2023 6:21 am Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2021
Massive
SW Slopes
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 8:14 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2003
Mt Massive
East Slopes
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 8:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2002
Mt Massive
Southwest Slopes
birdhead - Jul 14, 2022 3:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2022
SW Slopes
Southwest slopes route is very steep. Lot's of people on the mountain. North Halfmoon Creek basin is very nice. Great weather!
katelyngeselle - Aug 29, 2021 11:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2021
On top of the world! My 1st 14er
Class 1 all the way, but still was difficult due to the altitude. I felt slow, but nothing technical. Marmots and pikas and mountain goats, oh my! Saw a mountain goat mama and baby near the ridge- so cute!! We backpacked in a little over 3 miles to the creek crossing right before the turnoff to Massive trail, camped then did the peak next day, camped another night after summiting then headed out on the 11th. Unless you're super fit AND used to this altitude, I think at least 2 days is the way to go.
wyatt_meyers - Aug 24, 2021 9:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2021
Beautiful day
Did a relaxing 3 day approach. Woke up on summit morning to a porcupine in camp. Got about 10 yards from a mountain goat and her baby on the summit ridge. Smoke blew out for great views!
BKiser90 - Aug 10, 2020 5:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2020
Massive and South Massive
Took the standard east slopes route. Started hiking just before 5:00 am. We summitted around 8:30. The Pine Gulch Fire near Grand Junction is producing tons of smoke and we could taste it the whole way up. It made for the best sunrise I have seen in Colorado, though. On the way down I popped up to South Massive. It was a sunny day with no wind and we were tempted to make a loop of the ridge down to Halfmoon Canyon but we descended the way we came up. We were back to the car by noon.
After summitting four (4) 14ers in 2 days, we took Wednesday to rest. We took our hammocks to the shores of Turquoise Lake and spent a nice day relaxing and exploring. Thursday we were back on the trail with an early 4:30am start. This time up Mount Massive. We reached treeline just as the sun was shining it's first rays over Quandary Peak. We could see the ridge lines of the Front Range, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Holy Cross cutting across the morning sky. Words can't even describe how we felt as the morning scene unfolded above the treeline. It was some of the most spectacular mountain scenery I've ever witnessed. And then when we hit the saddle to the ridge summit, my mind melted with the endless ridges and hanging valleys and lakes to the west. I will go back and hike this mountain again before I die.
xDoogiex - Jun 22, 2020 4:48 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2020
cascadescrambler - Jul 25, 2019 5:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 1987
Mount Massive
Combined with Mt. Elbert the day before. Probably via Southeast slope, though I don't remember a trail all the way. It seemed like we were scrambling near a gully part of the time
eli.boardman - Dec 27, 2018 10:27 am Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2017
Slept on summit
Spent the night solo on the summit to watch sunrise and sunset; combined with all 3 unranked sub-peaks over 14k feet
Ambret - Nov 7, 2018 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2018
Nice, Long Hike on Massive
Summited Mt Massive with Ruvicha, Brian and Steve. We had done Elbert the year before but found Massive a much more striking mountain. Beautiful day. Relatively warm and little wind, so we lingered at the top, taking in the views.
PhriendlyCody - Oct 22, 2018 1:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2018
Smooth sailing
A lot more drawn out of a hike than Elbert and much more crowded/popular, but still a fantastic summit.
harryhampered - Oct 30, 2024 12:17 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2022
Mount MassivePart of 4-day backpacking trip Massive and Elbert
SabineInUtah - Sep 30, 2024 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 1991
In my youthAmong my first 14ners; hiked with RDB and Bill
JLuthanen - Jul 15, 2024 8:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2024
Create your own epicMildly embarrassing - but a domino effect of issues plagued this day. Starting with trying to locate the N Halfmoon TH on the day of the hike. Went off the google maps on a burly jeep trail, and gave up, burning an hour of time. Started up the standard East slope route around 6am, roughly doubling mileage for the day from 7.5 to 14.5. Did not pack extra water, hiked more during the heat of the day, ran out of water on the way down, blew out the toebox of my trail runners from my brace rubbing funny on it. Accidentally added 2 mi to this route by hiking past a turn off point on the CT x_X Fun but little used glissade route down the face of the summit block. Thankful I had enough gas in the tank, food, good weather, and sun coverage to make it, but more difficult thank it needed to be. 12hr truck to truck
Kiefer - Feb 2, 2024 9:19 am Date Climbed: Feb 1, 2024
East RidgeUp the East Ridge (bomber trench in the trees) and across the ridge over to North Massive. Descended down into the East Basin following some recent tracks and back to the standard trail. Cold day before the storm.
LazyJSkwires - Oct 7, 2023 8:06 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2023
Cold then not coldThe day started cold and windy once I broke out of the treeline. There were some patches of snow along the trail at a few points. The rest of the hikers out there with me today braved the relentless wind... well the wind let up in the afternoon then it was time for the short sleeve Tshirt. Got pretty warm by the time I got down. I took the time to head over to South Massive while I was up there, looked like a short jaunt up and I was feeling good
Matt McCullough - Oct 5, 2023 2:11 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2023
Southwest slopes routeCamped along the way toward the North Half-moon Lakes past the fork to the summit. Climbed starting just before dawn the next day.
cmcalhoun - Jun 17, 2023 6:21 am Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2021
MassiveSW Slopes
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 8:14 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2003
Mt MassiveEast Slopes
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 8:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2002
Mt MassiveSouthwest Slopes
birdhead - Jul 14, 2022 3:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2022
SW SlopesSouthwest slopes route is very steep. Lot's of people on the mountain. North Halfmoon Creek basin is very nice. Great weather!
katelyngeselle - Aug 29, 2021 11:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2021
On top of the world! My 1st 14erClass 1 all the way, but still was difficult due to the altitude. I felt slow, but nothing technical. Marmots and pikas and mountain goats, oh my! Saw a mountain goat mama and baby near the ridge- so cute!! We backpacked in a little over 3 miles to the creek crossing right before the turnoff to Massive trail, camped then did the peak next day, camped another night after summiting then headed out on the 11th. Unless you're super fit AND used to this altitude, I think at least 2 days is the way to go.
wyatt_meyers - Aug 24, 2021 9:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2021
Beautiful dayDid a relaxing 3 day approach. Woke up on summit morning to a porcupine in camp. Got about 10 yards from a mountain goat and her baby on the summit ridge. Smoke blew out for great views!
BKiser90 - Aug 10, 2020 5:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2020
Massive and South MassiveTook the standard east slopes route. Started hiking just before 5:00 am. We summitted around 8:30. The Pine Gulch Fire near Grand Junction is producing tons of smoke and we could taste it the whole way up. It made for the best sunrise I have seen in Colorado, though. On the way down I popped up to South Massive. It was a sunny day with no wind and we were tempted to make a loop of the ridge down to Halfmoon Canyon but we descended the way we came up. We were back to the car by noon.
kteichert - Jul 18, 2020 6:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2020
By far my favorite 14er so farAfter summitting four (4) 14ers in 2 days, we took Wednesday to rest. We took our hammocks to the shores of Turquoise Lake and spent a nice day relaxing and exploring. Thursday we were back on the trail with an early 4:30am start. This time up Mount Massive. We reached treeline just as the sun was shining it's first rays over Quandary Peak. We could see the ridge lines of the Front Range, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Holy Cross cutting across the morning sky. Words can't even describe how we felt as the morning scene unfolded above the treeline. It was some of the most spectacular mountain scenery I've ever witnessed. And then when we hit the saddle to the ridge summit, my mind melted with the endless ridges and hanging valleys and lakes to the west. I will go back and hike this mountain again before I die.
xDoogiex - Jun 22, 2020 4:48 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2020
23/58Southwest slopes
mickeyCs - Mar 27, 2020 7:15 pm
ct thru hike2014
cascadescrambler - Jul 25, 2019 5:27 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 1987
Mount MassiveCombined with Mt. Elbert the day before. Probably via Southeast slope, though I don't remember a trail all the way. It seemed like we were scrambling near a gully part of the time
eli.boardman - Dec 27, 2018 10:27 am Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2017
Slept on summitSpent the night solo on the summit to watch sunrise and sunset; combined with all 3 unranked sub-peaks over 14k feet
Ambret - Nov 7, 2018 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2018
Nice, Long Hike on MassiveSummited Mt Massive with Ruvicha, Brian and Steve. We had done Elbert the year before but found Massive a much more striking mountain. Beautiful day. Relatively warm and little wind, so we lingered at the top, taking in the views.
PhriendlyCody - Oct 22, 2018 1:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2018
Smooth sailingA lot more drawn out of a hike than Elbert and much more crowded/popular, but still a fantastic summit.