RT Length: 11.65 miles
Elevation Gain: 3282’
There are a lot of ways to climb this peak. In summer conditions there’s a trail that will take you to the ridge, but today that trail was under snow in many areas, so I decided to start from the Herman Gulch trailhead to Jones Pass, take the ridge to the summit and make this hike a loop. I was on the trail at 6am. Herman Gulch trailhead has room for plenty of vehicles, but it fills up fast all year long.
I followed the trail for less than a quarter of a mile before coming to a junction.
At the junction I turned left, and followed Herman Gulch Trail 98 northwest.
This is a class 1 trail, and easy to follow, but this morning the trail was covered in a thin layer of ice. Microspikes were helpful, especially at the creek crossings.
After hiking for a total of 3 miles I came to another junction. I turned right, and followed Jones Passs Trail 96 east towards Jones Pass.
This was still a class 1 trail all the way to the pass
There was a cornice forming at the pass
I climbed up the cornice, and turned left, leaving the trail.
My goal was to make it to the ridge
There was snow on the route, so I took the path of least resistance. This is the route I took.
And some pictures of the route to the ridge.
Knowing there were cornices on the ridge proper, when I got to about 12850’ I started heading northeast towards the saddle to avoid the cornices.
I now had a clear view of Hassell Peak.
And here’s looking back at the snow and cornices I was trying to avoid. They were full of trap-door snow
I started following the ridge north
There was more snow on the route than I’d anticipated. I’d originally wanted to go straight up and over the ridge, but when I got there I didn’t trust the snow. There was about 4 inches of unconsolidated snow covering a layer of ice that sounded hollow. Instead, I traversed the ridge to the right, staying on more stable ground.
After rounding the ridge I made my way to a small saddle.
Here’s a look back at the route I’d taken around the ridge
Once at the saddle, the trail picked up, and I followed it a short distance to the summit.
I summited Hassell Peak at 9:40am
Hassell Peak:
I was making this hike a loop, so I headed south back to the small saddle
From here I knew there was a trail in the area, but it was all covered in snow, so I aimed southeast until I could see the trail below me
Back on the trail, I followed it back towards Jones Pass
This was easier said than done however, because some of the trail was covered in snow. Here’s where I was headed first
And then back to the pass
Once at the pass I climbed up the small cornice, and took the trail back to the junction with Herman Gulch.
I turned left at the junction, and followed the Herman Gulch Trail east
The trail was still icy in the afternoon. Microspikes were helpful.
At the Watrous/Herman Gulch junction I turned right and followed the trail a short distance west back to the trailhead.
I made it back to the trailhead at noon, making this an 11.65 mile hike with 3282’ of elevation gain in 6 hours.
On to the next trailhead!
Wild Wanderer 