Half Peak

Route: Via cataract gulch
Posted On: 7/5/2019, By: WildWanderer
Info: Trail dry until after waterfall. Small avalanche altered route: Class 4 move required to get over waterfall (which was raging). Today's summit was only possible due to snow bridges over the creek crossings. The creeks are raging and the snow bridge before the basin has a few days left before it collapses. Microspikes very helpful from basin to 12,800. Lots of snow past the lake. Last 1000' were mostly dry. The crux was snow free in all the areas that mattered. Saw 3 bull elk eating in the Gulch. 

Route: South Slopes from Cataract Gulch
Posted On: 6/12/2018, By: HikerGuy
Info: Full summer conditions. What looked like a beaver pond covering the trail, near the turn off for Quarter Peak, has been drained. East Face descent off Half is not bad at all, a cairn marks the start at the top. 

Route: South ridge
Posted On: 4/14/2018, By: bmcqueen
Info: Did Half from Cararact TH today. Trail is mostly snow from shortly after the bridge crossing. Most of it was really nice and supportive this morning, but I had to put my snowshoes on for a bit on the way down after the sun warmed it all day. The section just below the summit was a bit spicier with snow on it - fun though. 

Route: South Ridge from Cataract Gulch TH
Posted On: 8/30/2017, By: swadmin
Info: Summer condition, pretty much dry all the way to the summit. Nice camping spot at the small alpine lake about 4 miles in at the CDT/Cataract Creek trail junction if you prefer backpacking approach. 

Route: Cataract Gulch
Posted On: 6/26/2017, By: Shattuck311
Info: Soggy/Snowy in the upper meadows. No snow gear necessary & Stream crossing were easy. 

Route: South Slopes from Cataract Gulch
Posted On: 9/9/2016, By: desertdog
Info: Beautiful day weather wise, and I only saw one other person. I think this trip is much longer than the 12.7 miles described by Roach, so leave yourself plenty of time. The class 1 trail to the ridge is easy to follow. There was one section right past a small talus field that the trail has been flooded over due to the results of a beaver dam. Just go to the right of the willows and you will find a few cairns and small trail that will get you through this section. From the upper lake, the south slope is one mile. You will hike past a waterfall and then three large cairns. Turn right here. The slope is a long off trail slog to the ridge. The class 2+ ridge is short and relatively easy, but has plenty of exposure. This is a great area to explore, and well worth the long day of hiking. 

Route: South Slope
Posted On: 7/4/2015, By: illusion7il
Info: Standard route from Cataract Gulch is All clear of snow but the basin is really soggy and there are 4 stream crossing about calf deep. Descended the Cuba Gulch route (Not recommended unless you are into willow bashing.) and it is very soggy as well with a few patches of snow that can be avoided. 

Route: South slopes from Cataract TH
Posted On: 5/7/2013, By: Rainier_Wolfcastle
Info: Climbed Half Peak and Pt 13,164 as a day trip from Cataract Gulch TH on Saturday 5/4/13. There is zero snow on the road to the TH. The trail was 50% snow covered to 10.5K. We put on snowshoes for a couple of sections past this. Note there are at least 5 creek crossing, you will want poles for log crossings and will need to step in some shallow creek spots. Past treeline, you cross through 3 willow/boggy sections on your way to Cataract Lake, this is the worst part of the hike! Snowshoes are mandatory, choose your poison...crossing questionable ice/sidehilling in snowshoes/postholing in willows. Past the lake on the CO Trail section (if you take the long route, which I did), you still will want snowshoes, its just a mix of bare ground, scree, willows, 2 foot soft snow. The direct route from Cataract Lake looked like it might go in crampons...if you got a really early start and the snow firmed up. Above 12,800, all snow is avoidable to the summit. I never wore my microspikes or took the axe off my pack. Pic #1: Clearing around 10,500...next section of trees held deeper snow. Pic #2: Entire upper section of Half Peak from the East, summit is far right, Roach's class 3 more direct east route I believe would follow the continuous snow seen to the summit...snow too soft for me to attempt. Pic #3: Cataract Lake at 12,200, looking SE. Pic #4: Looking at the summit plateau from the East edge of the first plateau, with the catwalk section (airy, dry, class 2+). I was eyeing going down that snow, but it was too slushy to give it a go (with cliffs below).