Aspen Snowshoe Classic: Smuggler Mountain to Hunter Creek
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- čas přidán 10. 01. 2024
- Winter hiking is here and we just touched down in one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. for winter snowshoeing - Aspen, Colorado! Smuggler Mountain is the most popular hike in Aspen for a reason, and in winter it's even more special because hikers can loop Smuggler with a snowshoe around and down to Hunter Creek. The Smuggler to Hunter Creek snowshoe loop is the perfect hike for just about anyone - if you're looking for a shorter hike most people can complete the loop in a few hours, but if you're looking for a longer hike there are essentially endless offshoot trails that you can take once you've reached the top of Smuggler. Just make sure to bring a pair of snowshoes and a good map of the Aspen hiking trail system!
#hiking #coloradohiking #aspen
I love aspen trees too. And so fun to go to the town of Aspen and look at all the beautiful houses and historical downtown. Thanks.
We felt the same way -- a lot of the week we just walked around town, got coffee in the cute little shops, and enjoyed the whole feel of that high-altitude outdoor lifestyle. It would be a great (but expensive!) place to live. ❤️
Really love your vocals Elise, goes with the beautiful scenery❄️☃️⛄️. Love snowshoeing, love the crunch they make in the snow, and it’s a great workout! Always a fun video, thanks for taking us along☃️❄️
Yes Mary! We felt exactly that way when we were out there. It was a perfect workout, and also a great way to start acclimating ourselves for the bigger and higher adventures we had planned for the following week! ❤️
Beautiful guys! Thank so much for sharing! ❤️
Thanks Larry! Aspen really is a gorgeous place to hike and hang out -- we had a truly awesome New Year's there! ❤️
Literally in John Denver's footsteps...FAROUT!!!
Bill we have been going full-on Rocky Mountain High so far this year, and loving it!!! ❤️
This was a beautiful hike in the snow! We LOVE Colorado! Snow shoeing is so much fun! Thanks for sharing, guys!
Thanks guys -- Colorado really is amazing in the snow! We were so happy to get some winter adventures there, and looking forward to going back this summer as well to climb some of those monster 14ers! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard Yes! We want to do some 14ers in the future, too! Have fun, guys! 👍
Stunning!!!! The blue sky and white snow and Elise’s magical voice 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 I think a snowshoe adventure in the sun is something for me!
Xxoo 😘
I think so too! Def would be great for you to join any time when we're on our big US travel trip -- we're thinking at least a few weeks in CO next winter!! ❤️
Love the addition of acoustic guitar on the second song! Glorious! It felt like good news in an aspen-pillared cathedral.
Thanks Mark! So glad you liked that -- we're going to be doing a bit more acoustic stuff this year because that's kind of the vibe we're feeling! ❤️
Beautiful country for sure $$$$$ Looking forward to more adventures in the Rockies! :) Thanks you two!
Thanks Harlan! Ya we def had some fun adventuring in the Rockies on this trip, as you'll see -- after some slightly too hard New Years' partying in Aspen 😂
Welcome back to Colorado. I hope you both had more amazing adventures while you were here. It's bitter cold this entire week with -50 degree wind chill temps. and wind speeds up to 55 mph in the mountains. Beautiful day and video of your snowshoe trek.
Thanks Vickie! OMG we got a taste of that cold a few days ago in Rocky Mountain National Park -- we hiked up to Sky Pond and darn near froze to death in the wind up there. Sure was beautiful though!! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard You are very brave to endure those conditions. I haven't done Sky Pond in Winter, but 3 times in summer, because gravity likes to hug me hard coming down slick, steep and icy waterfalls. I sure hope there's a video coming out on your trek there. Do you both ever get recognized when you're on a hike or climb? I live fairly close to RMNP and it is the only place I can hike in Winter. I've gotten pretty creative at connecting trails so that I at least get 8 miles in. It's been a week since my last hike due to weather. Congrats on your successful climb to Sky Pond.
@@TrekkingTheRockies Thanks, and ya we will definitely show you guys the Sky Pond video -- the frozen waterfalls were freaking amazing! We do get recognized pretty often when we're out on trail. So far it's always really nice and positive, and we stop and chat and do pictures and stuff. Hope the weather mellows out for you so you can get back out there -- CO is so gorgeous in the winter!! ❤
beautiful, keep em coming and stay safe out there as always guys!
Thanks Carl! We are def going to keep the winter adventures coming -- some Rocky Mountain National Park adventuring coming up next!!! ❤️
This is my favorite CZcams video of every week! Great Job Guys!
Thanks Miguel! So grateful for all your support, and excited for a big 2024!! ❤️
Beautiful, loved every minute of it ❤
Thank you -- so happy you enjoyed it! Aspen is really a lovely place to hike and hang out. ❤️
Your energy is blowing me away. Thanks for showing this beautiful landscape. Actually I'm too lazy to go hiking this much at 15°F here in southern Bavaria, but videos like yours motivate me to get up off my butt and just do it. Ice and snow, but sunny. It's beautiful! Keep it up! ✌😊❤
That's what we love to hear! 15 F really is cold, but as you'll see in some upcoming videos we've been having some wonderful hikes in those kinds of conditions and even colder -- though it did get tough when the wind started blowing hard as well. But very glad to hear you are getting motivated to get out there into the beautiful Bavarian winter. Snow hiking is good for both body and soul! ❤️
What a beautiful spot--thanks for sharing!
Aspen was so fun, Bob! We def gotta all do a CO trip together at some point. ❤️ --A
Serene winner beauty in the Colorado mountains.❄️😁
It really is gorgeous there in winter -- we've got some high altitude rockies adventures coming up that almost look like the Sierra! ❤️
Aspin Forests in CO are mesmerizing.
We feel exactly the same! No matter what time of year we go there, they always amaze us. It was really cool to see them in the snow. ❤️
Always so beautiful to hike in the snow with forest thanks you from France and good year Gerard
Merci beaucoup, Gerard! Je suis tout a fait d'accord : l'hiver est pour moi la plus belle saison pour faire de la randonnee. ❤️ --A
Great camera work, crystal clear mts.
Thank you -- yes we had truly perfect and crystal clear weather the whole time we were in Aspen. What a treat it was! ❤️
So beautiful! I've never been to CO in the winter, but one of these days!! And thank you for making me feel good: Back in August I came from sea level and did Castle/Conundrum with some friends. Wow that was hard! We then did La Plata the next day. I was toast for a week!! Can't wait to see your next snowy adventure!!
Thanks Dan, and we totally feel your altitude pain. We were out there in CO for a couple of weeks and even by the end were still suffering when we got up above 10,000 feet. Really looking forward to when we actually live at altitude and don't have that problem! Meanwhile, more snowy CO adventures coming up! ❤️
Great experience, hiking in the snow is so satisfying 👌🔥🤘🍻💯
Totally agree -- there's something about being out there in snow conditions that just feels amazing, and also there are far fewer people so a lot of times it's really a chance to be alone with nature as well. ❤️
❤ GR8 VID ❤ LOVED IT ❤ Aspen was one of my favorite places to mingle with all the pretty people ❤
Yes David! We def did more mingling than hiking during New Year's week there, but it was a great time and lots of fun! ❤️
My favorite Indian Peaks to Wild Basin.
Blanco.
Great Dunes when -2.
Will def look that Indian Peaks -Wild Basin hike up! ❤️
Pretty day, pretty mountains, head over to Ouray ice park and do some fun climbs,it's a great place thanks so much for sharing , you guys do a great job with the video, enjoy Colorado Larry Owens
Ouray is a great idea, Larry! We're planning to go this summer and do their via ferrata!! ❤️
If you two were struggling, what hope do the rest of us have haha. And even being a popular hike, it looked like you had the trail to yourselves.
Ya we did have the whole Hunter Creek part of the trail basically to ourselves! There were some other people going up that first part to Smugglers Lookout, but everyone was super friendly and we didn't mind it. Still, it was def even better once we turned off of Smugglers and were really alone in the beautiful quiet Aspen groves. ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard One of my favorite things about your hikes/videos is the solitude you get to experience. Just you and nature!
@@prowrestlingisart6742 Us too! It's amazing how getting just a little way of the beaten path can leave you almost all alone!
@@LiveHardxLoveHard i think getting off the beaten path and taking the road less travelled is a gift in itself
Great music too! Thank you.
Thank you so much! We really enjoy playing with the music when we do these occasional smaller, mellower hikes -- glad you enjoyed!! ❤️
Hope you had a chance to go visit one of the hot springs close by. Aspen is always fun! So proud to see you exploring my backyard;)
Wait Kim we didn't even know about the hot springs! D'oh!!! Can you hike to them? We def would have done that. Unless you mean Glenwood Springs, which we have definitely done and absolutely love -- such a great place! ❤️
Snow looks wonderful the sound of the crunch, Thank you for sharing your trip ....down south we do have snow but for how long
Ya Andrea it's been such a weird weather year! Kind of low snow in a lot of places, and then a big snow followed by rain a couple days later at lower elevations. But it really was fun for us to get up to some high elevation snow adventures on this trip! ❤️
So nice to see how much more snow there is out there compared to here where winter is supposed to be great.. Beautiful scenery.. Have a great evening Elise.. 🤗✌️
Thanks Serge! Yes winter has been very strange this year, with so much less snow than forecast for us in California as well. But Colorado is definitely beautiful right now, and looking forward to showing you some more snowy winter adventures from there! ❤️ --E
@@LiveHardxLoveHard can't wait to see more Elise.. It's always my pleasure on Thursday night when I get home... 🙏👌🥂
I am a new follower of your channel Greetings from Sweden 😊
Welcome to the channel, and all the way from Sweden! We're delighted that you will be joining us for all the big adventures we have coming up in 2024 and beyond! ❤️
it's a pleasure to be here. I appreciate the warm welcome😊
As always a cool thumbs 👍.
Thanks David, haha cool is right -- it was pretty cold up there, especially at night! ❤️
Looks like a beautiful sunny day. Are you two there to ski as well? Great video and yes Elise does look cute with the snow in her hair. Thanks for another great video.
Thank you -- yes it was gorgeous weather the whole time we were there. We thought about skiing, but then wound up doing a snowmobile trip and two hikes instead. But we still do want to go back there and ski as well at some point! ❤️
Great job 🙂
Thanks Petr -- happy to show you Colorado in the snow! ❤️
Such a beautiful place!
Yes! Colorado in the winter is totally gorgeous -- wait until you see the adventures in Rocky Mountain National Park that we have coming up!! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard looking forward to it! Always enjoy you guys videos.
Beautiful. Think we talked about a while back that giants like Adam could really use tails on his snowshoes to keep from sinking a little less.
Yes Ellen, though in snow this powdery even the tails on the EVOs wouldn't have floated us much. We're actually thinking about getting a whole other set of much bigger snowshoes for this kind of powder, because we've really taken to winter hiking but in doing more of it are realizing just how truly gear intensive it is with all the different potential conditions! ❤️
You’ve inspired me to get my snowshoes on and go to the nearby mountains!
Yes Monte! There is no better and more fun winter exercise than snowshoeing. Of course it's sometimes almost too hard if the powder is deep, but then even going a mile or so can be a heck of a workout! ❤️
It is always a good idea. But make sure to educate yourself of the hazards and risks such as avalanche and landscape. I recommend always if possible to go with a group or a guide that can teach you the basics.
Mmm Aspen, where the beer flows like wine...
Hahaha we had pretty much everything flowing, up to and including Sake -- in fact, I believe I'm going to mention Adam's big Sake mistake in next week's video 😂 --E
@@LiveHardxLoveHard For comedy sake, I hope you do ;)
Awesome video..
A$PEND IS GREAT. Bring lot of $$
Haha ya Aspen is definitely expensive, but we were very lucky because our friend rented a house for all of us so we got to stay for a whole week for free! We had a great time!! ❤️
Happy New Year! The dry air probably sucked the hydration out of you compounding the altitude effect. Looked like a blast no matter the troubles
That is very astute -- and the fact that we were drinking alcohol and staying up late with friends in the evenings prob wasn't a big help either! But like you say, it was just a blast hiking around the beautiful spots in Aspen even though we didn't do anything super hard there. It did get us well acclimated for some harder hikes following, though! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard LOL.... and, yeah, drinks and good times hinders! You two have a great channel, I look forward to the next installment
Have you guys ever looked into or tried the tails you can add on to the evos? Just got a pair of evo trails myself and wondering if the tails make a difference in that deep, powdery snow.
Looked like a peaceful adventure, and I admire the energy and positivity you guys bring even when you’re not well-rested and not doing something particularly crazy by your standards. Just goes to show how much you guys genuinely love being out there.
Thanks Colby, and yes! The tails do help, though in snow this powdery you're still going to sink in pretty deep. Where the tails are really helpful is for bigger guys -- I'm around 200 lbs -- when there's a crust on the snow, like in the Sierra. The tails stop you from post-holing as much, which is awesome. But in super powdery snow, you're gonna sink pretty far with EVOs even if you use the tails -- you'd prob need much bigger shoes to float on powder, and even then bigger guys are gonna sink in a certain amount no matter what. --A
Want more of CO and neighboring states. Yeah, Europe and Switzerland are gorgeous but the American West is unlike any other place on the planet and it's huge.
Your request is our command! We've got a couple of really cool adventures coming up in Rocky Mountain National Park -- including climbing up to the gorgeous Sky Pond and also glissading at high speed down St. Mary's Glacier! ❤️
You needed tails for those snow shoes. I have the 8 inch tails for my MSRs and it helps. I keep wanting vintage snowshoes, then hang them on the wall for art off season.
Haha ya we were just talking about that in the previous comment too. With powder this dry and light, we would have been sinking in pretty deep even with the tails, though they would have helped a bit. The regular shoes were great for the main slightly packed trail though -- plenty of bite to keep from slipping on the steep parts, and enough float to keep from post-holing where it was just lightly packed. But ya, they weren't much help in the deep powder! ❤️
1st thank you Adam and Elise for sharing your adventures with us!
2nd, how many miles is that loop?
3rd, you both rock!!
I am a fan of pink sports bras on hikes in the winter time! 🎉😂😂❤❤❤❤
Our pleasure, Dave! Ya the sports bra fit right in in Aspen 😂 You can make this hike almost any length with the variety of trail options, but the way we did it it was about 4 miles or so -- a perfect little afternoon hike! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard I got to go to Aspen! 💕
What often surprises me in your videos that there are usually no people around you even on the popular trails.
Yes Fedor, we definitely try to avoid the crowds by going early and fast, going off trail, going in difficult conditions, or often some combination of all three. In this case, we started a bit late and did pass quite a few people on our way up Smugglers, but then there was literally no one once we took that hard left to head over to Hunter Creek. Just blissful, snow-crunching solitude! ❤️
Mount Blanco area is epic for peaks.
Will def try that area too this summer!!
I never get bored watching your content..... Do you ever run into your? Fans on the trail If so, how often?
Thank you, and yes we do run into people who recognize us pretty often. On hikes in California where we're on normal trails, it might be 2 or 3 times per hike and we usually stop to chat and take pictures if people ask. Of course we often are doing off-trail stuff, so then we might not run into anyone at all the whole day until we get back to the trailhead parking lot, but then a lot of times we'll get recognized there which is fun. Outside of California, and especially outside of America, it is more rare that we get recognized -- maybe once per hike if we're on a popular trail in Europe. So far, it's all been very positive experiences. ❤️
I have been binge watching y'alls videos again, since I haven't seen your stuff in a while. Loved this one! Kudos to carrying the snowshoes, I usually bungee strap them to my backpack! haha
Have you guys every thought about doing 4-pass loop near Aspen? With your guys fitness level, you could probably do it in a day. It's 24 miles and 7000 vertical I believe. I want to backpack it this upcoming summer!
So glad you're re-watching the vids and enjoying! Yes, we will absolutely do the 4-pass loop and, as you say, do it as a single long day. We'll prob do it this summer when we're out in CO for a month doing 14ers -- maybe we'll see you on it! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard aww thank you! I love that you guys take the time to respond to all the comments.
I’m sitting here editing some old footage. I’ve always been so hesitant to post my own videos but you guys inspire me!
That sounds amazing! How many of the 14ers are you guys planning to do?
@@tahirrazzaq9494 Post them! As long as you love what you're doing, there's a good chance others will love it too! We're thinking 4 or 5 of the 14ers this summer, probably the famous ones we haven't done like Longs and Capitol, and then whichever ones are really gorgeous and/or gnarly that you guys recommend! ❤
Leadville is over the mountain from Aspen. Its altitude is over 10,000 feet. But it’s a long drive to get there.
Yes! We've been to Leadville in the summer, but in winter they close the easy route to get there from Aspen. One day when we live at altitude, we'd love to run in that high-altitude Leadville ultra!! ❤️
Colorado is huge. Monstrous. Remote.
Nice Video Thank You, grüße Michael
Thanks Michael! Very glad to show you some Colorado winter hiking -- and a few more Colorado adventures will be coming up this month, including climbing up and glissading down a glacier! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard Nice
You two are getting close to my area! (about 5 hours east in western NE). I've wanted to head up that way for some time. Might need to load the truck and haul the wife and daughter up there now! So Elise, there is a line in your "new" song: "What has happened has already been..." and I'm having a hard time catching some of the lyrics. Assuming it's an original? But what of that line? It reminds me either of a catch phrase from the remade "Battlestar Galactica:" "This has all happened before and will all happen again;" OR from Ecclesiastes 1:9 "What has been will be again..." So I thought I'd ask you more about it: What is the inspiration and such? It's a beautiful song and I definitely would add it to my collection of LH2 music~!
Thanks again for taking us all along on your adventures you two!
Jeff that's awesome!! We will be out there for almost a month this summer doing some big climbs, so may come right through your area! Will for sure let you know. As for the song, it's really funny you ask. Adam does all the concepts and lyrics, and he was a bit irked with me about that line because the way he wrote it was, "What WILL happen has already been," but when I was recording I accidentally changed it to "What has happened..." But yes, you got the vibe of it exactly. We wanted to capture the meditative, almost prayerful aspect of hiking and trail running where there's no sin, no judgment, just a beautiful oneness with nature that we can run to at any time. And as with many of our songs, there's a double meaning where love for one's partner and love for nature sort of coalesce. ❤️ --E
Colorado is just big. Indian Peaks. Mount Blanco. 6? 14k peaks. You can walk from Indian Peaks to Wild Basin. Rocky. I recommend going to Sand lake then up Meeker. I took the ridge straight up from sand lake trail. Most go up front side. Don't. Summer Road trip. I like Great Sand Dunes at -2 in the Sun. That valley is monstrously huge empty cold high. 🥶
Moab. Durango. Mount Blanco. Buena Vista. Good camping overlooking town.
Allenspark. Meeker. Indian Peaks Nederland Moab.
Yes! We love CO, and had a great adventure at Great Dunes a few years ago. Meeker on list for sure! ❤️
ELISE and ADAM a hello from France. A lovely hike in a landscape paralyzed by the cold of winter, and in the middle of these enchanted forests with sleeping trees, only druids can be woken up by the screeching of your snowshoes that weave through the immaculate white snow. It's a total change of scenery where you can both recharge your batteries in peace, face to face with a nature tinged with mystery and embellished by the voice of ELISE. Behind every tree we would like to meet the elves of the forests, it makes us dream. Kisses to both of you. DAN
ELISE et ADAM un bonjour de France. Jolie randonnée dans un paysage paralysé par le froid de l’hiver, et au milieu de ces forêts enchantées aux arbres endormis, seuls les druides peuvent être réveillés par le crissement de vos raquettes qui se faufilent dans une neige immaculée de blanc. C’est un dépaysement total ou vous pouvez vous ressourcer tous deux en toute quiétude, face à face avec une nature teintée de mystère et agrémentée par la voix d’ELISE. Derrière chaque arbre on voudrait rencontrer les elfes des forêts, ça fait rêver. Bises à vous deux. DAN
Merci beaucoup, Dan, et tu as raison sur le fait que nous rechargeons! C'etait un merveilleux voyage, avec belles randonnees dans la neige fraiche. Nous sommes ravis de te montrer le reste du voyage! ❤️
Two trekking poles up! No pop tarts, Adam? What's up with that. Take care.
Haha thanks Kim -- I usually only break out the tarts on hard hikes where I really need the energy boost. Our hikes in Aspen were great exercise and took us to some beautiful spots, but they weren't too physically challenging. But don't worry, there will def be plenty of pop tart emergency snacks coming up later this year, because we've got a lot of sufferfests planned for 2024! --A
Elise, how are you not cold in that weather? I've been to Colorado but haven't been to Aspen.
Oh my gosh, Joseph, you will definitely see me getting cold later on this trip once we get high in the Rockies! At this altitude of around 8000 feet, sun and wind make a big difference. It can be so cold in Aspen once the sun goes down, but quite lovely when in direct sunlight and sheltered from the wind like we were when climbing up Smugglers! ❤️
looks like pretty low snowcover actually. Hopefully all of the snow this last week and coming weekend change that.
Ya it was definitely below the usual, but these recent storms have to have added to it significantly. Either way, so lovely to hike through those Aspens! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard It's true. It reminds me a lot of Sun Valley up here in Idaho. The aspens are most beautiful in fall
Are you back in California now the mountains are snow bound .yes
Yes David we heard that Cali got some big snow!! We will be back in Cali and probably up in the mountains by next week! ❤️
Do you two sleep in the car in the winter ❄️ how cold can you to take it. 🤔
We have slept in the car in the cold before, David, but not on this trip. We were very fortunate that our friend rented a big beautiful house in Aspen for everyone to stay in! ❤️
I think the late great singer actor John Denver live in Aspen col.
John Denver was awesome -- Rocky Mountain High!! ❤️
👍👍👍👍😎😎
Thanks John!! 💪❤️
What happened to your zipper ?
You didn't mention what the temperature was but what's with showing the sports bra❓ Is it 70°outside❔ Seems unnecessary just put on a wicking shirt .
Honestly on this one it was very warm in the sheltered sun and we were both sweating going uphill. Once in the shade or wind chill, however, it was pretty darn cold. Multiple layers are def a must for this hike. ❤️
Zipper broken. 😄
Haha no, just layering. But I have def had some broken zipper debacles in the past including on my Salomon pack in the middle of scaling Daubenhorn!! ❤️ --E
I live here. Holla if you guys wanna go make some turns.
That's awesome! What a great place to live, and you're always pre-acclimated for any climbing adventure. Super jealous. We were only there for a few days of New Years' partying (made a video of us climbing up Ute trail kind of hungover which we might show next week 😂), but will definitely be coming back for some of the big peaks this summer! ❤️
Aspen is the only town in the world where Billionaire's have displaced millionaires.😀😀😀😀😀
Haha it's true! Though we still found a few pretty delicious and affordable places to eat including our favorite Barbecue place -- Hickory House! Yum!!! ❤️
There is no easy way to hike through deep powder, but larger snowshoes provide more floatation compared to what you are using.
Definitely -- that high altitude Aspen powder is particularly tough, because the shoes find so little resistance to float on! ❤️
How on earth do you wear an open jacket and a sports bra?! Brrrrr! Boo, no Adam snack spot 😟
Haha Aspen was crazy like that -- we got so hot going uphill in the sun protected from wind, and then so cold in the shade and wind. It is definitely a place where lots of layers are key! ❤️
Hate driving up I 25. Secondary roads are not like CA. Everything on a road is private property. Indian Peaks is owned by Boulder. Water. Wild Basin entrance a zoo in summer. Go to sand lake. Then explore. Huge bowl of woods. Longs Meeker. Backside.
Who hike on a top with an open jacket in the snow? Who can take this serious? 🥺🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Most of the athletes we know do this kind of layering, Karen. It's all about preventing your base layers from getting sweaty, which greatly reduces their effectiveness. So you open the jacket or even take it completely off when exerting uphill in the sun, and then zip up or even add more layers when in shade, cold wind, or when resting. BTW, I think you might have one too many eyeroll emojis -- once you get over 20, people tend to think you're a bit histrionic.