Climbing this mtn. was an epic high & wild adventure. The sign "Above Fear" I am holding at the top is courtesy of The Two Lane Traveler, who champions this motto. Among the many places he has visited around the country, check out his video of Devil's Tower: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Z-X5myv6XJs.html; And also his video from a tour of Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-plIP34I_jB0.html. For my climb of Blanca Peak, the highest peak in the Sangre de Cristo range: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ANFMv45Qw8M.html.
This is now my favorite format for watching 14er videos. Intense, adventurer music in the background, good vibes and thorough explanation. Absolutely loved this video.
Great video. Thanks for reviving the memories. I climbed both about 9 years ago starting from the Cottonwood Lake trailhead. That approach to the lake is rough with some difficult route finding but camping at Cottonwood Lake was magical.
Thank you.....Yes, I definitely found Cottonwood Lake to be an idyllic place even just passing by it. I'm sure I would have enjoyed a longer stay. And I always like it if these videos stir up some fond memories!
Again, another great historical narrative followed by a nice dissection of the hike! Looks like some approach shoes would be useful for that gully to the top.
Thanks once more. I am particularly fond of this group of mountains, so doing this video was extra fun - and there was a lot to discuss. The rock slabs are low-angle enough that traction isn't much of an issue on them as long as they are dry, but all one can do about the loose rock is avoid or endure it, and try not to send any 'surprise gifts' down to anyone else.
I'd been looking for a very descriptive video of climbing Crestone Peak. This was perfect! I plan on going in late September and this video just upped my confidence in submitting! Thank you! I'm thinking of setting up camp in the cottonwood lake vicinity then attempting the summit before the following morning going back over BHP to do Humboldt Peak.
I'm glad you found this helpful. And of course, the day I was on this mtn. turned out to be an ideal day. Depending on the time of year, there can still be snow in crux areas like Broken Hand Pass and the upper gully. I imagine late September would likely be clear unless there has been substantial early snow fall.
The wild flowers were beautiful on this hike. Was there about 35 years ago. Drove to the old upper trailhead. The Crestones are majestic, never climbed them. Humboldt was among the first 14teener I did. Great memories.
It's always neat to hear when one of these videos brings back fond memories for someone. And yes, I found these peaks among the most dramatic I have experienced.
The loose rock and rubble give it that dramatic appearance and due give rise to its being a scary one for falling rock above. Looked like a lot of scrambling. The one I turned around on was Capital once I reached K2. Just too afraid of heights to do that without a panic.
The "red gully" as it is called, is the crux of this route - climbing up angled slabs, class 3 rock, and lots of loose rock (the loose rock being the most irritating part, to me).
The western-style music is a just piece I got from the youtube audio library. I appreciate you appreciating the music - I work hard on that. Copyright issues limit what I can use, but for me, mtn. climb videos work best with the folk/western/country genres, and the classical genre. I just wish I could use any classical piece I wanted. I would have so many ideas about what piece would go well with what mountain. One of my favorite things I was able to do was use Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture in my Mt. Harvard & Mt. Columbia video. Later. -CT
Thanks. Hopefully my travels bring me back to this amazing area - if and when they do, I would certainly want to climb the other mtns. in this group, especially the Needle.
What a cool video treks. So much useful beta. Quite a personal accomplishment. Any 14er is I would say… Hell of a day though. Underrated hiking channel you have here. I’ll remember this video when I’m ready for Crestone Peak ⛰
