21 replies to this topic

[junkie]

Ok, one of my key hikes to do this July is to make it up flattop mountain with my 9 year old. She is pretty darn tough so I think she will make it (probably easier than I). Would love to make it to Hallets, but thats a play it by ear thing for sure.

Given the season and the fact that I will probably be a little on the slow side...

1) What time would you depart on this hike? I am thinking this is a start it the dark thing...I would love to catch the sunrise while doing this one.

2) What would you wear? Just how cold will it be at the top?


Chris

[DeeCeeM]

I'm interested in this topic, too. Part of me wants to consider at least the Flattop portion as my "Big Hike" for the last day of my August trip; but my brain is suggesting that might not be within my abilities or a particularly good idea, especially by myself (and even more especially if a predawn start is necessary - not gonna happen.)

Help me out here - should I consider this hike or look for Plan B?

--

[smudge]

My advice would be to know your personal abilities. To be the safest, you want to plan to be off of the summit by 10 am. Sure, if you havn't made it to the top by then, and it's a perfect day...keep going.....and if it looks like you will make the summit by 9am and there are storms coming...get out of there.

If one has never don ethis type of hike before, I'd say start at 5 am at the latest. If you did hallet, that would require a 1 mph average to the summit...very doable. When I take my time, take a lot of pictures, and enjoy the day..I average 2 mph...but when I am moving I move quickly.

I would definately reccomend, if the weather is nice, doing hallet as well....it is not too much extra effort from the summit of flattop. Just think of it this way. It would be like walking around Bear Lake, just up hill all the way. That would be easy, right??

If you did want to see the sunrise..the Dream Lake overlook area si a great place to watch it...give yourself an hour and a hlaf to get at least to that point...you will probably be higher in an hour and a half. So just figure out when sunrise is and start accordingly.

This is a great mountain to do solo...especially in the summer, as it is a heavily travelled trail...and cell phones work on the entire hike..in case you get in some real trouble.

Again...be honest to yourself about your abilities and you'll do fine. Worst case is you go on a nice hike on a great trail and turn around when your done...for whatever reason.

Clothing...you could probably wear shorts from the start...wear a lightwieght, moisture wicking tee...a fleece and bring rain gear. Use boots or tennis shoes(if you have strong ankles). Plan on large temperature range....30's in the morning to 60's or 70's on the way back down. Comfortable socks are a must...I like smart wool.

[Aaron]

Smudge offers good advice. I think if you're in good condition, which you'd be the judge of, then you could definitely make it if you start early enough. I'd say go for it! It's an awesome hike....and my favorite mountain so I'm obviously biased. Have fun and take lots of pictures if you go. Then come back home and share your pics with us.

--Aaron

[GLENNinPA]

I really need to do this hike!!!


Glenn

[ProfHall]

Great advice, Smudge! Last October I made it to where the trail starts switching back around some cairns before the ice on the trail and the extremely strong wind turned me around. That beautiful sunny morning I was alone on the trail until almost halfway back down, so the "if anything happens" part would have taken a while for me. The hike is beautiful, with many different places- both looking east and south or north and west- to see off far, far away. I particularly like the view to Long's and the keyboard of the winds, as well as the overwhelming presence of Hallet so close. However, my personal view on this is that you will have to really talk about this with your kid(s) before you tackle it because it is pretty much a non-stop altitude gain on the entire trail up from Bear Lake...there are no "flat" parts until you reach the tundra up on Flattop! Some of the switchbacks and sections meander up, while others are like stairmasters in the outdoors! Note that even if you don't go all the way to the top, an early morning start and sunrise at Dream Lake overlook would be a memory of a lifetime...

As aaron said, whatever you do, take lots of pictures and tell us all about it when you get back!

[mwilson]

I have hiked Flattop twice, but have never gone on to Hallets. I am in decent shape, but not in "super" shape, and while I found the hike difficult, it was a good challenge and very rewarding. The first time we hiked it, we were taking a break at one of the overlooks while enjoying a snack. A ranger came along and we chatted for awhile. When he left he told us not to give up. It looked like it was just a little further, so we weren't sure why he was telling us not to give up when we were so close to the top! We found that the trail at the top goes on, and on, and on! We didn't leave predawn for either of the hikes, but as I remember, we did leave very early and the last time the clouds were really rolling in as we left. Next time we'll have to leave earlier and try to make Hallets too!

Marsha

[SandyP]

Wow. . . all this talk is making me want to try this too. When we go next time, we've already decided to do Thunder and Black Lake. Maybe we'll have to try this one too. If we aren't in good shape before we go, then we should be afterwards, right?

[Veik]

I've been up Hallett twice and I know that Smudge is in much better shape than I. I've learned that I can get pretty far even though I don't go very fast just by starting early and being persistent. Pick a pace that is appropriate for you and just keep going.

[junkie]

Thanks all for the tips.

Smudge - do you think stocking caps (or at least earbands) and gloves would be a good thing to have along at the top?

Man I cant wait.

I saw a trip report yesterday that looks really interesting also. Milner pass to Mt Ida, down to Timber Lake and out to the Timber lake trailhead. So many hikes, so little time. Short of moving to CO, what is a guy to do?

Chris

[smudge]

definatley gloves and winter hat (stocking cap, beanie, whatever). I always bring and extra pair of gloves as well...but that is just so a certain experience can never happen to me again.

[slowpoke]

...but that is just so a certain experience can never happen to me again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, I'll bite. What? Pirate rabbits? Lemur poop?

[smudge]

...but that is just so a certain experience can never happen to me again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, I'll bite. What? Pirate rabbits? Lemur poop?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hahaha...no, nothing like that this time.....it was one of those mornings that it was about 10 below zero and I snowshoed up to Timberline falls (no idea what the temp was up there). On the hike in, I was working pretty hard and my hands must have been sweating. At the falls, I took my gloves (the only pair I had) off to take some pictures....as I put them back on I realized that the moisture on the inside had frozen solid...my gloves were as hard as a rock, and were literally a block of ice. So I had to hike out without gloves on in sub-zero temps. I was in so much pain.....It took a good five minutes for me to get the keys out of my pockets and into the ignition to start my car...my fingers wouldn't move at all. And getting the snowshoes off seemed hopeless...that took about a half hour. So, especially in the winter, no matter what the weather, I always carry at least one extra pair of gloves.

[greg126]

1) What time would you depart on this hike?  I am thinking this is a start it the dark thing...I would love to catch the sunrise while doing this one.

2) What would you wear?  Just how cold will it be at the top? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agree the 9 year old will probably zip along, good info above but if you hadn't already thought of it, I'd do Flattop/Hallet on toward the end of your stay to get acclimated and develop an idea of your pace going up and down and estimate from that. I'd definitely look at being off Hallets by noon (earlier is better but I've found that works for me as a compromise between sleep and storms). If you want to catch sunrise, of course, that issue is taken care of.

Greg

[michiganhiker]

The thing I'd recommend is a SUN HAT. I wore a ball cap when I went in late June (left the boonie hat in the car- dumb me) and I burned my neck and ears. It's the one thing I wish I'd had. We had sunshine all day long.