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