DukeJH - Jul 13, 2015 11:45 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2015
Rest and nutrition is key
Second attempt via Red Lake. Camped at Lower Red Lake and summitted with a group of 4 after the group above kicked rocks down the chute. Typical afternoon thunderstorms on the descent.
Last attempt I was coming off illness, hadn't slept, was dehydrated and started late.
Diesel - Jul 12, 2015 1:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2015
Split Mountain day hike
The 3rd time is a charm. Solo hike. Many thanks to summitpost's Cab who gave me some good tips. I left at the trail-head at 5:25AM, submitted at 12:15PM, back to the car at almost 6:00PM. This is the first mountain where I saw two snakes on the trail, both between the trial-head and the creek. I did not meet or see one single person on the mountain the whole day.
charitydominic - Oct 30, 2014 6:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2006
NE Slope, git er done
Yup, do this one. Had a lot of fun. Would repeat.
DougHemken - Aug 1, 2014 8:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2014
Car to car
Car-to-car from the Meadows. Took us about 14 hours.
ElGreco - May 27, 2014 12:14 am Date Climbed: May 24, 2014
St. Jean couloir
With Max. Went with hopes to climb the East Couloir but the recent snowfall was still causing sluffs and it was very warm, so we thought better of it and went up the St. Jean with a bunch of useless rock and ice gear... Mostly a soft snow slog with a couple of mixed moves to overcome a step with hollow snow underneath it.
I have to say, if Split were not a 14er, a small fraction of folks would climb it. Interesting geology, but it's not an elegant or aesthetic peak - just a heap of... stuff. Red Lake is wonderful. Beautiful views from the top, but a totally anticlimactic summit (just a flat spot somewhere up there).
High clearance definitely recommended for the drive. I thought the trail was fine - don't see why people complain. Just make sure to walk north from the parking area on a road to the green patch with the spring to find the start. Tips for staying on it: follow the wide, traily thing in the middle and don't veer to the side...
bricewilson - Mar 30, 2014 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2013
From Red Lake TH
Day 5 of SC13. 5:00am car; 11:15am summit; 11:35am departed summit; 3:30pm car. Made it to LAX with plenty of time to spare for my red-eye back to NYC.
danblock - Jan 22, 2014 5:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2013
North Slope from East
The trail to Red Lake is kinda of a pain, but it was beautiful at the lake under the peak. Hiked with Vincent and Nick and made the summit without any trouble--just lots of scree and talus. It felt like a long way back to the car.
We took the standard dirt access road in a recent Subaru Forrester--no problems, but it takes a while.
JeremiahJohnson - Oct 28, 2013 12:32 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2013
JMT side trip
Did this as a side trip on a JMT thru-hike that included lots of extra peaks. Summitted with Connie & Eric - 2 other JMTers that wanted to get in an extra 14er for their thru hike.
Pastorron - Oct 6, 2013 12:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2013
Didn't make it this time
Tried to day hike it but our group got off course and by the time we got back on the right trail the chances of making the summit had gone way down. I got up as high as the notch but had to turn around so we could get back down safely. Will return in future.
Its alright, I didn't make it to the top of Mount Elbert caused by a blizzard, almost sub zero temperature's, and my mom, and dad were tired too, so don't feel bad.
jdmorehouse - Aug 14, 2013 7:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2013
Solo Dayhike
Although I started with a partner, we parted ways about a mile and a half into the climb. After a five thirty start, the day warmed up as soon as the sun was up, and I don't care for warm climbs. The first real view of the peak was at the lower Red Lake, and it was awesome (to use an over used word). Rising nearly 4000' from the lake, it looked like an impossible climb. Loose and unstable rock in the moraine fields added to the difficulty. The final chute up to the summit ridge was steep, loose, and I was glad to find 3rd class rock to hold onto. The views on the summit, though, are the best I've experienced yet. The descent was much faster for me and was back at the car well before dark. Note: the road in, although in bad repair, was not nearly as bad as I had been led to believe. My XTerra had no issues at all with any of it, and a fairly low clearance car had made it to the parking area after me (a group of back packers), so careful driving will get most vehicles there.
Donno - Aug 12, 2013 10:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 1995
N. Slope
W/ Peter & Rahil. Doug stayed in camp.
Deb - Jun 29, 2013 4:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2013
Dayhike!
No problems with road, albeit rough and jaggedy. Dayhiked from Red Lake trailhead, and wasted an hour and 500' elevation gain by getting off trail. Still made trip C2C 12 hrs. Class 3 chute was fun, still had snow so the right wall was the place to be. Hot. No skeeters.
Steve Pratt - May 28, 2013 5:28 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2013
Late May ascent
Been there. Done that. Barfed on the summit. That's what happens when you go from 90 feet elevation to 14,000 in one night.
I ascended the hourglass-shaped gulley to the right of the class-3 rocks up to the north slope. My buddy went up the rocks. Six of one. Coming down it was late and I thought the snow might be icy. Came down snow anyway and to our delight the snow was very soft and forgiving. Never glissaded a crux pitch before.
royanderson - Mar 9, 2013 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2008
From JMT
My brother Ed and I climbed this as a fun detour from the JMT that we were doing, having started in Yosemite, going North to South.
orbitor - Oct 29, 2012 1:40 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2012
From Upper Basin via Taboose Pass
So much easier coming from the west to the Split-Prater Saddle, then up the north slopes to the summit. Tremendous views in all directions. Did it over Labor Day on a 3-day backpack from Taboose, really enjoyed the area.
rdesota - Oct 8, 2012 12:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2002
Wtih bro
a long hike up the east side and a quick trip from the bay area over the weekend. Found it interesting that my father had climbed split mountain by moonlight 25 years prior.
My car wouldn't have made it, so parked near Tinemaha campground and hiked/jogged the extra 6.5 miles to and from the trailhead and did the standard route. I'd agree that the crux is more like loose class 2 than it is class 3. 12:45 C2C.
iditarod81 - Sep 6, 2012 1:33 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2012
Glad we rented a Jeep
The road in is beastly and our Prius would not have survived. Beautiful and remote, though, nice to be in a less crowded place.
DukeJH - Jul 13, 2015 11:45 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2015
Rest and nutrition is keySecond attempt via Red Lake. Camped at Lower Red Lake and summitted with a group of 4 after the group above kicked rocks down the chute. Typical afternoon thunderstorms on the descent.
Last attempt I was coming off illness, hadn't slept, was dehydrated and started late.
Diesel - Jul 12, 2015 1:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2015
Split Mountain day hikeThe 3rd time is a charm. Solo hike. Many thanks to summitpost's Cab who gave me some good tips. I left at the trail-head at 5:25AM, submitted at 12:15PM, back to the car at almost 6:00PM. This is the first mountain where I saw two snakes on the trail, both between the trial-head and the creek. I did not meet or see one single person on the mountain the whole day.
charitydominic - Oct 30, 2014 6:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2006
NE Slope, git er doneYup, do this one. Had a lot of fun. Would repeat.
DougHemken - Aug 1, 2014 8:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2014
Car to carCar-to-car from the Meadows. Took us about 14 hours.
ElGreco - May 27, 2014 12:14 am Date Climbed: May 24, 2014
St. Jean couloirWith Max. Went with hopes to climb the East Couloir but the recent snowfall was still causing sluffs and it was very warm, so we thought better of it and went up the St. Jean with a bunch of useless rock and ice gear... Mostly a soft snow slog with a couple of mixed moves to overcome a step with hollow snow underneath it.
I have to say, if Split were not a 14er, a small fraction of folks would climb it. Interesting geology, but it's not an elegant or aesthetic peak - just a heap of... stuff. Red Lake is wonderful. Beautiful views from the top, but a totally anticlimactic summit (just a flat spot somewhere up there).
High clearance definitely recommended for the drive. I thought the trail was fine - don't see why people complain. Just make sure to walk north from the parking area on a road to the green patch with the spring to find the start. Tips for staying on it: follow the wide, traily thing in the middle and don't veer to the side...
bricewilson - Mar 30, 2014 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2013
From Red Lake THDay 5 of SC13. 5:00am car; 11:15am summit; 11:35am departed summit; 3:30pm car. Made it to LAX with plenty of time to spare for my red-eye back to NYC.
danblock - Jan 22, 2014 5:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2013
North Slope from EastThe trail to Red Lake is kinda of a pain, but it was beautiful at the lake under the peak. Hiked with Vincent and Nick and made the summit without any trouble--just lots of scree and talus. It felt like a long way back to the car.
We took the standard dirt access road in a recent Subaru Forrester--no problems, but it takes a while.
JeremiahJohnson - Oct 28, 2013 12:32 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2013
JMT side tripDid this as a side trip on a JMT thru-hike that included lots of extra peaks. Summitted with Connie & Eric - 2 other JMTers that wanted to get in an extra 14er for their thru hike.
Pastorron - Oct 6, 2013 12:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2013
Didn't make it this timeTried to day hike it but our group got off course and by the time we got back on the right trail the chances of making the summit had gone way down. I got up as high as the notch but had to turn around so we could get back down safely. Will return in future.
camden kirkpatrick - Jan 28, 2015 9:59 am
Re: Didn't make it this timeIts alright, I didn't make it to the top of Mount Elbert caused by a blizzard, almost sub zero temperature's, and my mom, and dad were tired too, so don't feel bad.
douggranger - Sep 12, 2013 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2007
North Ridge, East approachWith Maggie.
jdmorehouse - Aug 14, 2013 7:22 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2013
Solo DayhikeAlthough I started with a partner, we parted ways about a mile and a half into the climb. After a five thirty start, the day warmed up as soon as the sun was up, and I don't care for warm climbs. The first real view of the peak was at the lower Red Lake, and it was awesome (to use an over used word). Rising nearly 4000' from the lake, it looked like an impossible climb. Loose and unstable rock in the moraine fields added to the difficulty. The final chute up to the summit ridge was steep, loose, and I was glad to find 3rd class rock to hold onto. The views on the summit, though, are the best I've experienced yet. The descent was much faster for me and was back at the car well before dark. Note: the road in, although in bad repair, was not nearly as bad as I had been led to believe. My XTerra had no issues at all with any of it, and a fairly low clearance car had made it to the parking area after me (a group of back packers), so careful driving will get most vehicles there.
Donno - Aug 12, 2013 10:38 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 1995
N. SlopeW/ Peter & Rahil. Doug stayed in camp.
Deb - Jun 29, 2013 4:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2013
Dayhike!No problems with road, albeit rough and jaggedy. Dayhiked from Red Lake trailhead, and wasted an hour and 500' elevation gain by getting off trail. Still made trip C2C 12 hrs. Class 3 chute was fun, still had snow so the right wall was the place to be. Hot. No skeeters.
Steve Pratt - May 28, 2013 5:28 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2013
Late May ascentBeen there. Done that. Barfed on the summit. That's what happens when you go from 90 feet elevation to 14,000 in one night.
I ascended the hourglass-shaped gulley to the right of the class-3 rocks up to the north slope. My buddy went up the rocks. Six of one. Coming down it was late and I thought the snow might be icy. Came down snow anyway and to our delight the snow was very soft and forgiving. Never glissaded a crux pitch before.
royanderson - Mar 9, 2013 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2008
From JMTMy brother Ed and I climbed this as a fun detour from the JMT that we were doing, having started in Yosemite, going North to South.
orbitor - Oct 29, 2012 1:40 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2012
From Upper Basin via Taboose PassSo much easier coming from the west to the Split-Prater Saddle, then up the north slopes to the summit. Tremendous views in all directions. Did it over Labor Day on a 3-day backpack from Taboose, really enjoyed the area.
rdesota - Oct 8, 2012 12:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2002
Wtih broa long hike up the east side and a quick trip from the bay area over the weekend. Found it interesting that my father had climbed split mountain by moonlight 25 years prior.
TheNobleSunfish - Sep 28, 2012 3:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 27, 2012
Extra approach!My car wouldn't have made it, so parked near Tinemaha campground and hiked/jogged the extra 6.5 miles to and from the trailhead and did the standard route. I'd agree that the crux is more like loose class 2 than it is class 3. 12:45 C2C.
iditarod81 - Sep 6, 2012 1:33 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2012
Glad we rented a JeepThe road in is beastly and our Prius would not have survived. Beautiful and remote, though, nice to be in a less crowded place.