Colorado 14ers: Mt Princeton Winter Hike Guide
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- čas přidán 26. 02. 2023
- Mt Princeton is a good option for hiking a winter 14er. Although you have to add mileage and elevation gain due to a lower starting point, avalanche risk is typically fairly low. This day ended up being 11.5 miles with 5,200 ft of elevation gain. This was filmed in February.
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What to Pack for Winter Hike: • What to Pack for A Win...
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Basic Avalanche Information for Hikers: • General Avalanche Awar...
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Gear Used
Winter Backpack: amzn.to/3whui7J
Hiking/SkiPoles: amzn.to/2txU7mB
Headlamp: amzn.to/3jD7NXp
Climbing Helmet: amzn.to/2OLReWO
Mountain Axe: amzn.to/32Vf8pi
Crampons: amzn.to/3JZKulv
Crampon Bag: amzn.to/37i7apV
Snowboard Boots: bit.ly/38wmzcX
Snowboard Boot Crampons: amzn.to/3Lm17oi
La Sportiva Mountaineering Boots: amzn.to/3bu1lJp
Microspikes: amzn.to/3lAPOle
Gaiters: amzn.to/3aPKpyk
Optional: Avalanche Gear: Beacon, Probe, Shovel: bit.ly/3R3C4ef
Optional: Snowshoes: amzn.to/2Hgx4jq
Optional: Skis or Splitboard: amzn.to/3whMZIu
Optional: Yaktraks: amzn.to/36SDC2r
Optional: Garmin inReach:amzn.to/3xjoUAY
Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch: amzn.to/3xjBdx2
Filming Equipment
Drone: amzn.to/3K33uPS
Phone: amzn.to/3Wnlisk
GoPro: amzn.to/3Q035Op
GoPro Max: amzn.to/3P4qlcL
Selfie Stick: amzn.to/3PUTn0z
Joby Tripod: amzn.to/36UVxFm
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I was very blessed to have the opportunity to live at the base of Princeton and Antero, in Nathrop (South of BV). My girlfriend and I summited Mt. Princeton in late November - it was one of the clearest days and nicest weather we have come across. Started at the lower Trailhead and camped at the radio towers. This mountain has a special place in my heart since we could see our house down at the bottom, and look back at our accomplishment every day from the front porch! Also, the unnamed 13er "Tigger" peak (often confused for "Trigger") is named for the Princeton University Tigers, renamed colloquially to the more childish Tigger. Thanks for all your videos. They really inspired me to get out and start climbing these beautiful peaks!
Fun fact about Tigger and makes it much easier to remember now, thanks for sharing.
Those drone shots are FIRE!! Great video
Drone shot showing the summer route vs winter route was very cool
Hi Sherpa! I’ve never seen you suffer so much. I see now that you’re human after all.
It is great seeing you out hiking again, and your drone footage was spectacular. Good job!
Covid really kicked my ass for a month or so - never felt this bad at altitude, it was brutal.
Dang. That sucks. Sorry you got sick for so long. Were you vaccinated?
Hell yes!!! Thank you!
This is EXACTLY what I was looking for…
I’ll be giving it a shot soon.
Sorry about the poles! That sucks. But thanks for the perseverance. The view of Antero from the push toward the summit of Princeton is one of my favorite views I've seen with my own eyes. Didn't make it to the summit of Princeton due to lightning coming over the mountain in a hurry, but still had a great hike on the mountain. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for suffering through the hike so we can have a video. Beautiful views from the summit. The new drone looks great. Keep on climbing.
Would be lying if I said that it was "just" for the video. My stubborn ass had this on my 2023 February goal list and I was running out of time to check it off 😂
I winter-climbed Mt. Princeton one year on Dec. 24, and would agree that it’s one of the more accessible winter 14ers. However, I would make a couple of big cautionary remarks. The year I did it, there was already a LOT more snow than you’re seeing in this video. Even going up the road to the towers required snowshoes. Right above the towers, it was easy to lose the road, because the wind had so blown the snow that the angle of the snow slope completely obliterated the road. Also, up high, if you (as the author suggests, given his experience) stay off the ridge and stay closer to the summer route, there is a big down-side possibility. You have to cross a couple of 50-70’-wide couloirs on that slope. Those couloirs were so deep in unconsolidated snow that I was swimming up to my armpits. It took a LOT of energy and time to cross (and then recross on the way down) those gullies. The wonderful video shown here might show completely different conditions than what you might find!
Very cool,thanks for sharing.love the drone shots
Nice footage and beautiful views at the summit. Great guide :)
Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful. Get well soon.
What an epic climb! Sorry about your trekking poles, that sucks! I loved the slow pan and gorgeous views at 9:41.
Great job, Squints McGee.
I like the winter hike content !
Absolutely gorgeous shots my friend, you presented this just beautifully. Landscapes are simply stunning! 🔥🔥🥾
Cheers, always appreciate the comments.
Nice drone footage!
Dude your videos rock man. You are awesome I think I’m going to attempt this hike
Thanks, appreciate it ✌🏽
Thanks for making this video, Mickey! Think I will cross this one off my list either this upcoming weekend or the following.
Keep up the great work! Cheers
Best of luck, more snow up there now but didn’t look like that much more
Mt. Princeton was my 2nd 14er...way back in 1997. Did it in early July (1 day after doing Uncompahgre Peak). Only problem we had was missing the trail and ending up in a bit loose rock well below the "actual" trail...and had to carefully navigate back to where we were supposed to be.
So glad I found your channel. My son Ian gave me the recommendation (he was 7 years old when he made it with my father and I to the summit of Mt. Elbert). We haven't been to CO to hike in around 15 years....and he's really hoping we can go this summer (looking to do Handies...and perhaps another "low" intensity hike). As a Part 107 drone pilot I'm really fascinated with the drone footage you take (and am about to review your video on Responsibly Flying a Drone While Hiking). Thanks for great content. So long from the "flat land" of middle Missouri.
I was sidelined from my usual workout by a bad shoulder injury. Disappointing when you note your cardio has dropped off but worth fighting to get it back! Good job.
Impressing little snow for mid feb
Princeton is the only winter 14er I've done. And I'll be ok if I never do another one.
Impressive stats for a winter hike. Don’t feel like driving up that road in any season. May give this a try as a winter/spring hike
It’s odd because the road itself in the summer isn’t very bad, just extremely narrow in most sections so if a car was coming the other way it would be a fun jockey for position on the road
That was our trench, glad it helped
Was clutch, thanks 🙏🏽
Hello from Ouray, Colorado! New subscriber now!! Thank you very much for sharing your hike with us up Mt Princeton! That upper Arkansas Valley area is probably my second most visited spot in the state for my backcountry activities (hiking, camping) (my top area is just in our local San Juan Mountains here; but not so much in the winter due to the avalanche danger). I have not been up there in the winter; this is great.
I remember when I was extensively looking at buying property somewhere in the state back in the 90s. The locals called that Buena Vista area the banana belt of Colorado! It makes for some awesome early season camping!
Safe travels!!
Hey Alan - thanks for the comment. Love, love, love the San Juans and considering a move closer to Salida as well. Glad you enjoyed the vid.
@The Virtual sherpa yes...they are all great places!! I camped up towards Hancock Pass in December. My dog and I snowshoed up. That whole Salida/B.V. area is really really fun!
I meant to tell you...I carry a 40ft piece of 1inch webbing as I always have my German Shepherd out hiking with me. I make a sling out of it for him for when I run into Class 3 climbs. I will top belay him up or down for a distance up to 25 feet. If it is longer than that, I don't do it.
Have you spent time in Downtown Salida? I just took thr time to stop there this December; it had a fair amount of things going on!!
@@campingalan
Your dog has snowshoes?
Love doing Princeton. I have never done it in the winter, though. The views are spectacular. I don't know where all your snow is, though Princeton doesn't have as much as I would have thought.
Lots of wind up there and nothing to keep it in place - it all goes below treeline.
Diagonal weave poles are less prone to the splitting than parallel.
That was my crew and I's bootpack "up" the ridge to Tigger. I want to let you know that was only from coming down so we could do some little glissades, we definetly went up the rocks on the climbers right haha, sorry about the confusion
haha hey, all good - no one to blame but myself for the stupid decision making. In my head, traveling over snow was going to be better than scree but clearly I was not correct hahah
My friend Garrett and I “attempted” this in the Winter a couple years ago. We left Denver @ 2am and after hiking to the top of the road we both just wanted to sleep so we just went back to trailhead, took a nap and just went home 🤣🤣🤣 Stupidest mountain story I have for sure
One of your greatest from my lounge chair not so much for you COVID can fool one
How snowpcked was the road? Do you think that snowmobiles could make it to the upper trailhead?
Should be good to go with a snowmobile
What snow boots u recommend in winter hikes of 14ers?
all gear linked in the video description + check this out czcams.com/video/39x2zeGyK3s/video.htmlsi=TePQPT0H7t67DwUq
Diddo on the carbon poles.
My covid over the summer ruined my hiking season.. only got 4 out of the 10 summits I wanted to hit. Sucks
As much as I hated to admit it, it was no joke. Just now finally getting over it without any lingering side affects about a month later.
@@TheVirtualSherpa glad you are on the mends. Took my lungs out for like 3 months. Glad that I am vaxxed tho cause I’d probably still be out come ski season or very limited.
noooooo not the poles !!! Would only happen in winter too when you really need them 🤦♂️
For real - literally the worst possible timing.