Holy Cross Wilderness (Colorado) Backpacking - August 2016
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2016
- In August 2016 our annual western backpacking trip took my son Christian and I, and our two labs Bailey and Jaden, to the Holy Cross Wilderness near Vail, Colorado. I've wanted to do a hike in this area since I started backpacking in 2010, but the lack of any multi-day 'true' loop hikes had always discouraged me. With a little research I found the 30-mile 4-day 'almost' loop hike that we ended up doing - the start and end trailheads (started at Half Moon Trailhead and ended at Cross Creek trailhead) were separated by 7 miles of rough forest road, but it ended up working out well.
As you'll see in the video there was more 'drama' than usual on this trip. I left my camera bags at home and had to improvise, I left the map in the car during the first-day trailhead adventures, our mapping GPS temporarily died mid-trip, we briefly got 'off trail' (a.k.a. lost!) three different times, we experienced frequent rain and hail, and Bailey had both paw and digestive issues - thankfully nothing serious. For us, the Holy Cross Wilderness lived up to it's description as the 'Bermuda Triangle' of wildernesses. But, wow, it also more than lived up to it's reputation as one of the most beautiful wilderness areas.
Similar to my other recent backpacking videos, this one is also roughly one hour in length with a 10 minute slide show at the end. It is meant to be an 'immersive' experience that allows you to come along with me on the trip. If I've done my job well you'll feel the vastness of the high plains and the length of the drive out, the stress of working through the separated trailhead situation, the thin air and steepness of the climbs to the passes, the hypothermic damp chill during a hailstorm, the strange comfort of sitting under a tarp in front of a warm fire during a thunderstorm, and the simple joy of a hot cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee in front of the fire in the morning. If you aren't interested in 'riding along on my shoulder' for an hour of video, just skip to the last 10 minutes of still pictures and you'll get a good overview of our trip.
Still Camera: Nikon D700 with Nikkor 20mm f2.8 lens
Video Camera: Canon Vixia G30 with Rode Stereo Videomic Pro
Video Editing Software: Sony Vegas Pro 13
HDR Software: SNS-HDR Pro
Another great video David. Thanks so much for taking us along. Also, the way you take care of your dogs tells me a lot about you and proves that you're a good man with a kind heart. Hike on and thank you for sharing your travels with all of us..
Why would you take two older dogs up in the mountains...!! Plus he are have forest fires here in Colorado!! Stop having camp fires!!! Go home and. Burn up your own state!!!
Looks like another wonderful trip. There's a visceral quality about your videos that almost helps us feel the mountain air, the rain, the sunshine, the campfire smoke, and taste the coffee. Thanks for taking us out there.
Thanks for the update. Awesome to see you guys do your thing. Christian is still just as quiet as ever. Haha but he has grown into such a beautiful man.
Awe poor pup.... Looks like she recovered pretty quickly LOL. I think it's so nice to see the dogs zonked right out asleep after a day of hiking all cozy and warm and comfy :)
Yes, despite the fact Bailey suffered through a little discomfort, this type of trip is absolute heaven for both of my dogs. In 'normal life' they go through what I would guess most dogs have to deal with - confined to a typical house during the day while we all handle day-jobs, school, etc. So in my mind this type of a trip is what a lab lives for - day after day of constant 'walks', with their family, out in the mountains, etc. - doesn't get much better for the dogs. I realize Bailey had a little 'distress' on this trip, but I have to believe she certainly thinks it was well worth it. Whatever she thought of the trip she is completely back to 100% 'normal' (which is far from normal, by the way!).
Another great video. Glad to see you upbeat even when things were tough.
Ultralight Outdoors that is one thing I have noticed while binge watching these videos. Always a good attitude, even when things aren't going your way.
I did this with 2 co-workers back in the summer of 2004. We ran into a group of off road drivers from Iowa... not all jeeps... mostly Toyotas .. we helped push them out of several ruts in that road... but it was a wonderful , challenging treck in our beautiful Colorado! Always wanted to go back... thanks for sharing your memories of this!
I really appreciate these videos, you make it possible for an old man to trek with you vicariously! Thanks again for sharing the view and the great images!
Wow! I can certainly appreciate the work that went into this project. I loved the pictures at the end. Thanks and congrats!
I'm glad Bailey was OK and Jaden enjoyed the hike. You were huffing and puffing but not as much as this , Florida , Flat lander was while watching you. Where you hike I never could and that , it is why I enjoy watching your videos so much. Your hiking areas are a world different then mine , I have Swamps , Oak Groves , Cypress Hammocks and Piney Woods with scattered Cabbage palms in a tropical setting. . As a heart patient ( Bypass and implanted defibrillator ) I will stick to the Florida Trail where an height increase is measured in a few feet and a altitude gain is when you step over a log.( LOL) My escape to the mountains are your videos. Down here there is nothing better for me then the sound of rain on the fly over the Hammock and an Owl sounding off in the background. There really are no bad times when camping , some are just more challenging then others.
Your videos make me feel like I'm there with you, experiencing the wonder of nature. It's like a first person view. So wonderful!
I absolutely love "hiking" with you! Since I can't actually do these, I can experience it through your videos. Thanks so much for sharing!!
I just discovered your channel and I love it! I watched the 4 pass video, the Sierra video and your pack explosion video thus far. Great cinematography and entertainig commentary! Very inspiring! I live in NH and do all my hiking locally but now you've got me thinking about the west! I look forward to watching the rest of your videos!
Always so happy to see you have a new video up! This one did not disappoint
..you battled the weather, high altitude and other situations with your usual humour and good attitude. Beautiful country and a great hike...enjoyed it immensely!
WOW!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your hikes with us, Professional quality for sure!
I enjoyed this. It's like I'm there with you experiencing the beautiful sights and breathing in the cool fresh air. Thanks!
Once again, you created an awesome video. Thank you for sharing your trip with us, and I look forward to your next video/adventure.
After every one of your videos I have followed in your footsteps and went to all the places you went. My favorite is still Glacier National Park, but Holy Cross hits a strong second.
Happy Backpacking!
A truly rich man! We all need to learn something here. This is what we should teach our children.
Really great video. I enjoyed watching it, particularly seeing your perspective, since I live here and enjoying hiking on these and many of the other fantastic trails around the area.
looked like a tough but beautiful trip! thanks for taking us along. Love your labs!
Another great trip you've shared, thanks for taking me along. Glad your dog had a quick recovery.
Thanks for posting an absolute fantastic trip. Enjoyed every second. Glad your fur babies made it thru safely. Dave keep em' coming. Don't think I would ever get to do this so I really appreciate those that do. Patiently waiting for the next adventure!!! Thumbs Up!!!
Thank you for watching and for the nice words. The dogs made it through just fine, and Jaden, my 11 year old yellow lab, seems to actually have found the 'fountain of youth' somehow. He was acting like a four year old the entire trip, and he's kept that up since getting back home. I think he can actually understand me when I tell people 'I'm not sure if this will be his last trip...' but it's almost as if he wants to show me he still has what it takes. As to the next video, it shouldn't be long at all - I'm heading to Rocky Mountain National Park for a solo backpacking trip next weekend - can't wait!
My first dog and only dog I ever owned over 25 years ago was a black lab. It was a lost puppy out in the streets in (Mexico) on a rainy day. Pepe the puppy followed me all the way home, and so I kept him as our family pet. About a month later the puppy got sick foaming out of his mouth I rushed Pepe to the hospital, and the vet said "I'm closing bring your dog in tomorrow" that night "Pepe" passed away. Sadly to say long story short "Pepe" was poisoned. So, thank you Mr. Gray, for your inspiration, I'm glad your beautiful lab Bailey is doing great, and what another Awesome journey with you. God bless =)
Love how positive you are about even the worst conditions ....
Hi David! Thanks for the video! My husband (also a David, btw) and I had our morning coffee and watched it. You weren't kidding about the drama! I'm glad your pups are okay... sure do love that shot of their little snouts together in the car. Beautiful views... sorry it rained so much on you. Looking forward to your next adventure :)
David, Thanks for another great video. I love your authenticity in front of the camera!
Really enjoyed the video - great scenery! Awesome that your son goes with you and the dogs! Very glad Bailey recovered quickly and Jaden did so well - troopers! Colorado is beautiful - we'll be traveling there late September. Thanks again - I know it's lots of work - really appreciate seeing what it's like deep on the trails!
I'm so glad you made this video - teaches me a great deal as I get started backpacking - thank you for sharing!
Another great video. I’m getting addicted. Seeing sights I would never see otherwise. Thank you. Your son is a lucky guy as well as your dogs. How a person treats animals says a lot about them. In your case, all GOOD! Hope your little dog is feeling better.
Arrh love the labs snoozing in the back.
Nice to see the dogs with you.
Thanks for upload .
Absolutely magnificent scenery. Well done video.
Thanks for sharing.
Paul.
spectacular , with the fotos at the end i almost pause every second to look at the views , amazing
I like how you do your videos, it's hard to explain but I can just tell you are good guys enjoy the little moments. Keep it up!
We've backpacked at Missouri Lakes and watching your video brought back memories of good times. We didn't have hail, but an incredible wind storm, had to put large rocks in the corners of each tent to hold them down.
Great pictures! Always memorable and good for the dogs to get out there with you!
Another great adventure. Very beautiful area, Thanks for taking us along!!
Fun to come along on your journey as usual! We are about to backpack the Holy Cross Wilderness this weekend. I hope it lives up to expectations.
Thanks for the video David. I really enjoyed it and now I'm even more pumped to backpack holy cross wilderness this week with my uncle!
Great vid.
Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
I really enjoyed it.
Just began watching your videos and I'm excited to get back into backpacking. Thanks for sharing
Beautiful, scenery and pups. Thanks for sharing.
You guys are awesome. I appreciate your videos as they are very informative.
Great videos. Very helpful for finding new places to hike. Thanks for doing this!
I've really been enjoying your videos. Thanks for the effort to film, edit, and share.
Matt G
Another enjoyable video. It's the tough times on trail that you both will laugh about in the years to come.
It looked like a really nice trip, despite the rough terrain. It seems that beautiful vistas almost always go hand-in-hand with rough, demanding trails. Great trip narration and photos, as usual.
Really enjoyed your video. Well done! Thanks for sharing.
awesome trip man. thanks for taking the time to document and share your adventure
Thanks for sharing your hike. It must have been quite the blessing being able to have your son with you. I hope your dog is ok.
Great video. Looks like the trip kicked your butts even the dogs had a few exhausted moments. Really enjoyed sharing this trip with you. Glad to see Bailey improved I was worried for you.
Really beautiful country David kudos to you and Christian keep up the good work thanks for showing us
It's good to see Christian back. I can't wait until my kids are old enough to backpack together. Thanks for all the great videos.
I love your videos. As a student who loves hiking, it helps me wait for the summer to finally get back there !
Cheers :)
great trip as always. enjoyed it, your son is growing on up, going back to 1st glacier video and then compare to this. thanks for the video and looked fun
Another great vid typical Colorado high country beautiful weather in the morning and stormy in the afternoon love it.
So beautiful to see a father and his son taking adventures together. Keep it up guys. The older kinda look like an actor from that movie with the twins.
I really enjoy your backpacking videos and have watched nearly all of them . I wanted to comment on your approach to capturing the beauty of the rockies and bringing it back for all of us to enjoy with you . I especially enjoy your appetiser cheese breaks and the "Dunkin Donuts" coffee each morning , I would hope "Dunkin Donuts " would reward you in some way for your free advertising ................... Thanks for your videos ............. Grady
thanks for sharing that. yall had some dedication to that trip. beautiful place. that tarp was sure the best idea of your trip. appreciated the trip as it happened and no hard rock and roll theme blasting during the film.
Another great video. Thanks for sharing!
Spectacular film thanks for taking us with you- i think you got about as close to bottling it and taking it home as possible ! //football games screwing up our regular tv tonight this was much better!
Nice video. Really enjoyed the still pictures at the end as well.
I enjoy your videos. Good job, and thanks for sharing. This is a good reminder that perseverance pays in the wilderness. P.S. those dogs are a hoot!
Nice report. Watched it front to back. Holy Cross is great, need to get back
I love, love your doggies! So good to see them hiking!
Great Video it looked like a awesome trip ! I really like watching your Adventures.
The 2 times that I vacationed in the Dillon, Frisco and Silverthorne area, we just feel in love with it. I'm planning to do some hiking the next time I'm there. The views are incredible especially around Maroon Bells near Aspen. My first video with you Dave, and enjoyed it very much. Suggest you head up to Adam falls in Grand Lake. That trail has 5 lakes as you head up, with Moose and elk.
Gotta love a synchronized life - I just got back from COSTCO where I bought (for the first time) some Dunkin' Donuts coffee specifically because of your videos! So now I'm about to watch this latest David Gray production while sipping a cup! Cheers!
fantastic video. Thanks for sharing the journey
Another nice job, David. That's the way to keep your spirits up even though mother nature throws some tough stuff at you.
hey Dave just recently started watching your videos... Nice to see u and your boys spending time together. its also nice to know I'm not the only one that gets wore out also atleast u don't sugar coat how u feel lol. ..... Keep up the good work Dave
Thanks so much. I watched every minute, some of them twice. "The mountains are calling and I must go."
Very nice video and a beautiful nature. Nice dogs.
Love your videos. No ego, or heavy metal music just great stuff!
Just discovered your channel, great stuff! Love It!
Brilliant video man.
Another very enjoyable video,,,thank you.
Great Video! My Back yard after college back in the early 90's! So many places to backpack. Another great Hike in this area is the Gore Range
another great video thanks guys
Love your videos. I know you're carrying 15 lbs of camera equipment but let me tell you, the quality is second to none--best I've seen. Keep up the good work!
Would love to see a video on how you prepare food and also the TARP set ups!!!!
Thank you very much. It's comments like yours that give me inspiration when I'm saying to myself 'why am I doing this again?' when climbing up the passes! Late this fall and through the winter I plan to do a number of 'gear' videos, one of which I had planned to be on food/meals. I hadn't thought about a tarp setup video, but that is a great idea. Frankly, I really don't know or use that many different setups myself (at least so far) but I did do a bunch of research on setups prior to buying mine so I think it would be a useful and interesting video to pubish.
great video guys! thanks for posting it, now i gotta head out there for a few nights to camp too!
great trip guys ...those labs remind me of mine ...can never tire out and always eyeball the food!
another very good vid and very nice pics as well
I think the storm at around 40 minutes and the coffee segments are my favorite.
dude,you make the best videos by far
Awesome! I really enjoyed this video
Welcome to Colorado. So this how it is in the high country, you just have to be prepared. Altitude is a mother if your not acclimated, Tylenol and lots of water. Keep coming back there's so much more to see.
love what you do keep up the films
Thanks for the cool video , David and son!!
Another great trip! Enjoyed it Bill from Ohio! Thanks
I wanna hike with this guy for sure. Great video!
Great trip! It was nice To watch! 🍻🇫🇮
Good video. Just like camping......campfires, rain , nice scenery. You look and act like a wonderful person.....no big ego like some have to show. Thanks.
I love Love Love your videos sir. If I had a decent job, (which I don't and never will) I would save my money, quit the job and go hike. Then I would get another decent job, save, quit and go hike some more. Pretty soon I would run out of decent jobs because no one would hire me. Then what? lol Thanks for another great video Mr. Gray!
Good hike. Going to do it, when I get home!!
Your videos are awesome. You're the first person I watched on youtube when I've decided to start backpacking myself this summer. I'm working on my fitness so I'm able to take a 4 or 5 day hike. I moved to Colorado last summer so I have no excuse not to get out. Glad to see the dogs are ok after this outing. I have a yellow who turns 9 in December and I'm going to bring him with my first 4 day trip. Thanks again for the inspiration!!!! Couple Questions: Did you weigh your pack and if so how much did you carry this trip? When is your next video?
I love your videos! This trip looks like something that happens to my husband and I run into all the time (getting off course, bad weather)! Next time you take the dogs you may want to invest in "doggy boots." My dad uses them on his hunting dogs it really saves their paws! They do walk a bit funny in them till they get used to wearing them! I always feel inspired to"get out there" when I watch your videos, Thank-you for sharing them!
I actually have a set of paw boots that I bought long ago for Jaden, and the special 'socks' to go with them. I used to carry them routinely, and likely will again after this experience. But one thing you need to keep in mind with the boots, and one of the reasons I stopped carrying them, is that a dog 'sweats' almost entirely through their paws. (They get rid of heat mostly through panting, but sweating through paws). On one brutal heat trip we took with Jaden, he was having paw problems so we put the boots on him - and then he started to experience serious overheating problems (far worse than the paw problems - could have led to heat stroke) so we took the boots back off. I can't say with certainty that the boots were the cause of the overheating problems, but after that trip, which was my Shawnee State Forest Backpack Loop trip (I have an old youtube video posted from 2011) I stopped carrying the paw boots. However... I AM going to carry them again because even though they can exacerbate heat issues, a dog can get paw problems serious enough to prevent them from walking and the boots might be a solution to that.
That is good, Dad uses them depending on terrain for the bird dogs. Dad hunts rabbit in the winter, our beagles wore the boots when ice was cutting up paws (no risk of overheating then)! My son age 2 watches some of the video with me, he loved watching the dogs especially crossing the bridges!
Thank you for posting your videos they are excellent. I think I have watched them all. They are great from beginning intro to the end and the final pictures. Also watching you enjoy your morning cup of coffee.
I love backpacking. It is so hard to plan and do all the things to finally get on the trail. I dont get to hike near as much as I would like. I want to do the JMT one day. Also I want to hike some in Colorado in the future. Do you think you will go back and hike some on the AT?
Sorry for the long message again thank you for sharing.
I will definitely be hiking more of the AT, and would love to thru hike it some day (soon). The 'culture' and trail society of the AT are what made it so special for me. You are never alone, and somehow keep running into people you thought you'd never get to see again (even in my short time!). I just finished a solo backpacking trip in Rocky Mountain National Park, and though the scenery was spectacular I'd have to describe it as 'lonely'. I only saw a few other hikers my entire trip and each night was a solitary experience. I just loved the whole 'vibe' at the Overmountain Shelter - it was special. I'll probably get back there next spring to do the Grayson Highlands section - get a shuttle north from Mountain Harbour Hostel and then hike back south.
Great Videos, thanks for sharing !!!
21:30 "not a lot of fun right now......." Dog is like "speak for yourself bro" Awesome edit :)
beautiful trip....love the reality of situation...