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Dale Stenseth's Mt. Massive Page
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Mt. Massive, 14,421 ft, 7/30/2003
Hiked from Half Moon trailhead, 10,530 ft. This was the shortest route, but still took me 6 hours to summit and 4 hours to return. I guess I was still a little tired from hiking Mt. Elbert 2 days earlier, and I forgot to take my Geritol. Lost the trail many times.
Used Dawson's book for guidance and topographical map. Used a GPS for altitude.
This is taken at the true summit. Note the two people on the peak behind me, which is about 20 feet lower. The peak behind them with snow is Mt. Elbert. Left and lower is South Mt. Massive. |
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Follow the same road and signs described for Mt. Elbert.
Mt. Massive overflow lot sign on the left side of road.
Main Mt. Massive Trailhead on the right. Most people use this trail. It is longer, but not as steep as the one further down the road. This is trailhead can be reached with a normal vehicle.
After this sign, the road is mostly single lane. You need a high clearance vehicle. I used 4 wheel drive most of the way. Proceed over 2 miles to a small parking lot on the right.
Parking is on the right, and not well marked. Look for the Mt. Massive registration box. This is the shortest trail. It is steep and goes up the south side of the mountain.
Try to follow the mail trail. There is a smaller trail that breaks off to the right, and later one that breaks off to the left. About a mile from the trailhead, at this stone cairn, turn right and proceed up the mountain.
Some parts of the upper trail have red, blue, or yellow tassle markers like this.
Pictures usually don't show steepness. This one does. Much of this trail is like this.
This is an unusual picture. I took this on the way down. The clouds were coming in and the valley below was in deep shadow. Sometime earlier, perhaps in the spring, a large boulder came down, either by natural or human causes. Note the boulder bounce damage, starting at the bottom of the picture. You can see 4 more scars further down the hill.
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My other Colorado summits:
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Copyright © 2003-2005 Dale Stenseth. All rights reserved.
This page may be freely linked to, but may not be duplicated in any manner without the author's express consent,
except that hikers may print a single copy of trip reports for personal use.
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