Holy crap, this was a tough hike. I arrived at the unmarked trailhead around 10:00 AM. There were already several other cars in the small parking area, so I expected to have some company on the way up (and indeed, I ran into several people making their descent). It all started innocently enough, with a short jaunt up a grassy hillside. A few hundred feet above, aspen and fir covered the face of the mountain. Little did I suspect it was all just clever camouflage for…

THE CROSIER MOUNTAIN DEATH MARCH

Okay, seriously. Who built this trail?? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful place, and the views from the summit (You can see Estes Park and several of the more prominent fourteeners in Rocky Mountain National Park), can’t be beat (believe me, you have plenty of time to take in the scenery while you stop and suck wind every 5 minutes on the way to the top), but have you ever spent 3 hours climbing stairs? Yeah, I hadn’t either. Let’s just say this trail is a little steep. And vertical.

Anyway, the whole affair seems much more worthwhile once you actually reach the summit and realize it’s downhill all the way back. Then you twist your knee.

This is really a pretty nice hike if you are in shape. It passes through lots of different terrain, including boulder fields, alpine prairies and dense evergreen forests. Reaching the summit, 5.7 miles from the trailhead, gave me quite a feeling of accomplishment. One note of warning: It will take you at least 3 hours to get to the summit and 2 hours to get back down. Keep the temperamental Colorado weather in mind (hint: it likes to thunder and lightning on summer afternoons!). Also, my knees were pretty beat up from the journey down, it being so long and steep… make sure you take your time, and trekking poles certainly wouldn’t hurt.



To get there:

From Loveland, head West on Highway 34 through the town of Drake (~15 miles).
Shortly after Drake, there will be a fork in the road. Turn right toward Glen Haven.
2 miles from the turn to Glen Haven is the trailhead. It is on the left hand side with gate and a small parking area.
http://simla.colostate.edu/~cheppner/images/crosier1.png

http://simla.colostate.edu/~cheppner/images/crosier2.png

http://simla.colostate.edu/~cheppner/images/crosier4.png

http://simla.colostate.edu/~cheppner/images/crosier5.png

http://simla.colostate.edu/~cheppner/images/crosier6.png

Great hike! I am climbing all the fourteeners. I try to do a few every week... That will cease as I have to drive further and further away, but the season is prime right now.

North Maroon peak is the challenge for this weekend. A lump rises in my throat everytime I think about my routing and the snow and everything that goes with it.

Hehe.. makes me just want to go get some easy ones that I have left out of the way! :nod:

four

but have you ever spent 3 hours climbing stairs? Yeah, I hadn’t either.

Did that last weekend, (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=5213) with 50lbs on my back, but we climbed very fast, so we did it in under 2 hours, 40 mins ahead of the estimate :D

Sounds like you had a great time! Hiking is awesome :tu:

Sweet, that area is not too far from where I live. I'm going to have to check it out, thanks!

Duckman, I saw your pictures. That place is amazing...definitely added to my "must conquer" list. Fourteener, Woodenkey, whereabouts do you each live? Maybe we could get together and bust up a fourteener some weekend. I don't have a lot of technical climbing gear, so maybe not Sunlight or Russell, but difficulty is no object as long as I can get to the top on two legs. :tu:

Peace

Duckman, I saw your pictures. That place is amazing...definitely added to my "must conquer" list. Fourteener, Woodenkey, whereabouts do you each live? Maybe we could get together and bust up a fourteener some weekend. I don't have a lot of technical climbing gear, so maybe not Sunlight or Russell, but difficulty is no object as long as I can get to the top on two legs. :tu:

Peace

Hehe.. bah! You don't need any gear to climb Sunlight. Some people use gear, but I will not be using gear for any of the 14ers. Crampons and an axe is about it for my climbs.

I've done about 20 (out of my count of 58 as of my latest count) so far. I live in Aspen at the base of the Maroon Bells and Pyramid. I will be heading close to Denver soon to be doing the "busy" and easier 14ers. (grays, evans, torreys, bierstat).

If you have an idea of when you want to go, just let me know and we can get some concrete plans together. It could be any 14er in the state. I am not picky and am perfectly happy doing something I have already done. :tu:

four

I'm in Longmont. I moved from VA not too long ago...I've never tackled a fourteener yet. All we have are the Appalachians back home...better than coming from Kansas but still a jr. to what you guys are doing. I'm up for the haul though.