We decided to try tackling one of the 13ers near Breckenridge rather than driving across the state in search of another 14er to climb. We chose Crystal Peak, which is on a connecting ridgeline to Peak 10 (of the Breckenridge Ski Area). We'd hoped to bag Father Dyer Peak as well (13,615 ft) but the weather looked a tad too sketchy. Joining Lisa and I on this hike was a friend from work, Alan Chudnow.
Sunrise over Bald Mountain Lisa along the trail Father Dyer Peak (left) and Crystal Peak (right) An old miners cabin in front of Father Dyer Peak An old miners cabin in front of Father Dyer Peak Mount Helen Alan along the trail Father Dyer Peak and Crystal Peak Brian hiking up to the saddle between Peak 10 and Crystal Peak The Gore Range, as seen from the saddle between Peak 10 and Crystal Peak Brian finds his first geocache! Alan had placed some waypoints in his GPS for two geocaches near the peak. This one was located under a small cairn on the ridge...it had one log entry this year: 8/22 Alan signs the log in the geocache Brian and Lisa climbing up the ridge towards Crystal Peak Lisa with Peak 10 in the background Brian summits Crystal Peak Quandary Peak (center) and Pacific Peak (right) Mt. Lincoln and Democrat Peak are visible in the distance to the south A good chunk of the Ten Mile Range, from Peak 10 all the way back to Peak 1 on the far left Peak"s 7, 8, 9, and 10 are all part of the Breckenridge Ski Area. In the center of the image, you can see the top of the Imperial Chair Lift on Peak 8. Alan on the summit of Crystal, Sawatch range in the distance Crystal Peak summit panorama Alan and Lisa descending Peak 10 Father Dyer Peak and Upper Crystal Lake Gentian flower Bee An old mining cabin along Upper Crystal Lake Alan finds the second geocache The hint was that it was by a large rock...yeah...cause that narrows it down... Upper Crystal Lake with a storm in the distance We lucked out with the weather. The storm to the east skirted just south of us and we managed to stay completely dry. Miners cabin at Upper Crystal Lake, Bald Mountain in the distance Lisa on the shores of Upper Crystal Lake Rain to the east Dyer and Crystal again Brian and Alan Alan crossing a log bridge