Mt. Massive

Route: East Slopes
Posted On: 6/9/2013, By: Muskie5280
Info: Trail is snow free to treeline or so. After that, you encounter snowfields periodically through the willows. There is a well packed traverse from the saddle to just below the summit as well. Microspikes were helpful on the traverse but not necessary. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 6/10/2013, By: mediocre_climber
Info: This route is wonderful, and much less crowded than anything on the other side of the peak. There‘s still enough snow up high to facilitate a ski descent, and having an axe while crossing some steeper bits was helpful, but snowshoes are just dead weight now. I found no need for spikes either. Postholing was minimal. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 6/6/2013, By: Gueza
Info: http://14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=40000&p=485021#p485021 

Route: East Slopes
Posted On: 5/27/2013, By: Dan_Suitor
Info: Beautiful sunny hike up the East Slopes of Massive on Sunday. Completely dry at the trailhead. Did not start to encounter snow until about 10,800 ft. but it really was not a problem until turning off the Colorado Trail onto the Massive Trail around 11,300. Made it up part of the way before route finding became a little difficult due to the patches of drifted snow (Pic #1). I used my snow shoes through part of this section until just after the willows. I ditched the snow shoes around 12,500, as they were not needed. The hike to the saddle was a mix of grass and snow (Pic #2). The first pitch from the saddle had some crunchy and some soft snow. Microspikes or Crampons could be used, but I opted not to put mine on and had no problems without them. The same held true for the ridgeline (Pic #3). If it was colder and the snow was iced up, Crampons would be a good idea. Pic #4 of Mt. Massive was taken from South Massive (I was a glutton for punishment and included this in my hike). The way down the snow had softened up and was melting at a pretty good rate. Snow shoes were a must especially just above and through the willows. I saw where others post holed directly into the running water beneath the snow. When going down, the route had become more defined due to earlier traffic. Some of the post-hole areas were becoming post-hole trails. I have other pictures if anybody else needs more details on other parts of the trail. Hope this helps. Dan 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 5/26/2013, By: Justin9
Info: Climbed the southwest slopes route May 25th. No snowshoes needed but microspikes are mandatory and axe and crampons were very useful. Very little snow below treeline, just a few 20‘ drifts here and there, but lots of mud. Above treeline, there are several snowfields you will have to cross. In the morning they are firm but were soft enough to be postholing in coming down at 11:00 am. No signs of anyone on the standard route, so I cannot give any info on that. Road is clear to trailhead. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 5/18/2013, By: Grover
Info: The SW Slopes of Mt. Massive are holding snow from 11,600 ft. all the way to the summit. A snowboard/ski descent off the summit is possible. I crossed over from the East Slopes bowl to the SW Slopes on foot, only to avoid the various rocks poking through at/near the top of the saddle. What you need if you are going: Crampons - Yes, I used them for the entire climb while on snow to the summit. Microspikes - Suggested, as I used them from 11,100 ft. till 11,600 ft., then switched to crampons. Snow covers most of the rocks/trail after the sign junction, when you start climbing up the bench. Snow Shoes - YES! In the trees, specifically between 11,100 ft. and 10,900 ft., the snow was deep, and the consistency was that of a Slurpee. Post holing in the afternoon was an issue. I used trekking poles all the way up to the summit, and then carried my ice axe with me during the ride down the SW Slopes. 

Route: Standard East Slopes
Posted On: 1/22/2013, By: Stiffler_from_Denver
Info: There was packed snow on the road to the trailhead but most vehicles should be able to handle it. We had not problem getting the whole way to the TH. There is a nice packed trail all the way to treeline. No need for snowshoes. Microspikes might help, but I didn't think they were necessary. Snowshoes would have been helpful crossing about 1/2 miles of snowfields just above treeline but a bit of post-holing might be worth not carrying the snowshoes 4 miles up without using them. It took us 2 hours to reach treeline from the car. The constant wind was miserable on Monday, and we only made it to 12,800 before turning around. 

Route: East Slopes
Posted On: 1/8/2013, By: climbingbiz
Info: Did the Standard east slopes route. Road was covered in snow but no problem in an AWD car. There was a good trench in the snow up to tree line. From there it was cold and very windy, but doable without any traction. The snowshoes stayed in the car but gators were necessary in a few sections above tree line where the wind covered the tail with snow. 

Route: East Slopes
Posted On: 11/26/2012, By: Vincopotamus
Info: The East Slopes route is still amazingly dry. Some snow packed on the trail below treeline and on the summit ridge so microspikes could be helpful, but not necessary. Gaiters recommended for a few drifted sections where the trail disappears. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 11/21/2012, By: Alpineair
Info: Very little snow. Traction or axe not needed. Road to TH is in good shape. 

Route: East Slopes
Posted On: 11/18/2012, By: bhess86
Info: Portions of the route above treeline are drifted over so route finding is a bit tricky. I had microspikes but never put them on. An iceaxe would have been fun because there were a few short glissades available. The picture looks towards the saddle between Massive and South Massive. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 11/10/2012, By: craigjhn
Info: This route was in very fine shape with its southern exposure to the sun. Hardly any snow until up on the summit ridge. The road into the trailhead was fine too, got my 2WD car within a mile of the North Halfmoon Creek TH. Beautiful day. This route does involve a LOT of climbing however. It just goes up and up and up steeply and relentlessly the entire way. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 11/4/2012, By: nedryarson
Info: Climbed Massive today from the North Half Moon trailhead. Some patches of snow in the trees that are a non-issue. I was eager to try out my new microspikes, so I broke them out on the summit ridge where there were some snowy sections, but I definitely didn‘t need them. Easily descended the same areas on the way down without poles or spikes. The road is still easily doable in any decent-clearance SUV. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 11/5/2012, By: caseymac
Info: Very little snow until you reach the summit ridge. I brought microspikes, but the trail is in such good shape and snow packed down on the ridge that I didn‘t even take them out of my pack. 

Route: Southwest Slopes
Posted On: 10/11/2012, By: LetsGoMets
Info: Road was easily driven to the actual trail head in my 4x4 Xterra. Couple sections on the last .5 miles I would be wary of a 2WD car with low clearance. Route up the SW Slopes easy to follow all the way. No snow at all until you are just about on the summit of Massive, however this looks likely to change tonight. Beautiful day on the top.