RICK CRANDALL

This site is a collection of articles on subjects that may be of interest to researchers.. They are all copyrighted, however abstracting and quoting may be done without my permission (although I’d like to know!) and literal copying may be allowed, contact me. 

Pyramid Peak – a Dream Climb

Pyramid Peak near Aspen, one of the most challenging fourteeners with its narrow ledges, Leap of Faith, Class 4 Green Wall and the impressive Amphitheater; climbed during fall aspen colors with climbing expert Andy Mishmash.

Mt. Shavano – East Slopes

Mt. Shavano with its Angel of Shavano gully is the flagship fourteener associated with the town of Salida: the “angel” can be seen with arms raised insdie the yellow circle. Also in this article are pragmatic mountain weather forecasting notes mainly using cloud formations.

Longs Peak – Camping at 12,700′ – Keyhole Route

Longs Peak is one of the most aggressive Class 3 mountains featuring named pitches starting at the "keyhole." The "ledges", "the trough," "the narrows," and "homestretch."

Mount of the Holy Cross – A Colorado Iconic Mountain – North Ridge

A famous Colorado fourteener for its snow-gully Cross and proclaimed Holy Cross National Monument by Herbert Hoover, it is the subject of the poem “The Cross of Snow” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sunlight Peak – a Beauty in the San Juans

Sunlight Peak is great rock climbing fun and in the most beautiful Range in Colorado. It is accessed from Chicago Basin which is accessed by a 7 mile backpack after riding an historic narrow-gauge train ride and jumping off between Durango and Silverton.

Culebra Peak from San Luis, Colorado’s Oldest Town

Culebra Peak is the only privately-owned fourteener. It is accessed from San Luis, only 8 miles from the New Mexico border. The town, formed in 1851, has the striking "Chapel of All Saints and a world-famous shrine called Stations of the Cross.

Little Bear Peak in a Snowstorm – and a Real Bear

Little Bear Peak – standard route judged to be the most difficult standard route of all Colorado fourteeners, and I learned why. Accessible up the worst road in Colorado. We ran into a bear raid and a snowstorm to boot – a multiple adventure.

Missouri Mountain – West Ridge

A fourteener in the Collegiates that is a modest step up from a “walk-up.

Mt. Lindsey: Full Moon Campout and a Class 3, Loose Gully Climb

Mt. Lindsey is one of the new Class of climbs we're doing – loose, steep gullies and playing roulette with the weather.

Mt. Antero – West Slopes via Baldwin Gulch

Mt. Antero in the Collegiates, the highest mineral-laden terroir in the country.

Welcome

This site is a collection of articles on subjects that may be of interest to researchers.

They are all copyrighted, however abstracting and quoting may be done without my permission (although I’d like to know!) and literal copying may be allowed, contact me.

See Hiking and Climbing Equipment Checklist HERE

New Articles

Climbing a New York City Skyscraper

In Hudson Yards, NYC there is a building called the Edge that has the highest cantilevered deck in North America at the 100th floor. We elevatored to there and then went outside to climb to the top!

Mt. Sherman Revisited

After four years passing from finishing climbing all 58 fourteeners, I am back at a summit on Mt. Sherman with Mona Long.

My Favorite 14er Climb Stories

San Luis Peak – via Creede and the South Ridge

A shocking (literally hair-raising) story. We found this approach was the best. Even summiting at 10am we got hit by multiple electrical storm cells that arose with no warning and discharged into us right at summit! We ran and got sufficiently down before the discharges took the form of full lightning bolts.

Automatic Crystal Parlor Fountains

Based on a pneumatic principle by physicist Heron of Alexandria in AD 62, the Automatic Crystal Fountain combines beauty with captivating geyser-like fountain using no apparent motive power.

El Diente – Climbing a hard Fourteener

El Diente – A Hard Mountain in the San Juan Range El Diente is not often climbed and indeed it has its challenges. We liked the south ridge approach from the Kilpacker trailhead. From that direction the view of El Diente is impressive and the Kilpacker Basin is a feast for the eyes.

Mt. Daly – the “one with the stripe”

Mt. Daly is on the other side of the saddle from Capitol Peak. It is one of the most visible mountains to those traveling between Aspen and Snowmass. While not a 14er, it is a named 13er with a fun Class 3 ridge-crest climb that is less frequently done. There is also not much written about the best way up, solved here in this story.