Maroon Peak: Climbing one of Colorado's Deadliest 14ers
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- The Maroon Bells are one of the most iconic mountain ranges in the U.S. Towering above Aspen, Colorado, Maroon Peak lures hikers and climbers to its summit with its majestic yet harrowing beauty. The hike to the summit of Maroon Peak is tough - while only about 11 miles, the steep terrain, class 3 climbing, and endless route-finding along the loose and crumbling rock of the ridge makes it one of the hardest and certainly one of the deadliest 14ers in Colorado (Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak alternate with Longs Peak as the deadliest mountains in Colorado every year). While it may be "dicey", it was absolutely one of our favorite hiking adventures to date!
DISCLAIMER: Hopefully we have made clear by now that Maroon Peak is one dangerous mountain. Please take proper safety precautions if you attempt this climb. The Elk Mountain range which includes the Maroon Bells is known for its incredibly loose and crumbly rock. We do not assume responsibility if you attempt this hike. As always, climb at your own risk.
#hiking #climbing #maroonbells
Hey Adam and Marmot! I love this video! I watched it before I did the hike and now after- summited 9/29/24! Thanks for such a fun video ❤
Tim that is freaking awesome! Congratulations!!! So happy for you. And wonderful that you did it at such a beautiful time of year as well. We were actually in Aspen at exactly the same time as you just to experience peak fall -- Maroon Bells and also Conundrum! We were probably looking up at Maroon Peak and reminiscing about it right around when you were summitting! ❤️
BADASS!! Adam and Marmot, love it! Your theme song along with that epic climb and those epic views...so much soul! Most amazing, inspiring couple ever
Awww thanks so much Abra! You are always so kind and supportive. We’re currently stuck in LA traffic trying to get to another adventure, and your words brought a HUGE smile to our faces, which Adam definitely needs right now because he is driving 🤣
Amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing your hikes. You guys are adorable but incredibly tough!
Thank you so much Amy! What a wonderful and kind description -- if we could describe ourselves as we'd ideally like to be, "adorable but incredibly tough" would pretty much be it!
Intro scared the crap outta me...Lived in Colorado all thru the '80s, Maroon Peaks the best ever. You're doing a hike i always wanted to do, thanks for taking me along...new song is so awesome Elise...Rocky Mountain High!!!
Haha hope we didn’t frighten ya TOO much Bill! You’re so lucky to have lived there for a decade. We dream of moving there for a few years one day. Until then, getting small adventures in like this will have to tide us over!
The lesson of Maroon Peak: marmots are jerks! Nice job on both the up and down climb on an iconic Colorado 14er! Such a great view and you guys beat the rain.
Haha ya those marmots really had their way with us, but being on that incredible peak was definitely worth the sacrifice of a pole! Really hoping to get back to CO in the spring/summer. ❤️
No trail, no problem. You guys are really amazing! I on the other hand wanted to cry descending Baldy bowl to ski hut slipping an sliding. Thought of you both and your traverse when I went.
Haha, thank you so much for thinking of us! We absolutely love that Ski Hut trail. And honestly, that thing is nearly as steep in some places as many of the off trail routes we do, the only thing it’s missing is some of the vertical rock climbing… but we could probably even find that if we just went a little bit off trail :)
Each video I watch is more incredible then the last! Climbing those rock faces laterally looks insane. Congrats on getting to the top! Is it just the two of you on these climbs? If so do you guys just swap the camera back and forth? The video, editing and music is top notch!
Thanks so much -- what a kind and generous compliment! Yes, the vast majority of the time it is just the two of us on these adventures. Once in a while Adam's daughter will come with us on a hike, but 95% of the time it's just us swapping back and forth. Honestly, we kind of like keeping the whole thing is in house: we've never once had an argument with a filmer, editor, or songwriter because we just do it all ourselves!
If you look carefully, you'll notice that the rock face he is climbing up at 6:26 is the same one that he is shimmying across like its a narrow ridge at 4:36. Getting to the top is no small accomplishment, but a lot of the clips in this video are absolutely staged for effect.
Hands down best videos on you tube!So glad I found your channel
Wow! Thank you so much. We’re so glad you found us too, and that you like the vids so far. Stay tuned… currently in the car on the way to Utah to do a couple adventures that we’re hoping will be pretty cool 🤗❤️
Love you guys!! Really inspired me to take on a whole different life of climbing 🧗♂️ you guys stay safe out there love your content
Yes!! That makes us super psyched and really proud to hear. This one is definitely a lot harder than Angel's Landing, but so, so worth it. One of our all-time favorite climbs for sure!
Y’all were off route for awhile on this… happy you’re capable scramblers
Ya those cairns didn't help us much going up (though they were great coming down) -- it was scrambling and GPS that got us through!
You both are absolutely amazing! I’m in love with your videos .
Thank you so much -- that makes us very delighted to hear!! And stay tuned -- we just did recon today for an EPIC adventure that should be up in a couple weeks!
This was a fantastic video. What level of rock climbing are you capable of? Do you need much rock climbing experience to have the confidence to do this kind of class 3? I'm more a fire road hiker, but in my dreams I'd like to do something half as rad as this climb. You're both great people and I look forward to more of your videos. Please be safe!
Thanks so much, Joe! We are not particularly good rock climbers at the climbing gym (neither of us is particularly good with fingery, technical holds), but we have gotten good at the low-level class 5 stuff with wider or juggier holds, which is really what we need for the kind of hiking we do. In the future, we definitely intend to up our rock climbing game further because it helps so much with our confidence on climbs like this one, Cloudripper, Galena Peak, etc!
Thanks for taking me along! I'm 68, so I don't feel compelled to do this--it makes Katahdin's Knife Edge and the Huntington Ravine Trail on Washington look like CHILD'S PLAY! Excellent video!!
It's truly our pleasure -- and yeah, at 68 you've earned the right to skip Maroon Peak if you want! We actually hope to come out there at some point and do both Katahdin and Washington -- we've heard both are beautiful. Meanwhile, so glad you liked the video. Check out the Cloudripper one when you get a chance -- after that climb, Maroon Peak didn't seem so bad!
@@LiveHardxLoveHard At Katahdin, I think a Dudley, Knife Edge, Cathedral run could amuse you. There are several fun trails around Washington, some of which I haven't tried--And there are good technical climbs which I Definitely haven't tried! Up Ammonoosuc Ravine, summit, down Jewell is a good loop; up Huntington Ravine, summit, down Tuckerman Ravine in my video; up Six Husbands, summit Jefferson, double over to Adams and descend Buttress or Madison Gulf, are all good. I need to get over and climb King Ravine to Great Gully--too many distractions!
Those are really great suggestions that would work very well with the spirit of our channel-- thank you very much, and we will of course let you know when we come out to try some!!
@@LiveHardxLoveHard Never hesitate to ask, and I'll tell you what I know--thanks!
Y’all are such badasses. Amazing! Thanks for another epic video!🌈💓☮️⛰✨
Aw thanks so much Terra! Epic is definitely how we would describe Maroon Peak. It felt crazy to be on top of a peak that we’d been gazing in awe at from below for so many years!
Amazing!
Also wanted to say I did my first trailrun yesterday because of you guys, and boy does it make descending a lot more fun, thanks!
That is so awesome Bonnie! You just made both of us feel SO happy! We are so honored and delighted that we inspired you into this incredible sport. Huge congratulations, and please keep us updated on your progress ❤️
Had to wipe my palms off several times while watching. Epic hike! And CO is so green :)
Thanks Matt -- glad we could bring you a bit of vicarious anxiety! We were sweating a bit too -- especially coming down those loose-rock gullies. It really is green and beautiful there. Definitely the upside of those damnable afternoon thunderstorms!
Very exhilerating and scrarey to watch at times.
Thanks for surviving it and producing this video. 👏
I thought for a minute there Adam was going to take a nap at the top.
I'm sure he would have if it weren't for the pending storms. 😉
Haha!! You just made Adam so happy with that comment. He thinks you are absolutely 100% right that if there was no pending storm he would have been napping for a half hour. He even went so far as to point out the perfect spot where he would have taken a nap had he had the opportunity. So glad you liked this one, we really loved it and won’t ever forget it!
GREAT JOB GUYS!!!! SO AMAZING!!!! Really admire you and I am SO GLAD you showed the toughness of the descent. Just subscribed to your channel and really will look forward to seeing more of your adventures! I have done several "easy" 14'ners but now no longer can due to bad knees and such. You two are TRULY AMAZING! Cap'n Jack KE0VH
Thanks so much, Jack! Yes the descent was by far the diciest part of the whole thing -- glad you enjoyed, and look forward to bringing you lots more excitement! ❤️
Great video, great hike and I love the music, especially the melody at 2:23. Can it be found and downloaded somewhere? Greetins from Romania.
Thanks so much, we're glad you enjoyed it! Yes you can find and download all of our music on Band Camp under livehardxlovehard -- so happy you like it!! ❤️
Whoa! I got up to Crater lake and I wouldn't image you could climb to the peak! Kudos to yall!
Haha thanks much. Yes the climb to the peak is a bit dicey in places, but as you saw the views are worth it! But to be fair, the hike up to the lake that you did is incredibly beautiful as well -- we just couldn't show that part because we started so early we had to do it in the dark! ❤️
You two are the best hiking couple on TH-cam. Can't get enough of the hikes and all the smiles! Makes me excited to start integrating hiking back into my life now that I have the right heart meds 😁
Aw thank you so much for telling us that. Nothing makes us happier than feeling like we can even play a small part in inspiring you to get out and explore this beautiful world through hiking. We’ve gone on hundreds of hikes and one thing we can say for certain is that it always makes your day better, even if it’s just a short one. Wishing you happy hiking and good health ❤️
Pretty awesome! Thanks for sharing.
It’s definitely our pleasure! Knowing that we’re going to be sharing these adventures makes them even more enjoyable while we’re doing them. Sort of like how sharing a great bottle of wine is even better than drinking it yourself ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard Thanks for taking the time to reply. I don’t drink anymore 😁 but I know what mean. 🙂. My girls say hi and love to watch your adventures.
Really? That's so cool that your girls watch. Please say hi for us, and tell them we hope to see them out on the trails!
You guys continue to be badass!! 💪🏼🔥 very dicey edges… dunno what training you guys do for this but damn… be safe always in your future adventures.
Thanks so much Chris! We’ve been training mostly by trying to do challenging low elevation scrambles whenever possible in places like Joshua Tree or even Malibu Creek state park. But truth be told there’s nothing quite like the real thing when you’re up there on a potentially crumbly cliff face. The good news is that after the Galena to Little San G traverse and Cloudripper, Maroon Peak didn’t actually feel that scary. It was challenging and we could see how people could die on it, but we rarely felt in too much jeopardy 🤗
Cuuuuute marmot 🥰 love this name for you elise! That trail looked so difficult to find! You guys are awesomeee!!!!
Haha ya marmots are cute but also a lot of trouble -- just like Elise!😂 The trail on that last part really was hard to find and we ultimately just picked our own way in some places, but totally worth the effort! ❤️--A
the deadly bells,i climbed up to Fravert basin with college roomate ( Western state college in Gunnison)1981-2? saw the bells from the south side.....rugged magnificence.
Awesome, Cliff! They really are spectacular. What a great memory to have from college -- we both had lots of outdoor adventure with college roommates too, including Adam's first-ever rock climbing adventure! Great stuff to look back on, and we still do adventures with some of those friends today!
Only 11 miles 👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾 like your attitude
Haha yes! This one is definitely all about the vertical rather than the horizontal. ❤️
absolutely EPIC!!! Mount Sneffels was way easier and the views are epic as well
That's awesome you've done Sneffels -- we've had that one on our list for a while because we've heard great things. Maybe this summer!
Best vid yet you two.
And the location was a long awaited one.
Frightening. That’s rock I’d never get on.
Looked so loose and the route finding would’ve been a nightmare.
Thanks so much!! Really glad you feel that way, because we actually love this one too -- not just the climb but the video as well. We like it because it actually does visual justice to some of the intensely steep parts, which isn't always the case given that our cameras tend to flatten things out. And you're right about the rock -- its crumbliness was really what made the hike so hard. But on the upside, that difficulty level also made it totally deserted, and we had the mountain all to ourselves the entire day!
you two are awesome. I love your videos. beautiful landscapes. keep hiking!
Thanks Marcius! So glad you are enjoying the videos. We will definitely keep hiking in beautiful places -- it's our favorite thing to do, and we have so much left to explore! ❤️
You two are a great couple! Very cool video.
Thanks very much -- so excited it's almost climbing season again, because we've got a lot of big ones on the menu for this year! ❤
@@LiveHardxLoveHard I just got back from Boulder and fell in love with the mountains. Any suggestions for a first summit?
@@saxabass Yes! Mt. Elbert via the Black Cloud Trail is a gorgeous but non-technical 14er -- and we did a video on it that will give you all the beta!
@@LiveHardxLoveHard Awesome, thanks!
Great job you two! Beautiful!
Aw thank you so much Sarah! We could not believe the views from the summit of Maroon. Felt pretty surreal to be up there after so many years of dreaming about this peak. Glad you liked the adventure!
Wowoie!!! Loved it!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece of nature!!
So glad you enjoyed this one! For years, we marveled at the beauty of Maroon Peak from down below, so this climb was really special to us now that we finally had the skill (and courage!) to get up there. It was DEFINITELY worth the wait! ♥️
lived in Aspen 10 years, did that hike many times. back in the 80's, quite a few people died there...you guys made it look pretty easy! great job.
Thanks Mike! Wow, so jealous that you got to live in Aspen for 10 years. What a paradise for outdoors people -- you must have felt like you were in hiking heaven. It must have been great too to be constantly acclimated by living at such a high altitude. You probably felt like superman on those peaks compared to us coastal dwellers!
Yeah, parts of this climb look like what i call, slip & dip!!! One errant foot placement and it could be game over. Stay safe guys.
We will Tim -- thank you. No dipping (hopefully) for us!
@@LiveHardxLoveHard YW...and yeah, definitely NO dipping! lol
Absolutely amazing as usual - You guys are great to watch & listen to..
Thanks Mark! Very glad you liked this one -- it's really one of our all-time favorites, both as a climb and as a video because it actually shows the steepness!
Wow..,That one looked intense,
It really was intense -- both that crazy steep climb before the traverse, and then the traverse up to the top with its technical challenges. But so, so fun! ❤️
WOW! Great shots. Incredible.
Those marmots always pop up when you least expect em.
😎👍
That’s what Adam says about me all the time- another good reason he decided to trail name me Marmot 😂 so glad the shots turned out on this one. It was so beautiful in person and we were worried the camera wouldn’t capture it well, but happy to hear it did!
Another question, how you guys prepared yourselves in case of injure, do you carrie any kind of first aid in the backpack? I assume that cellphones barely works in the mountains and rescues are very difficult, sorry about the question but I am trying to prepare myself for some small adventure. Thanks so much for your channel I love the way you make it.
Thanks
Aw thank you so much! We don’t carry a ton of first aid but do have the ability to make splints and turnicates with rope and poles. We also bring a satellite communicator so if something really terrible happens we can call for rescue. That’s probably not necessary for those who stay mostly on trail, but since we often climb in areas where there’s no phone service or help, we feel it’s the right thing for us. Hope you enjoy your upcoming adventures!
Thanks again
You guy’s are incredible. Do you ever allow anyone to join you on hikes ( physically)
What is that hauting beautiful music during the video? i love it!
Thanks so much! We make all of our own music for our videos, so that is Elise singing -- very glad you like it! ❤️
Sorry for all the posts, this one has me over the moon...
Haha we love it Bill! You seem just about as excited as we are about Maroon Peak! What is a whistle pig?
Great effort ! Great videos ! I had a simple but important query ! which shoe brand do you wear to avoid slips on the rocky surface !
Niranjan that is a great question! Of course it depends a bit on what specific surface, but when we're climbing on the most slippery one, which is the worn granite in the Eastern Sierra, we always wear approach shoes. Ours are La Sportivas, but there are other good brands too. They are super grippy, and make a huge difference in traction over trail runners or hiking boots on smoother rock surfaces. ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard Hey thanks for the info !
amazing views, we are so lucky , thanks for showing us
WE feel like the lucky ones that you guys want to come along with us on these adventures! Seriously makes it infinitely more fun out there knowing you’re going to be experiencing all the joys, tears and triumphs right along with us!
Thanks for the video! You guys are amazing!
Thank you so much! We really enjoyed making this one. It was just so beautiful up there and we were hoping the shots we took would convey that (it doesn’t always come together!). So happy you enjoyed it too!
Thanks for the incredible view guys! This has got to be one of my all time favorites spots in the entire country, but I’m a CO native but maybe I’m biased. I feel like I could get up there but might be too nervous to come back down 😂
Haha you pretty much just described our experience! The way up was really joyous, but the way down was genuinely scary with all the loose rock. Still, totally worth it. We've been lots of places in the country and throughout the world, but still feel like the Bells are on the all-time list -- especially from the top. So you might be biased, but you're also totally right!
@@LiveHardxLoveHard I can imagine - I’m glad you guys made it safely! Well, way to convince me to add another stop to the list. Hopefully I can make it out next season. Thanks for the truly inspirational and stunning footage! ❤️
Our pleasure -- and please let us know how it goes if you do it!
Fantastic video, I would agree, one of the most beautiful summits!!!
Thank you so much! It took some doing to get up there with the terrain and the altitude, but definitely well worth the effort. It was pretty hard to leave that summit!
You two are legit mountaineers. 've hiked the trail from Aspen to Crested Butte and back. Maroon Bells is a NO for me lol. Too much exposure. Glad you made it to Colorado. I live in Western Colorado
That's awesome, Darla! We're really hoping to get back there soon -- maybe in the late summer or fall after (hopefully) a July trip to Europe. We really love CO, not just the landscape but also the great attitude of the people. Will def let you know when we go there next!❤️
Love you guys and love everything you do! Where do I get that music?
Thanks Wynne! So glad you're enjoying the adventures, and we're working right now on making the music available to download -- will probably have at least a couple of songs up in a month or so!❤️
OMG! Scary climb, beautiful views but I'd imagine coming down would be scarier. Great footage.
Thank you, and you are 100% correct. Going up was adrenalizing but joyous pretty much the whole way -- coming down was scary AF in places, especially in those super steep loose-rock gullies! But, of course, totally worth it to visit such an incredible place.
@@LiveHardxLoveHard Awesome, you got yourself another subscriber. Keep on adventuring.
We absolutely will, and so happy you'll be joining us on the journey! Lots of epic stuff coming up the next few months!
U 2 climb places very few ("if that") have gone before. I literally & figuratively LOOK THE OTHER WAY sometimes while watching. TRULY AMAZING. TRULY.
"Thank You Both" 4 sharing your nail-biting Adventure with us. (smiles & hugs)
"A Special Thank You Elise" for your beautiful soothing singing thru out. It made the nail-biting less painful. (wink)
GOD BLESSES ALL.
Haha thank you so much! Elise is so happy that you gave her singing a shout-out -- and it's her birthday today so very well timed! Blessings to you as well.
@@LiveHardxLoveHard Happy Birthday Elise !!! I hope U had a wonderful day & R having an exceptional birthday evening !!! (hug)
Ha ha. Yeah. The marmots in the colorado rockies will take ANYTHING. I've seen them pull entire backpacks away, eat holes in them and eat half your stuff! Have you tried Crestone and the crestone needle traverse yet? I did crestone. Hardest one I ever climbed. I never did do the maroon bells. I was always gun shy of them.
Brad we didn't even know about the Crestone traverse, but just looked it up. It looks amazing, and we're putting it on the list as we speak. Great recommendation! ❤️
4k rocks, 43k views! Editing matters. Links matter. Maps matter.
Initially I thought who is this girl jumping into freezing lakes, in bikini, having jumped in some freezing lakes, and thinking I am going to die, 10 feet from the shore, it was so damn cold. I am serious, the first time I thought its over, gonna sink to bottom frozen, in non buoyant cold water. Oh yeah, my friend swan diving off the same famous 30+ foot high rock I had just jumped off (Teton Phelps Lake) dislocated his shoulder, which goes back to the if you get hurt just 1.5 miles from a road nobody is coming to get you, well two Rangers came by, maybe just trail crew, decided they could pop it in, lol, not if your 40 dummy, that only works on 18 year football players. He walked bent over arm hanging for two miles back to the car. Then to hospital. They have great ortho in Jackson WY.
My point, if you cramp and stop swimming in freezing water, think Leo D sinking out of site in Titanic, YOU SINK, and the person filming you ain't diving in to retrieve you, not to be CPT Obvious here.
These two are in shape and probably have tested to see if there is a giant rock in the water and how deep it is and other calculations. DO NOT SWIM ABOVE FALLS. Yes many do. Probably smart not to swim in the Colorado River too. You can swim in 102 degree heat at Yosemite when the water is down at your own risk, and jump off big rock, BIG rocks. Kern. Kings. San Joaquin, Rainbow Falls, at your own risk.
And the link I put up for Lookout Mountain Flight Park, well ol Matt was sued, by a lawyer, who won, because nowhere in their literature did it say hang gliding was dangerous. He, the lawyer, broke both his arms on the bunny hill. SO ADVENTURERS, IF YOU HAVE A TH-cam CHANNEL YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT, SAY THIS IS DANGEROUS, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. You can break your back jumping into water at 50 feet, it is basically incompressible.
I know most this stuff from the Army killing, drowning, freezing, squishing, burning, etc, soldiers over the years. White guys generally say hey watch this prior, black guys, I got this, Hispanic, I ain't doing that stupid. Yep falling off the rope climb too, seen it. I say this all in humor. And I still go into the wild. Alone, well with Doodle now, dogs cannot climb, by the way. I DO LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!
There are many who have gone before me/us/you. Think it through, check weather, you cannot see even on Mount Whitney in the snow, because you are also in a cloud, ask me how I know this? And now wandering up da trail blind with 100 to 300 foot drops all around you. Well, where I was that time. Wind, if you are getting blown down that is a 90mph gust. Same day/place, the wind went up to 120 mph that night. Blew the frozen snow 4 feet thick totally out of the entire valley up to 12,000+ feet. All that was left was ice. I did not stick around, but others were up there during that event drinking hot tea between boulders I am sure, and lived.
Take gallons of water even if heavy, and fork over the $7-12 a pack for the freeze dried food and $85 for a jet boil, just get the damn water filter, keep it maintained, then you do not have to pack water unless you go up HALF DOME or other granite slabs in the deserts of the west, Ryolite or Basalt or Sandstone, they all hold more heat. The west is one giant desert, mostly. These two youtubers can go from below sea level to 14,500+ feet in 24 hours or less. And Scuba dive the same day, California.
Exposure, you are always exposed, the more famous one is traversing grand canyon rim to rim, heat. If you ain't from the west then you do not know you go from fine to I think I am dying, almost instantly. In 98.6 to 130 degree heat, 98.6 is your body temp, once above it bad things happen if in heat. Its hotter than Saudi Arabia down in the Grand Canyon. Ditto Death Valley, above 8000 it generally stays below 80, but it is dry dry dry. In the west. Snow or not. And said snow reflects thermo-nuclear radiation back up under your exposed chin and neck, yeah learned that one the hard way. I ain't a know it all. Just a guy who spent years, not days in these places, except Colorado, but I did actually live in wild basin. Meeker/Longs/Hallet/Indian peaks etc. I have been face to with multiple Griz and not been killed yet. And dozens of black bears, bison, moose, ELK. You cannot see around giant rocks. In the woods. In brush.
Over here, Tennessee, its Smokies/Cherokee NF/Rivers, lots of them. Hang gliding capital of the southeast. Caves, which I do not do, climbing, ditto now. BE SAFE BE SMART.
Oh yeah, sidebar, that Naciemento Road Trip is awesome, when you pop out onto the 1 on the coast side, left is Cambria and San Simeon to the Right Ragged Point and Sand Dollar Beach. I like Cambria to Monterrey section. The interior end of the road starts near Hunter Liggot Army Base. I go in from James Dean Junction, turn that way before Paso Robles. We dropped in from Tehachipi, CA, got to love it. Its basically empty except for the cities. Nevada too, Utah too.......Caliente Road? out of Keene (past Ceasar Chavez NM) to Lake Isabella, Kernville, is fun day. 100 Giants, Walker Pass/Owens Peak-take water.
Great stories and also tons of good advice, Dan -- thanks! ❤️
Stunning! Your climbs are fantastic and the videography is A********. Thank you for sharing the climb!
Thank you so much! We’ve been working hard on our camera skills, and although we still have a very long way to go, it’s very nice to hear that the work is paying off. Really glad you liked this climb, it was for SURE one of our all time favorites!
We can't go that high!
Does the word -----crazy----
havr any meaning to you
BOTH???
This is Ben again checking
out where you go to wear
out your shoes or boots.
COLORADO MTS. will do it!
I think i saw a BIG HORN up
near the top. He is not
CRAZY! ----------HE LOOKED
LIKE HE WAS LYING DOWN
RESTING.
AGAIN, you show us BEAUTIFUL
MTS. THANK YOU.
NO MORE COLORADO
FOR US. THE COLD
SUCKS. SORRY!!!
Be cateful.
Haha Ben we actually did see a group of Bighorns when we did our Mount Langley marathon -- it was absolutely incredible. They were just hanging out up there at around 12,000, and we actually got really close to them and caught it on camera. Incredible experience!
The Maroon Bells Are amazing-particularly in fall! I still love the Sierras best, though. The things you two do are incredible! It’s always wonderful to watch you guys climb peaks I’d never have attempted when I was in shape for it! I love the music you guys do as well... your writing aptly conveys in music where you are in the mountains! Another fabulous video! Keep on keepin’ on... carefully! 🙂💕🎹🎼🏔🌲
Thank you so much Michael! Yes, the Sierras will always have our hearts, but we were so fortunate to get to do some exploring in CO this summer. The summit views were some of the best we've seen, and the approach up to the base of Maroon Peak reminded us a lot of some of the trails along the Alps. So glad you enjoyed this one, and that we could take you to a peak you've never done before!
Major props to you guys thanks for your positive vibes you give me for the day snack on ♥️u guys
Right on, Raymond! We could basically live on Pop-tarts and positive vibes -- and you always provide us with lots of positive vibes!!
This is on my list to climb this year and to say the least, I am NERVOUS! But it looks epic! It will be my first class 4, unless I complete another class 4 before it this summer.
This is a great choice for a first one -- sooo beautiful and worth it at the top! -- and it's honestly not too bad if you're able to stay on the route. Just be prepared on the way up that the cairns are hard to find/follow, so you might get off route and just try to find your way safely back onto the main route. Please let us know how it goes -- you're going to love it! ❤️
Haven’t checked in with you guys in a while but man you replaced ropes with guts on this peak bag. The toothy marmots also ate most of my pole grips while overnighting at a beautiful turquoise-colored lakeshore in Glacier NP. You encountered bolder daytime bandits it seems.
Haha yes those marmots are super cute, but they are a real menace on gear! But we def learned a good lesson about not leaving our poles behind. Meanwhile, highly recommend Maroon Peak -- def an all-time favorite climb! ❤️
The music is so beautifully haunting & syncs up perfectly with your climbing-love it!
That makes us so happy to hear! We've been working a lot on improving our songwriting and song production -- very glad that it is working!!
The little lady is a goddess 🔥 Queen of all peaks 👸 This is The 2nd video of yours I've watched 🤗🤗🤗🤗 I'm enjoying them 👍👍👍👍👍 Thanks
Thanks so much, Tony! So glad you're enjoying, and stay tuned -- lots more crazy stuff coming up the next few months!
That's one of those peaks where you get to the top and wish you could BASE jump or hanglide or zipline off the summit to avoid a gnarly downclimb 😅
Haha you are SO right, and in all seriousness Adam wants to learn how to paraglide off of just such peaks in the future. Of course carrying the glider pack up there in the first place will be no easy task, but what a way to descend! ❤️
Look dangerous but u make it look esy well done
Thanks Iqbal -- yes this one was a little dangerous in places, but so fun! ❤️
I’m here for the climbing
Haha hopefully lots of that coming up this summer and beyond -- we've been working super hard on our climbing and mountaineering skills! ❤️
I can't quite believe those ledges at 4:39 , 4:56 & especially 6:28. If that's class 3 I can't imagine class 4...overhanging maybe? It seems the risk is incredible, considering the whole thing looks like a pile of rubble. More dangerous than roped climbing? We have in the scrambling here in the UK but I don't think we have anything quite like this. Amazing.
Haha yeah those ledges were pretty dicey! They were definitely on the harder end of class 3. Really in our minds the difference between class 3 and 4 is fatal exposure, and we felt like with these if we fell we’d probably fall down to a lower ledge, so we called it cLass 3. But you’re not wrong that the wrong step in the wrong place could have dire consequences. Adam has climbed a number of peaks in the UK and loves it there. We’re hoping to do some hiking in Scotland and the Lake District in the next few years.
@@LiveHardxLoveHard Coming all that way, you'll want to head for Skye, the Cuillin Ridge for maximum scrambling pleasure. There's also Liathach, An Teallach & Tower Ridge Ben Nevis (all in different areas). Together these are the best scrambles in the UK. From what I see of your videos the biggest difference you'll find is MUCH less loose rock. There are sections of climbing (class 5) on some routes but from what I've seen nothing you can't handle. Also, of course, it's at a lot lower altitude. So you might find things a bit tame over here. The weather can be unsettled here for long periods, but I don't think that'll put you off. And thanks for your training videos. Looking at your bodies you obviously practice what you preach.
This looked crazy dangerous on certain parts! One would expect ferratas there if this is an established trail. :/ Do they usually put cables for security in USA?
Yes, we generally do not have ferrata cables here in the U. S., so class 4 climbs like this one can be quite dangerous. On the positive side that does keep the crowds low, and often you will have the class 4 climbs all to yourself. ❤️
Do you guys use route-finding apps or do you just study the route and then execute? For me, it's pucker time when I feel that I lost my way. Thanks for the great videos.
OMG we have that exact same feeling, particularly when we're on a rock face like this one or especially when we got off route on Indian Head Peak -- that was scary as AF when we had to climb up the face of that thing! And yes we do use AllTrails GPS for route finding, but also study the route beforehand and often take screenshots of landmarks if we can find pictures of them online so we'll know what to look for if the app lets us down. ❤️
I didn't know you culd peak Maroon Bells. Great to know. The decent is what scares me on those rocks. Is it as bad as it looks?
My wife and I did Quandary last Winter as our first 14er (we live in FL). Any suggestions for another simple WINTER 14er? We'll save MB for Spring or Summer lol
Heck yes you can peak it, and it is soooo worth it. But to be really honest, yes the down is pretty bad. The problem is that there's so much loose rock so it's easy to fall and slide. How about Mt. Elbert as a winter 14er? It's the highest peak in CO so it's def no joke, but the ascent is class 1 or at most class 2 and relatively gentle so there will be less avalanche danger than on most 14ers even with a lot of snow. We did it in late summer via Black Cloud trail and absolutely loved it, but would def do it in winter as well.
Thanks. I've been looking at them all and will loo deeper into Albert. We just want the safest, AVI WISE, peak. Preferably with other travelers on it if possible.
Definitely an epic climb! Can you see the people down at Crater Lake at all from the top? They must look like tiny little dots if you can see them at all.
It was so awesome! Will never forget that view from the top. We couldn't see anyone down at the lake, but to be fair neither of us have the greatest vision 😂. But wow that view out across the CO landscape was just incredible. ❤️
Is there a hike or climb somewhere in the world that is still on your bucket list? Europe..Alaska..Himalayas?? Awesome videos!!
Thanks Jason! Our bucket list is really big, but some of the highlights that we want to do in the next few years are: The Matterhorn, Patagonia, and the Dolomites -- as well as the Himalayas, of course. We'd also like to climb Kilimanjaro again on one of the even more challenging trails -- we loved Tanzania! -- and run the whole Laugavegur trail in Iceland and the Tour du Mont Blanc (we've hiked both before, but running them would be super badass!). And we also want to run the Great Wall of China marathon. In the U. S., Rainier, Mt. Russel, and Capitol Peak are very high on the list. But honestly, we want to do it all -- and we seriously listen to you guys for ideas, so please let us know if there's something you feel like we should do!
I'm more of a hike/trail runner. Not much of a climber. I am a short man. It appears that Adams wing span helps with the crazy sections of the cliffs
Yes Dan, wingspan is definitely helpful and I think long legs also help me down climbing, because I can reach footholds easier than Elise can. --A
Great videos.
You both are such an inspiration.
I was curious how u get such good videos
Do u use a GoPro?
U must have a large angle lenses?
Thx
Thank you so much, that's very kind of you to say. Yes we currently use a GoPro 8, and also the new iPhone for the majority of our shots. The iPhone does better in low light environments, but the GoPro is of course amazing for tracking shots when the cameraperson is also moving, because it has excellent built-in stabilization. Both GoPro and iPhone take fairly wide angle shots, so we can get a lot of the landscape in even when we're fairly close to the subject.
Helllooooo Adam and Elise!! Welcome to to my back yard; well, my back yard from 4 hours away hehehehe.
This is another incredible climb that you two did! You continue to be inspirational to people to SAFELY reach out for challenges in life!
Of course, I'm biased to the San Juan Range, but this Snowmass Wilderness area is really awesome!!
WOW! Your video really highlights how scrappy that top section of the climb is; just as you are relegated to full time Class 3, it gets looser and looser. I've only been over by Capitol Peak in that area (didn't climb it; just traversed by it on a made up 4 pass hike). But, have heard about the previous ill fated Maroon Bells attempts.
Elise-- I have to ask.... In previous videos, I vaguely recall people commenting on you singing. Is this you in your videos?
That is a hilarious anecdote about losing your hiking poles to a mountain varmint! But, I am also sorry you had to endure that descent without a pole.
Adam.....10 points for you about the 3 hours to steal your heart!!
Safe travels and hiking!!
Thank you so much Alan, you totally made our day with those very kind compliments! You’re so lucky to live where you do. We absolutely love CO. And you’re right about that rock. It’s not just that it’s steep but that it’s also loose. However we took it slow and steady and didn’t run into too many problems. And yes, that is Elise singing. We’ve been making our own music for about the last six months, and having an absolute blast with it! Still not quite sure why that marmot felt the need to throw our pole off a cliff, but we definitely learned not to trust those suckers!
@@LiveHardxLoveHard Hi there! As it should because you two are a great inspiration to your watchers!
Oh wow....that is absolutely incredible! It seemed the intonations in the songs were the same in her voice. Very awesome songs!! Is that part of a band.....or you produce your own music? Is it publicly available? We are a family of music. My daughter just graduated college with her teaching degree for music. My wife brings music talent to Ouray County. Her big event of the year is usually a week of classical music, which actually starts tonight. Unfortunately, they scaled it back this year as decisions had to be made back in March when things were not as defined.
Have an awesome weekend!
How great that your whole family is musical! E's family is exactly the same. We actually produce everything ourselves, and will probably try to put a few of the songs up on Soundcloud soon. Will def let you know when we do.
Really awesome video, I'm putting this one on my list for when I go out to Colorado sometime in the next few years. I would also consider Pyramid, Capitol, Longs, and Elbert as well. Also, I did not know that marmots were so fond of cork!
Yes! This one should definitely be on your list. We did Elbert on this trip as well, but maroon was more spectacular. We were hoping to do Capitol and Longs, but they are longer hikes and we did not luck out with a good weather window. So give yourself enough time to get some good weather days. And if you do Elbert take the Black Cloud trail, it’s much more challenging and interesting than the regular route!
I've stood at the base of the Bells... and I've hiked peaks around and near them... but the Bells themselves scare the crap out of me. Those two are seriously dangerous. Lots of rotten rock up there. But absolutely stunning. I grew up in Denver and we spent the summer hiking 14ers. CO's mountains have such a unique feeling to them.
Ya the Bells are a bit scary -- the hardest thing was route finding on that upper part. If you find the exact route it's not so bad, but it was virtually impossible for us at least to stay on route going up. Looking forward to doing lots of CO 14ers on a trip out next summer! ❤️
I've done the bells traverse. Don't let them scare you too much but they are stunning and unreal.
@@ChrisHausner that's good to know. I don't mind scrabbling over shale and scree at all. Plenty of peaks get like that near the summit. These just look so intimidating. Cameras may also be making it look more steep than it actually is. I'd love to stand up there. The whole area around Aspen is ridiculously pretty.
Amazing ! But have guys doing the trans Catalina trail this weekend any chance I think I saw you guys there at the island in two harbors !
Alex we were there!!! We did Avalon to Two Harbors on Saturday and then the rest -- that gorgeous Parson's Landing loop -- early on Sunday. You should have come and said hi! Did you do Trans Catalina as well?!?
I have watched all of your videos and have enjoyed every one. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, and I love the music. With each new video, you seem to be taking greater risks! Please be careful so that we can continue to enjoy your adventures.
Thank you so much, Virginia! We really hear you and do promise to be careful. If it's any comfort, we honestly never felt in too much jeopardy on this climb. We like to think we learned a good lesson on that crazy Galena Peak traverse (which because of the crumbling rock turned out to be a little outside our risk tolerance) and have been trying since then to manage our risk better (and bring helmets when in doubt about rockfall!). Of course it's natural to take on harder challenges as our skill and fitness levels improve, but we definitely will make sure to tackle those challenges as safely as possible because we want to be adventuring for decades to come!
You two are so brave! I don't know that I could climb something like that. I'm more of a pure hiker and don't want to risk my life to do a hike but what a view! You two are also in such great shape! I know how hard it is to climb up. I live in Florida and it is very hard for me to go up those mountains. I'm getting older now and I am retired so unfortunately I'll probably be slowing down but I'll keep hiking and exploring as long as I can! Thanks again and please be careful.
Thanks Joseph! And we totally understand where you're coming from with hiking and exploring. We're very aware that one day we'll slow down too, but feel so grateful to be able to do climbs like this while we can. Definitely not many mountains in Florida, but we actually want to come out there at some point and hike the Everglades!
Capitol peak is a more beautiful climb and just as difficult as South Maroon.
That's great to know, Jeffrey -- we're doing Capitol this summer! So excited for it!!! ❤️
What month did you all climb this? I am looking at going out there around the Fourth of July this year!
We were there in July as well -- perfect time of year to do it! But do beware that there are almost always thunderstorms in the afternoon so check the forecast and start early. You will LOVE this hike -- def one of the all-timers for us. ❤️
Did this many years ago. Route finding was hard. Loose rock was scary.
We felt exactly the same, Mary! The route finding on the way up was super challenging -- much easier on the way down because we could look down and see cairns. But on the way up we were basically winging it! ❤
The Maroons were one of the best climbs for sure..NOT AT ALL recommended for inexperienced climbers without a guide ...... HOWEVER ...the falling rocks here ARE REAL so never climb these peaks without helmet and be super alert to rocks coming down ....and its down climbing that's more dangerous because your tendency is to be less aware of danger while down climbing
That is so true about down climbing. It's pretty common knowledge that most injuries occur while rappelling or down climbing, and our own personal experience definitely bears that out. Maroon is a wonderful peak, but the down climb is serious business!
@@LiveHardxLoveHard thanks again for the great video ... I lived in and around Aspen / Basalt from '96 -'05 ... so many unbelievable mountain hikes including Capitol and the Bells .... I hope you will try Capitol someday if you haven't already ....without a doubt the most challenging exposure but the ultimate satisfaction of the summit and the bonus of glissading down a huge snow field on the way back .....unforgettable
@@rts100x5 Thanks so. much -- Capitol is at the very top of our list next time we're in CO! Hopefully either this fall or, if not, then next summer. How wonderful that you lived in that area -- we absolutely love it there!
just here because the views of her are amazing.
and because ya'll hike the most amazing places! that makes me jelly
Thank you -- glad you're enjoying the adventures!
"The next mile we will climb 2600 feet". Holy crap!!!!!!!!
Yeah that's the steepest mile we've ever climbed by far. Crazy!
I’m scared of heights but I think I want to get in to Mountaineering 👍🏼
Do it, Jesse! Just gradual exposure to some steep drop offs, a little bit at a time, and lots of hiking without steep drop offs, and you'll be doing it in no time! ❤
I could barely watch. This climb had so many spots where either one of you could have taken a serious fall. I get pushing yourselves but this one was a little extreme. I get you are both physically fit and great at climbing but this one was so perilous....don't want to see either one of you hurt. Take it easy and be sensible. I've taken chances too but even this one would send me scrambling back down. You two do some amazing adventures and I want to see those continue.
That's very kind of you to say, and we can tell that your concern is coming from a genuine place of care and thoughtfulness. Please let us reassure you that we wouldn't have done this climb if we didn't feel confident we were ready for it. There will of course always be some risk in this kind of terrain, but we did all we could to mitigate it with proper gear and careful route-finding, and honestly never felt in jeopardy for our lives. With that said, we promise we will always be careful and will also explore lots of beautiful places that require focus and endurance but not quite as much risk!
@@LiveHardxLoveHard I really admire what the two of you do. Continue to educate and entertain us with your amazing adventures.
New to your channel. Wow! Your camera views are breathtaking!
Thanks so much Myra, and welcome! Really happy you saw this one -- we just loved every aspect of it from start to finish. Highly recommend this area of Colorado even for regular hiking. The views are incredible everywhere, even from down in the valley!
Wow!..congrats you two!... Thank you!❤
Thanks very much! Glad you saw this one, because it's an all time favorite and we sometimes go back and watch it ourselves just because it brings back such great memories of the beauty up there! ❤️
wow amazing. also you guys are the cutest couple ever!
Aw Cassandra that is so sweet of you to say -- thank you!! ❤️
Look like there's some serious loose rocks up there. What a climb! Don't know how you van find the right way through those rocks
It was honestly pretty hard, Mauro. There are some cairns in places that are really helpful, but then there were also some places that we couldn't find cairns and just had to pick our own line. We also had a GPS, so if we got too far off the route we were able to adjust back in the right direction. The good news is that the difficulty level means very few people do it, so we had the mountain all to ourselves the entire day!
Awesome video. Each one gets better snd better! Funny animals! You should make a video of Elise doing a jam session. We would love it!
Thank you so much! And that is a super cool idea about the jam sesh. Maybe in the depths of winter we’ll put together some kind of music fest along with some highlights of the past year’s adventures. 🤗
Beautiful climb. Agree route finding is difficult on that 14er.
Thanks Mary -- ya it was crazy, because we had no problems at all the first 4/5 of the hike, but once we got about half-way up that crazy ridge we were losing the trail about every 5 minutes. It's not that there weren't cairns, it's just that there were some cairns that didn't agree with one another and then sometimes they just disappeared altogether! But in the end it made for some exciting scrambling, so maybe it was sort of a benefit.
Request. Zion national park trips. Btw awesome videos!
Tim you must be reading our minds -- guess where we are right at this moment, preparing for a massive sufferfest tomorrow!?! If all goes well we should have some incredible Zion content up in a couple of weeks!
Hi. Just found your channel and this is the first video I watched and boy is it a doozy....you all are so brave..lol I'm subbing to see more...
Yes!!! Dorothy that was such a nice message to wake up to -- very happy that you're joining us for the ride!! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard thank you 😊
Adam, your helmet is a size too small or you have it tilted back. The helmet should sit level on your head and low on your forehead- one or two finger-widths above your eyebrow.
Yes I know -- it's probably hard to tell in videos because my head kind of matches my extra large body, but I have a very large head, particularly back to front. So sadly, there is no North American climbing helmet that fits me properly -- I've tried dozens. I'm hoping there will be a European one, and as soon as darn Covid is over and we can get back over there we'll try to find one. But meanwhile, I just got the biggest one we could find here and figured even though it's not perfect, it's still a lot better than nothing! --A
@@LiveHardxLoveHard too funny, mine is 7 5/8 bought my latest one in Germany a couple of years ago.
Watching again. 4:40 is scary I'm glad nothing went terribly wrong. I'm wondering how you both manage to have a good time and suffer less than Mediocre Amateurs who really do seem to suffer on their ridiculously grueling trips. (Maybe it's a religious thing for them).
Haha that's funny Ellen -- we're big fans of those guys but they definitely can be a bit dour. Your question actually gets at something we've been thinking about a lot lately. We both approach suffering from a kind of zen perspective, and find that there's often a kind of fierce joy and even hilarity entwined with pain and struggle. Adam has been wanting to do an article or maybe a longer-form video called "The Zen of Suffering" that talks about different attitudes toward endurance, and what attitude we believe is ultimately most effective.
@@LiveHardxLoveHard It's interesting that in the Mediocre channel, Christoff is pushing Danny to stop every so often and just take in the moment and maybe enjoy a meal or so. It's a sort of Zen thing.
I think you both examining approaches to suffering on the trail would be interesting, but brain bending since Zen is about observing suffering without being attached to it.
@@ellenclary Ya there's definitely an aspect of that to what we're thinking about. If you get a chance, check out the piece Adam wrote on our website about climbing Kilimanjaro and learning the spirit of pole pole -- it would have that sort of vibe to it.
This climb was incredible and seemed risky without ropes, at least from you camera angles. The potential falls looked steep, long and deadly...The rocks look like they'd fall apart, but none seemed to fall while you were filming. It would be great if you could publish somewhere your clothing/hiking/climbing/photo gear you take too. Thanks for the inspiring videos and stay safe!
Thanks David! We do have a gear video we put out a few weeks ago that has most of that info -- check it out! And you're right, there were a few pretty scary places on this hike with a lot of exposure. The good news is, the rocks weren't nearly as crumbly as we'd feared -- not nearly as bad as they were on the Galena Peak traverse, for instance -- so we never felt in too much jeopardy. We don't mind some exposure if the hand and foot holds are good and solid, and that was the case on most of the really steep stuff here. The exception was those crazy steep gullies -- they were loose in places and dicey to descend for sure! ❤️
I’m enjoying your channel which I just discovered. I love your positivity and your great attitudes! Keep it up 👍🏻
Thanks so much James -- we're very happy you found us and are liking the channel! We absolutely will keep it up, and in fact have a real humdinger coming up for you next week, so stay tuned! ❤️
Really glad I found your channel a number of videos back. Love both your personalities especially with the positivity and quirkiness! Im inspired to start planning more epic sufferfest adventures!
Yes Melvin! You have no idea how pumped you just made both of us. There’s nothing we love to hear more than that we’ve inspired someone to get out and sufferfest. It is so good for your soul. Once you start you never look back. Please keep us updated on your suffer-quest!
Wow, 4:37-4:58, that looks pretty intense and scary but y'all make it look so easy.. The view at the top was just amazing as well. I just binged some of your videos and I absolutely love your channel! Super daring hikes done with such precision and enthusiasm
Thanks Neena -- so glad you're enjoying the channel!! Looking forward to sharing lots more epic adventures with you in 2022, both in the U. S. and also hopefully some European climbing this summer! ❤️
Well played my friends. Fourteeners are not easy.
Thanks very much. You are right about that, and this one is particularly steep. But so, so worth it. What a summit!!! ❤️
Cool video. What shoes are you guys wearing ?
We're both wearing Salomon X-ultras for this one -- a lightweight but sturdy and versatile hiking boot that feels almost like a trail running shoe with extra support. We both felt they were perfect for this kind of climbing and scrambling, and would definitely wear the same shoes if we did it again.
Beautiful video. Congratulations.
Thank you so much Dana! We had a lot of fun making this one - beautiful views and some spicy climbing- nothing really gets much better than that for us. But we’re always glad when you guys have some fun on the adventure too!