Tag: hassell peak

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!