Hallett Peak (2)/Flattop Mountain (5)
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• Statistics:
  • Date Hiked:  July 23, 2011
  • Miles Hiked:  8.5
  • Elevation Gain:  3,300'
  • Hiking Partner(s):  Brian Kooienga, Scott Momburg, & Kevin Smith
• Description:
  • Scott was in town from Ohio for several days, and Brian and I were finally able to join him and Kevin in the mountains for some fun.  We all met a the Bear Lake trailhead ready to try Hallett Peak.  We made quick work of the approach to Emerald Lake and then scrambled to the base of the Great Dihedral.  The Great Dihedral is a three pitch route on the lower half of the first buttress of Hallett Peak.  Since Kevin and Scott had been climbing for the past two days, they graciously let Brian and I have the sharp end of the rope for the entire climb.  Kevin and I climbed together while Brian and Scott teamed up.
  • After getting to the middle ledge on the First Buttress, the weather was holding so we scrambled up about 200' for two more pitches of rock climbing on the upper buttress called the Standard Route to reach Hallett's east ridge.  Rather than take the easy way down making two rappels lower on the ridge and then down-climbing a descent gully, we went up the east ridge and topped out on Hallett Peak.  From the summit we took the trail over Flattop Mountain and then back down to Bear Lake.
• Maps:
  • Click here to view a 2D map of the area where this hike is located.
• Photographs:
  • The First, Second, and Third Buttresses of Hallett Peak.
  • A reflection of Hallett Peak in Emerald Lake.
  • Dragon's Tail and Dragon's Tooth Couloirs on Flattop Mountain.
  • The Great Dihedral
  • Scott and Kevin on the approach.
  • Brian on the approach.
  • Looking down the first pitch of the climb.
  • Looking down the start of the second pitch of the climb.  In hindsight, since the first pitch was relatively short we should have made the first belay station between pitch one and two from where I took this photo.
  • Kevin on the crux of The Great Dihedral.
  • Kevin climbing the money pitch of The Great Dihedral.
  • Kevin exiting The Great Dihedral.
  • Brian at the top of the second pitch.
  • Looking up the start of our third pitch.
  • Kevin belaying at the base of the third pitch.
  • James on the start of the third pitch.
  • Scott finishing the third pitch.
  • Our only photo from pitches four and five on the standard route.  It's called a "tree hold".  Anything goes in alpine climbing.
  • Brian and Kevin enjoying some peppered salami at the top of the route.
  • James after a good climb.
  • Longs Peak with Scott at the top of The Great Dihedral and Standard Route on the First Buttress of Hallet Peak.
  • Brian, Kevin, and Scott hiking to the summit of Hallett Peak.
  • Hallett Peak
  • James on the summit.
  • Brian on the summit.
  • Kevin on the summit.
  • Scott on the summit.
  • The Great Dihedral from the Flattop Mountain trail.

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