"8/29/23: Original plan was for Paul and me to pack in on Sunday, summit on Monday, and pack out on Tuesday from Mistymoon. A last minute weather check promised a miserable summit day with low ceiling, rain at lower elevations, and snow above 12K. We decided it best to wait it out a day and pack out after summiting on Tuesday making it a long but doable day. After finding a lucky campsite at West Tensleep CG, we packed in on Monday just as the graupel and then hard rains were unleashed. By the time we reached Lake Helen the rain became intermittent and then fairly clear and we were allowed to fully enjoy these spectacular, large alpine lakes. We passed a few camping parties by the time we got to a prime campsite on the west bluff of Mistymoon Lake. I can’t picture a more beautiful place to spend the night! We decided to ascend via the long SW ridge of Cloud taking an almost directly north approach to the nose of the ridge after fording Paint Rock Creek at about the 1.3 mile mark. There are some fairly easy ramps to negotiate on the way up while creating switchbacks and staying in Class 2 territory. At about the 10,600 contour there is a long diagonal ramp that we were planning ..." — LoneWolf • Aug 29, 2023

"I hiked in via West Tensleep Trail to Misty Moon Lake, where I camped for the night. I then summited the next day- 4 hours up and 2.5 down. Spent the night at Misty Moon and hiked out the following day. I had great weather but the whole area was covered in smoke from forest fires. I saw five large bull moose at Misty Moon." — SDadventurer • Aug 24, 2012

"With Bruce Behrens. Tried to go light and do in one day. Nope! Cold night with no sleeping bag or pad but did have a tent. Part of a good trip including Devils Tower and the Grand Teton. Summitted next day. " — louhibbard • Aug 20, 2012

"Climbed in one long day from West Tensleep Lake Trailhead. Beautiful warm weather. Met many backpackers and at least a dozen climbers, all enjoying the Cloud Peak Wilderness. Saw 15 elk in the early morning, and 5 on the way out." — Crawfordsl • Jul 31, 2012