Mt. Oklahoma
Southeast Slopes - Class 2 Ski
On June 11th Kristi and I climbed the southeast slopes of Mount Oklahoma and skied to North Halfmoon Lakes. We started on the North Halfmoon trail that serves Mount Massive. We then bushwacked west until we cleared treeline. Once above treeline we skied/booted our way up Oklahoma's southeast slopes to the summit. The weather was perfect and sparse cloud coverage kept the snow in good shape for skiing. From the summit we skied perfect corn to North Halfmoon Lakes and then bushwhacked our way back to the Mt. Massive Trail. The views of Massive and the Sawatch were incredible. The day covered 8.6 miles and 3900 vertical.
Partner: Kristi Henes
Here is a link for the GPX file from our trip.
Our route started at the trailhead for North Halfmoon Lakes and covered 8.6 miles and 3900 vertical. We started hiking around 5:00am. Along the way we had an equipment issue which burned about 30 minutes. We reached the summit at 10:00am and started skiing at 10:30am
A view of Mount Oklahoma. This meadow had firm snow and plenty of Avy debris. We were still on the Mt. Massive North Halfmoon Lakes trail at this point.
Kristi trying not to get a soaker during the bushwhack phase of the trip. This was the first of two stream crossings.
Alex... mid bushwhack... happy to be in a clearing.... even if it was short lived. Great morning light on the mountain tops.
Alex close to the couloir we would boot up... near 12,600.
Kristi getting ready to put her head down and climb. We saw other ski tracks here. However we had plans to ski the east side of Oklahoma to North Half Moon Lakes.
Kristi... head down... climbing... counting steps. Kinda like a chipper WOD... but with views.. and snow... and skis... and fun!
Alex on the final 600ft to the summit. The snow was relatively firm thanks to cloud cover.
Mount Massive... not a shabby back drop
Alex close to the summit
Alex and Mount Massive... almost to the top.
Summit shot with Mount Massive. The weather was perfect and the sparse cloud cover preserved our snow.
Summit shot looking south west to the snow filled Sawatch range.
Alex skiing off of the summit
Kristi skiing to the saddle where we would drop down to North Halfmoon Lakes.
Skiing from the summit of Mt. Oklahoma to North Half Moon Lake (lower right). Mt. Massive provides backdrop.
Perfect corn on the ski to Upper Halfmoon Lake
Kristi takes in the view and eyes her line to the lake
There goes Kristi being a corn star again!
Alex skiing to the lake. The snow was great!
Alex enjoying the descent
What a place!
Kristi having a great day
So much fun!!!
Sticky snow... Lower North Halfmoon Lake