Thanks for sharing your adventure!! When we were up there a lightning storm rolled around the peak and my wife's hair looked like a tesla experiment so we hiked back down FAST!!! One of those near life experiences if you know what I mean?
@HikingEngineer we have been taking care of our parents in Florida, but one day, we will be able to get back into hiking. Your videos keep the memories fresh in our minds.
Really cool video! I am a California resident looking to head out to CO next summer to climb a few fourteeners, and these ones are on my list. It looks like the headwall at the top of the Needle appeared to take maybe 3-4 minutes, does that sound accurate? It doesn't look like it is too difficult, but you are definitely not allowed to fall.
in my opinion it was not too difficult and there are plenty of ledges to rest or step up. But yes I showed the entire footage of the headwall so if you just check the timestamps you'll see how long it took me. I liked the Cottonwood Creek approach
I guess I'm not sure how comfortable you are on class 3 and 4 terrain...I guess you know your abilities and comfort level on rock. But this was easier than the other great traverses. What 14ers have you done or what similar hikes/scrambles in the western US?
I just have done a lot so i generally don't think things are that sketchy or exposed, etc. Obviously don't take this lightly. But I thought Little Bear (west ridge direct) - Blanca - Ellingwood, the 4 in the Chicago Basin from Purgatory, the Bells Traverse, and Snowmass (mainly bc of the snow), and El Diente - Mt Wilson - Wilson Peak were all tougher for sure. Based on conditions when i did Pyramid you could argue Pyramid was also tougher with sketchy snow traverse. Capitol was similar.
Great video! I heard there is a lot of bushwhacking from Cottonwood but didn't appear to be the case? Also didn't seem like mosquitoes were a big issue like I've seen elsewhere in the Sangres?
the mosquitoes were very bad at the car and whenever I stopped moving (up to 12k), but when I was moving I didn't notice them much. I really enjoyed the trail up CC -- it gets steep that last 1 to 1.5 miles up to the lake area, but it's well marked imo and very fun. Near the very end before you hit the Crestone Peak trail, it's kinda hard to follow and gets muddy/bushy but only for a couple hundred yards
Great video, thanks for sharing. You post some of the best 14er beta I have come across! Super helpful!
thanks for the kind words! I hope my videos can help you! I'm gonna put together a video ranking the 14ers at some point like others do
It's incredible what a different world it is up there, compared to down here near the town of Crestone..
yeah lots of mosquitos down there in crestone ha
Sweet video man! Thank you for the beta on this traverse.
yeah any time!
Thanks for sharing your adventure!! When we were up there a lightning storm rolled around the peak and my wife's hair looked like a tesla experiment so we hiked back down FAST!!! One of those near life experiences if you know what I mean?
luckily i've never encountered lightning close by like that! But I hope my other videos help you as well as I have most of the 14ers on here!
@HikingEngineer we have been taking care of our parents in Florida, but one day, we will be able to get back into hiking. Your videos keep the memories fresh in our minds.
awesome adventure bro watching you from northern areas of pak
Great footage. Planning to do the Peak from this side (already done the Needle)
it's a really fun trail from CC side
Really cool video! I am a California resident looking to head out to CO next summer to climb a few fourteeners, and these ones are on my list. It looks like the headwall at the top of the Needle appeared to take maybe 3-4 minutes, does that sound accurate? It doesn't look like it is too difficult, but you are definitely not allowed to fall.
in my opinion it was not too difficult and there are plenty of ledges to rest or step up. But yes I showed the entire footage of the headwall so if you just check the timestamps you'll see how long it took me. I liked the Cottonwood Creek approach
Sick man!! Which peaks do
you have left
all done! the 2 days after Crestones I did Capitol and the Bells traverse to finish them off! See my other videos ;)
I’ve been looking into doing this, how much experience would you recommend before trying?
I guess I'm not sure how comfortable you are on class 3 and 4 terrain...I guess you know your abilities and comfort level on rock. But this was easier than the other great traverses. What 14ers have you done or what similar hikes/scrambles in the western US?
If you think the crestones are tame, what other 14ers challenged you?
I just have done a lot so i generally don't think things are that sketchy or exposed, etc. Obviously don't take this lightly. But I thought Little Bear (west ridge direct) - Blanca - Ellingwood, the 4 in the Chicago Basin from Purgatory, the Bells Traverse, and Snowmass (mainly bc of the snow), and El Diente - Mt Wilson - Wilson Peak were all tougher for sure. Based on conditions when i did Pyramid you could argue Pyramid was also tougher with sketchy snow traverse. Capitol was similar.
Great video! I heard there is a lot of bushwhacking from Cottonwood but didn't appear to be the case? Also didn't seem like mosquitoes were a big issue like I've seen elsewhere in the Sangres?
the mosquitoes were very bad at the car and whenever I stopped moving (up to 12k), but when I was moving I didn't notice them much. I really enjoyed the trail up CC -- it gets steep that last 1 to 1.5 miles up to the lake area, but it's well marked imo and very fun. Near the very end before you hit the Crestone Peak trail, it's kinda hard to follow and gets muddy/bushy but only for a couple hundred yards
@@HikingEngineer Very helpful, thank you!