Hagar Mountain

Route: SE slopes from Dry Gulch
Posted On: 5/25/2025, By: slawrence2011
Info: Started at 6:20, dry until the end of the 4WD around 10,8, patchy on climber's right side of the creek after that until 11K where I put on skins. On the way down, I was able to make the snow last to 10,8, almost back to the 4WD, by staying skiers right side of the creek most of the time. I skinned up to 12,5, almost into the main SE couloir, took that to the top, summited around 10:50. Dropped into a face just skier's left of what I climbed that went from the summit, mostly very moderate, but a cool steep section through a couple wide rocks right before getting to the basin below Citadel. Then another cool couloir down to 11,5 where I crossed the creek on a snowbridge and hustled out of there as it was already thundering/lightning. Back to TH at 12:45. 

Route: From Dry Gulch
Posted On: 5/3/2025, By: daway8
Info: Me and a friend took the route from Dry Gulch after overnighting at the much larger and more private Herman Gulch TH five minutes up the road. Surprised to find continous snow within a quarter mile of where the dirt road is gated closed just down from the tiny and totally exposed Dry Gulch TH. Plenty of people have taken this route, especially up to where many turn off to go to the Citadel, but I may have been the only non-skier/snowboarder. Started later than originally planned, not until after sunrise, but pleasantly surprised to find I was able to boot all the way to the summit. Friend skied from a ways below the summit due to some gear issues. A trio of snowboarders dropped right off from the summit around noon and triggered a few small slides, but nothing that was problematic. I booted partway down but once I dropped into the valley put on snowshoes. After one break I tried to continue with the snowshoes strapped to my pack but abandoned that plan in less than 5 steps. Had to shed layers like crazy as the afternoon wore on, but as long as I kept the snowshoes on I didn't sink too much. 

Route: From west Eisenhower tunnel
Posted On: 7/2/2024, By: tefensmom
Info: Cornice on saddle between Hagar and Coon Hill still holding strong so I ascended the steep grassy slopes on south side of Hagar-Golden Bear saddle. Also tagged Golden Bear. Descent from Golden Bear SW slopes. Route is in summer conditions other than the cornice as previously mentioned in last report. Marmots, bees and wildflowers galore. 

Route: via Golden Bear
Posted On: 6/20/2024, By: Athiel
Info: Went to Hagar from Golden Bear, maybe two good patches of snow on the way. Class 3 scramble to the top is manageable- there was snow in the little saddle after the headwall. Then climb was mostly clear. Rock is fairly solid... but there were a few loose, so I'd check your holds. The descent back to the basin was not manageable. Ridgeline entirely corniced looking at Coon Hill. Couldn't locate what is supposed to be a highly visible trail due to all the snow. Had to go back over Golden Bear. 

Route: SE Slopes
Posted On: 5/18/2024, By: BillMiddlebrook
Info: Snow, snow and more snow! The snow starts 1/4 up Dry Gulch and is continuous to the summit. Today it was firm in the morning and hero corn at 10am when we started our ski descent. 

Route: South ridge from Golden Bear Peak
Posted On: 11/6/2023, By: sunbleached
Info: Other than the wind, this was pretty straightforward and easy. Some powder and postholing coming from Golden Bear Peak, but nothing uncomfortable or strenuous. The high point proper after the final 300-ish rise has some pillowing that obscures the gaps in the talus. Took my time and was fine. 

Route: From West Eisenhower
Posted On: 7/11/2023, By: ncxhjhgvbi
Info: Golden Bear has a few low angle snowfields on the main trail. Ridge to Hagar was completely clear. On the way down from Hagar I headed down towards the saddle with Coon Hill to try to gain the climbers trail. It is easy to see from above. There is a cornice in spots but a few spots where you can make 5-6 plunge steps on a low angle. Beautiful day! 

Route: Eisenhower Tunnel
Posted On: 7/4/2023, By: sarahmariekirk
Info: Climbed Hagar Mountain today along with Golden Bear, starting from the west side of Eisenhower Tunnel. The class 3 climb on Hagar is super fun and very solid, gorgeous views of the Citadel. On our way back to solid ground from the class 3 portion, we started hearing thunder and seeing very dark clouds surrounding us. Within a matter of minutes, we experienced buzzing rocks and could feel the metal zippers of our jackets vibrating. My friend and I both were shocked on the top of our heads, and it was extremely scary. We booked it down as fast as we could and the weather passed, so we started towards GB. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/27/2023, By: vertical_volume
Info: Parked on the west side of the Eisenhower and hiked up into the basin on the west side, started at 9:09 am. Plenty of snow to cross in the basin, but it was supportive. The ridge between Hagar and golden bear is clear of snow. couple spots on Hagar's summit ridge you could step in snow to avoid some scrambling but it's mostly off the main route, no gear outside summer hiking gear needed. 

Route: From Eisenhower Tunnel
Posted On: 5/10/2023, By: gcook33
Info: Started on the west side of tunnel. Started around 745am and snow was 95% bulletproof. Headed .25mi toward Hagar then turned directly east up towards Golden Bear Peak. Snow was still firm and occasional tundra. From Golden Bear, ridge was partially snow covered but easy walking. No real obstacles early in the morning. Returned back down and went down the steeper slopes of the bowl that forms from the connecting saddle of the two mountains. Snow was still stable and made for a nice glissade. 2800', 5.5mi. 

Route: Dry Gulch
Posted On: 4/30/2023, By: k_fergie
Info: Skied the main SE face of Hagar today. Booted straight up the face and oh my was it hot. Prime USDA certified corn at about 10:15-10:30 when we dropped, more easterly facing portions, particularly near rocks, were overripe. Coverage was great, a little bit of wet slide debris, but easily avoidable. Boomerang also looked good, I think another party climbed and skied it a little after us. Snoopy's collar on The Citadel was a party, I'd say at least 15 people skied it today. Also hit Golden Bear on the way out since it was staying cooler. RIP to the poor snowshoer who post holed down basically all of Dry Gulch Saturday afternoon, I'll send a report to the local authorities that a slaying occurred out there. 

Route: S Ridge via Dry Creek
Posted On: 4/29/2023, By: bkcheck
Info: Summited Hagar from Dry Creek today. Flotation necessary all the way up to the ridge, but the snow was surprisingly supportive until then. Snow on the summit block itself (above 12,800') was highly variable from verglas-covered rock to thigh-deep drifts. I opted to stick to the ridge proper between the false and true summit -- there is a bootpack that traverses a bit lower but I was up there late and saw evidence of a couple wet slides on the SE face. 

Route: From tunnel
Posted On: 11/26/2022, By: yaktoleft13
Info: Quick day on Hagar/golden bear. Wore snowshoes from parking lot to ridge, then booted up Hagar. Snow adds a bit of spice to the scramble, but the snow on the east side was supportive enough to use. Traverse to golden bear has a bit more annoying snow, but it goes easily enough. To descend, I headed toward the tunnel on the ridge, then picked a direct descent line I liked back to the basin 

Route: From West Side of Eisenhower Tunnel
Posted On: 11/18/2022, By: daway8
Info: Didn't summit - turned back about 2/3 of the way after confirming the forecasted -26 degree wind-chill which was getting annoying along the ridge top plus my out of state partner wasn't feeling well. After the underwhelming snow on Bierstadt last weekend I said we wouldn't need snowshoes but regretted that by about midway through this sheltered valley where we slogged through consistently knee deep snow that occasionally plunged deeper. Was even worse on the return. On the upper part of the ridge at about 12,600ft saw a large crack break multiple inches deep and several feet long, running diagonally downward but then on reaching the edge of the clearing where no protruding rock or grass was present it shot upwards and pretty near encircled me in a perhaps 30 foot loop by which time I belatedly called to my partner to stop as I backtracked as quickly as possible. Nothing ended up sliding but it was unnerving - we changed course and found a safer way to the ridgeline, careful to avoid the cornices starting to build further west. 

Route: Coon Hill TH
Posted On: 9/24/2022, By: MaryinColorado
Info: Completely dry and benign. Just wanted to drop a caution here about runoff from the streams onto the trail between start of trail and 11,800'. It is freezing overnight on the trail and can be difficult to see, so just be careful trekking up to 11,800'.