On 8-23-15, Lupe climbed Mount Elbert, the highest peak in Colorado, second highest peak in the 48 contiguous United States, and quite possibly the highest mountain she will ever climb. What could she possibly do for an encore the next day? Why, climb the second highest peak in Colorado, of course!
Mount Massive (14,421 ft.) is conveniently located just 5 miles NNW of Mount Elbert (14,433 ft.). Only 12 feet lower than Mount Elbert, Mount Massive is the third highest peak in the 48 contiguous United States. So on 8-24-15, Day 16 of her Summer of 2015 Dingo Vacation, Lupe set out from the Mount Massive trailhead near Halfmoon Creek at 9:32 AM (57°F).
It was another beautiful day. It was also Monday. The weekend crowds had disappeared. SPHP had been able to park the G6 in the TH parking lot. Only a few other vehicles were there. Although the elevation gain would be very similar, only slightly less than she had gained climbing Mount Elbert the day before, climbing Mount Massive was going to be a more peaceful experience.
The trailhead was actually a TH on the Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trail climbed fairly steeply at first, and then leveled out with both up and down sections. Lupe followed the Colorado Trail for about 3 miles. It wound its way around some, but generally towards the N. After 3 miles on the Colorado Trail, Lupe reached the Mount Massive Trail No. 1487. Mount Massive Trail No. 1487 heads W for about 2.5 miles to reach a ridgeline S of the summit.
Going up Mount Massive, there were similarities with Lupe’s climb up Mount Elbert the previous day. The Colorado Trail and the first part of the Mount Massive Trail were all in the forest. There weren’t any views until Lupe reached tree line along the Mount Massive Trail. Once on the Mount Massive Trail, it was a steady climb all the way up the mountain. The steepest, hardest parts of the climb were near the top.
Lupe didn’t meet many people on the trail at first, but this time it wasn’t due to a late start. There just weren’t that many people on the mountain. After a while, Lupe did meet some people and a few dogs who were coming down the mountain, as she climbed up, but far fewer than the day before.
Once again, the views started at tree line. There were far more bushes above tree line than on Mount Elbert. Lupe likes bushes. She sought their shade whenever SPHP had to stop to rest.
Most of Trail No. 1487 seemed less steep than Trail No. 1184 up Mount Elbert. It did get steep as it approached the ridgeline leading to the summit. As Lupe approached the ridgeline, there were a couple of mountain goats up ahead. People and a dog were on their way down, so the goats had to make a decision on which way to go. They disappeared around the W side of the ridge.
Mount Massive features 5 high points along a huge ridge that extends NW/SE. All of these high points are over 14,100 feet. From SE to NW these high points are: (1) Mount Massive – Southeast Peak (14,132 ft.), (2) Mount Massive (14,421 ft.) (the true summit), (3) Mount Massive – Green Peak (14,280 ft.), (4) Mount Massive – Northwest Peak (14,320 ft.), and (5) Mount Massive – Far Northwest Peak (14,169 ft.).
Trail No. 1487 reaches the top of the ridgeline between Mount Massive – Southeast Peak and the true summit. When Lupe reached the ridgeline, she followed the trail NW toward the true summit.
The trail to the top stayed mostly along the NE side of the mountain a bit below the ridgeline until quite close to the summit. There were some pretty huge drops to the SW on the other side of the ridge. Some scrambling was required along the way. Nothing serious, but this last leg up Mount Massive was certainly more challenging than the easy stroll along a ridge Mount Elbert had been. It was pretty fun! Lupe was happy climbing among the rocks.
A few people had been coming down as Lupe worked her way up, but by the time Lupe reached the ridgeline and final approach to the true summit, Lupe and SPHP were alone. Once again the weather was wonderful. There wasn’t even a breeze. The views all around were gorgeous.
It is possible to make a trek known as the “Tour de Massive” by visiting all five of the high points along the huge Mount Massive ridge. SPHP had been thinking Lupe could do the Tour de Massive. She could have, too, but the reality up on the summit of Mount Massive was that SPHP could not. Not after climbing up Mount Elbert the previous day. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.
A look at the high points (Green, Northwest and Far Northwest) off to the NW revealed that it might well involve considerably more than an easy stroll up and down along a ridgeline to get over to those peaks. Climbing the Southeast Peak, on the other hand, was clearly pretty easy, but in the end, SPHP was content to just call it a day – another wonderful day spent with Lupe.
Lupe and SPHP lingered quite some time up on Mount Massive. No one else appeared. Lupe and SPHP had Mount Massive entirely to themselves. It was a grand time. SPHP and Lupe both enjoyed the tremendous views. Lupe also found a snowbank to frolic on.
Going up to the summit along the ridgeline had been really fun. Going back down was a good time, too. Lupe scrambled quickly among the rocks. SPHP scrambled slowly. The route was rough enough to be interesting and engaging, without being difficult. The views, of course, remained simply splendid.
Once below the ridgeline, and heading E on Mount Massive Trail No. 1487, the long trek back to the G6 began in earnest. Lupe had lots of wide open territory to explore. She had a wonderful time. A little later on, the light faded in the forest while Lupe followed the Colorado Trail. Between the trees, the light of a huge bonfire could be seen to the E of the trail.
Lupe met a couple of guys intending on camping on Mount Massive up above tree line. They were from Florida. One of them had seen Lupe on the trail, and thought she was a wolf! (Quite a few people have said she resembles a fox before, but never a wolf!) They were carrying sleeping bags, but seemed to have no backpacks or other gear. SPHP wondered if they weren’t heading for a bit of a shock. It was conceivable that a night above tree line (around 12,000 feet) on Mount Massive, even in August, might not be much like camping out on a Florida beach.
Lupe met no one else the entire way back. At 8:45 PM (52°F), Lupe reached the G6. For Lupe and SPHP, it had been a fabulous day together on Mount Massive. Fortunately for the Floridians, it looked like it was going to be a fabulous night, too.
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