CCY - Chapin, Chiquita & Ypsilon

[@robeddy1649]

We hiked up to Chapin Pass one afternoon and are planning to come back and summit these three peaks in 2025. Funny story, when we were hiking back down, the little lake thats in your video that’s really just a wide spot in the trail had an elk blocking it. We decided to go around the lake to the left. There was another elk wading in the shallow part that took us going around his lake a little bit personal. He decided to wade toward me so I backed up a bit. He dropped his head (full rack), kicked his right front hoof and snorted at me. Several times. I about lost bodily function. We managed to get around him and back down to the Jeep. What a hike and what a story! You can’t get stories like that, sitting at home on your couch!

[@nicksangetta8874]

@robeddy1649 That sounded like an epic day! And You are right, can't get that sitting on the couch. Good luck on getting all 3 in 2025!

[@robeddy1649]

@ Thank you sir! We’re going to Longs that week, as well.

[@bjrohner]

Nick - a couple of 75 year old Iowa Flatlander's here who just had to give this route a try. We only made it up Chapin - chugging like old freight trains. Came here to find this fantastic video of yours to see what we missed. Your enthusiasm is contagious, your background music perfect, and of course the images are awesome. Can't thank you enough. The world need more like you.

[@nicksangetta8874]

Bob Rohner Thanks for the kind words! I remember our first try at Chapin and Chiquita (we didnt even know about Ypsilon at the time).. we only made it about halfway up Chiquita and decided we had enough. We ate our lunch and headed back down. And honestly, it doesnt matter if you get to the top.. as long as you are out having a good time. 😊

[@kenneththomson9492]

Another awesome video

[@MrTwofishes]

I don't know what made this video show up in my feed or why I watched it. From the summit of Ypsilon, your camera passes over the Crystal Lake, Lawn Lake, the Saddle, Hague's peak and Mummy Mountain. Hague's peak is the highest summit in Larimer County. I got stopped at the Saddle by weather, Labor Day weekend 2019. This video reminded me of the promise I made to myself to get back there. Thanks for that. It's so weird seeing this place in a video.

[@dr.nigelcool3771]

Nick, the Dusky Grouse has way more than 20 views, close to 4,000! 2:50

[@LuvCO91]

I have done this hike a couple of times.... great great video!!! Thanks for posting!!

[@nicksangetta8874]

It's an awesome hike because you get on the mountains so quickly! I always see wildlife up there too. Now that you have done CCY you need to do Mummy Mania!

[@bethlombardi2621]

I have heard about Mummy Mania, just not that name for it. This year on my list is Hallet again to acclimate and hopefully Longs again ( did a number of years ago)

[@davelancaster2066]

Watching this one for the second time. You told the grouse your videos only get about 20 views. Lol! 3.7K ain’t bad.

[@nicksangetta8874]

Wow! I didnt realize it had gotten that many views!

[@devilsgulch]

Did this hike in the 90's. To me, one the best in the park. Fantastic!

[@alg5067]

Nick, your videos are inspiring! Making our third trip out to RMNP in as many years next week You are so blessed to live so close by 😃 It was months ago we made our camp ground reservations and this hike was to be one of the big ones for us ( Mt Ida two years ago, Flattop & Hallet last year ) Since we arrive next Monday, our timing is off with the late opening of Fall River Road. We are considering an ascent of either Fairchild or Hagues via the Lawn Lake Trail but fear snow may present an obstacle as much as trying for that distance in a day. Your feedback is welcome! Our fallback is to do an 'up and over' from Bear to Grand Lake. Not a bad hike, but being on top of a small corner the world is something else. Thanks for taking us along when you go, as I said its inspiring ~ Al in MemTN

[@nicksangetta8874]

Thanks for watching! You got some big plans it sounds like. The hike up to Hagues from Lawn Lake is insanely long. I think it's around 9 miles up to the Fairchild-Hagues Saddle with a lot of gain thrown in as well. Then you still gotta get up Hagues! It took me a while to figure out Hagues and I spent a few hours on the side of that mountain. You may be just as well off parking at the Alpine visitor center and hiking the mile or so down Fall River Road to the Chapin TH. It gets you on the mummys much more quickly. Then you could do the CCY or attempt the entire Mummy Mania hike if you have two cars. But my God, I think going by way of the mummy mania route looks better to get to Hagues than starting from Lawn Lake, even if you have to add on a couple extra miles from the visitor center. I want to get Rowe Peak eventually (behind Hagues) however I dont think I could do it from Lawn Lake. Going around the CCY and then up and over Fairchild and Hagues looks easier, then I could go down the Saddle and grab Crystal and Lawn lake as well. That hike from Bear Lake TH to the other side looks awesome as well. It's on my list. However, I was just up on the Ute Trail on Sunday and the entire eastern slope of Flattop is still covered in snow. I'm sure you can still get up it, and it may be melted by next week.. but on Sunday it still looked kinda bad.

[@alg5067]

@@nicksangetta8874 Extremely disappointed not being able to access the Chaplin TH. The simplicity (?) of bagging TWO 13ers from there was/i compelling. I have read that FRR is closed to pedestrian traffic Tue - Fri, or dropping down from the Alpine Visitor Center could be an alternative, even with the last mile or so returning. My brother in law, who I am hiking with, leaves for KCMO on Saturday morning. I think you have helped me realize the LLT is not the best idea. Thanks for the visual insight on Flattop. I had read the west side on the North Inlet Trail there was some snow around the campsite areas. I guess calling the rangers at the back country office when we arrive will give us the best current information. I have watched a few of your recent hikes in the Wild Basin area and it looks fairly clear over there?!? Its hard to shift focus off the high places, but there shouldn't be much concern that the waters aren't running 😕

[@nicksangetta8874]

@@alg5067 As of just a few days ago the waters were rushing. Waterfall and lake hikes are prime right now.. however, I like getting summits. I'm hoping things change by next Monday. It could be clear in spots by then. But yeah, the Chapin TH is awesome. You can be on Chapin in like 40 mins. Then bounce over to other summits from there. I also plan on doing Flatiron and Desolation Peaks here when I can. They branch off of Ypsilon. If you like exposure and scrambling then Desolation is a good one. I tried it once but nope. To much air under the moves. But I want to go back and give it another look this year.

[@heatherthunderhawk485]

ROFL...That Pika was too funny. Animals really have fun with you.The blind man was awsome! Stunning views! Thanks Nick :))

[@nicksangetta8874]

Heather Thunderhawk That Pika had no fear! I'm sure when he got home and momma Pika smelled human on him she was like "dont you ever, ever, ever do that again! Stay away from the humans! How many times do I need to tell you not to eat their shoes!"

[@heatherthunderhawk485]

lol

[@foreverkarma532]

You're gullible, Heather, as to believe the "blind man" story

[@nicksangetta8874]

@@heatherthunderhawk485 Nevermind this hater.. hes just mad because he tried to climb a mountain and failed. Now he hates everyone else that can do it. But anyway.. check out my new channel, Heather. I know you will like it. "Nick Havok".

[@ericmedrano77]

We were just there on Sunday 9/26/2018. We got out too late and didn't get to summit. I knew instantly that I would be back someday. Your video was awesome!!! Now I know I HAVE to go back. Thanks!!!

[@nathansexton5668]

Couldn't agree more with these people more. You made a great video, keep making 'em!

[@JamesRobertSmith]

I have never seen a pika that bold! Also...I think I'm going to try this hike when I go out there in 2021.

[@nicksangetta8874]

I always see wildlife on that trail. Its a really good one. You wont be disappointed!

[@wyattsteinke]

Wow, what a hike! My dad and I are hoping to do it this year. Actually, on the day this was filmed, my dad and I were taking an easy acclimation day and did the upper Ute trail and walked up Marmot Point from the Alpine Center! We were probably looking at CCY at the same time you were up there, and who knows, you may have driven past us walking on the road up to the AC! Love your videos, and who knows, maybe we'll bump into you in RMNP someday!

[@nicksangetta8874]

That's awesome you were up there that same day! CCY is a great hike and I always see wildlife on it. I hope you and your dad complete it this year. Actually I'm just hoping they get Old Fall River Road cleared off so we can all get up there! I think I'm gonna do a video of Flatiron and Desolation Peaks this year. Although I wont make it to the top of Desolation Peaks. It's just way too exposed for me.

[@jacksteinke1200]

Jack Steinke I’m the dad. Awesome video!! Wyatt and I have been looking foreword to CCY for a couple years now. Really excited for July to get here. Your videos are great. I hope you keep doing them.

[@nicksangetta8874]

@@jacksteinke1200 Thanks for watching! I wish you guys the best on your hikes. Maybe I will see ya out there someday.

[@jessespad]

lol....your videos only get about 2 views...well I enjoy them. You got the best RMNP hiking vids imo.

[@papz5049]

👍👍👍👍👍 I can not come across the blind king of the mountain. It should be ginis reorder book zealous and the little sweet hungry guy amazing, it's life up there, how do you find the little tubes to write a message in such a huge area they are on the map? Thank you very much ❤️

[@nicksangetta8874]

Papz usually there is a rock pile at the very top and the tube is stuck in it somewhere. They dont show up on maps and not every summit has them.. but sometimes you get to the top and one will be there. Thanks for checking out the video! 😀

[@papz5049]

Nick Sangetta love it 👍

[@sharleang]

Hi. How steep is the summit to Chiquita compared to Parnassus? . I did Mt Parnassus a couple weeks ago and that almost did me in. It was so difficult

[@nicksangetta8874]

Im thinking they are probably pretty similair. I went straight up the face of Parnassus instead of coming up from the saddle so it was super steep. Chiquita has a trail dug in though so it makes it a little easier. There is nothing hard on Chiquita its just a grind.

[@medicinegone]

"Sorry pika, my videos only get 20 views." 4760 views later... Nice work.

[@rippen1982]

Researching this trip and OF COURSE you have done it! Haha Now I just gotta wait for FRR to open and a partner. Awesome vids as always man! Looking forward to this one! How tough was it, you seemed to sail right up this.. I was just looking at your sky pond video for the fire trail Intel and sky pond itself. Doin it with possible Andrews on Thurs.

[@nicksangetta8874]

CCY isnt too bad at all. From the Chapin TH you can literally be on Chapin in 30 - 40 mins. Then just bounce over to the other peaks from there. Pretty straight forward and nothing technical. Just big walk ups. The hard hike is mummy mania where you keep going around the peaks over to Mummy Mountain. But yeah, I cant believe its July and roads are still closed!

[@nicksangetta8874]

Going for Andrews, nice! I hiked up that canyon before to Andrew's tarn and glacier. It's a maze of big boulders and takes some route finding. But I dont know how anyone would hike up the glacier. I took like 5 steps up the snow and was like, nope. Time to head back.

[@rippen1982]

@@nicksangetta8874Haha sorry, I ment Up TO the glacier.. Iam wanting to do the loop around top and come DOWN it one day. But if I get a chance tomorrow I just wanna put eyes on it from the bottom. I was just watching that video of yours a few days ago. Haha

[@nicksangetta8874]

@@rippen1982 Let me know how the hike goes today. Last Sunday it looked like there was still lots of snow on the east side of Flattop. But I didnt see it up close. The park is going to be super busy today.

[@rippen1982]

@@nicksangetta8874 Hey buddy, ended up shifting plans to a couple easy ones. My partner that's been really wanting to do it had to bail. I ended up just doin the easy quick Emerald and then up to dream lake overlook and back to get a few miles in.

[@chrismoney1521]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing!

[@zacharyadams3772]

I'm looking to do the full MKR this summer with some friends. How spicy/technical does it get?

[@nicksangetta8874]

The traverse from Ypsilon to Fairchild can be as easy or as hard as you want to make it. If you stay up on the ridge it could get spicy but i stayed a little lower and it wasn't too bad. I thought finding the way up Hagues was the hardest part. All in all it was the hardest hike I have ever done and I skipped the CCY summits. My goal was just to get around the dang thing. Very tough but amazingly awesome too. Here is my Mummy Mania vid kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4bEYnqmiZaUgpY

[@rohaltom]

What camcorder are you using? That zoom in on Long's Peak is awesome!

[@nicksangetta8874]

It's a Nikon B700 with a 60x zoom. I went to Best Buy to see if there was anything better.. but nothing this size had anywhere near a 60x zoom. For what I need it seems to be the perfect one. Plus I've dropped it about 10 times and it still works!

[@rohaltom]

@@nicksangetta8874 Excellent. Thanks for the info. My wife and I hope to do the CCY hike in early to mid June. Might still be lots of snow up there which could complicate things.

[@nicksangetta8874]

@@rohaltom man.. I hate to burst your bubble but I dont think they will have Trail Ridge Road open until July 4 and no telling when Fall River Road will open as it is much more treacherous. You need Fall River to get to the Chapin Trailhead.

[@rohaltom]

@@nicksangetta8874 I was afraid of that. Still plenty of great hiking in RMNP! Just hoping for good weather.

[@nicksangetta8874]

@@rohaltom You know it! A good challenge from the Bear Lake TH (if that's all you can get to) is Taylor Peak. I hope to be doing that one again this year.

[@coolnfruity6466]

lmao, shoe eating fluffer😸💚

[@foreverkarma532]

A blind man and his service dog hiking that trail and the mountain? Oh, yeah, the blind man drove to the trailhead, and from there the dog who is a mountaineer,will climb the mountains with him. In bear and cougar territory. Man you're hallucinating, seeing ghosts. Let me guess: too much weed ? If the "blind man and dog" are not on this video, it didn't happen.

[@nicksangetta8874]

Haha.. okay. You would know because you were there right? And actually smart guy, if you look real close at my shot from the saddle you will see the BLIND MAN, the dog AND his spotter all walking down the trail. That's right he had a spotter with him.. I mean you really think he did all that alone? Come on man..

[@nicksangetta8874]

I mean really, it sounds like you are jealous of the blind man. What, because he can climb a mountain and you cant? Is that it?

[@alg5067]

So last week we are returning from our hike up to Black Lake, when on the Glacier Gorge trail above the falls I see a large dog coming my way. Then I hear the fellow in front of the dog speaking to fellow who is holding a lead on the dog. The first fellow is telling the second of some larger rocks on the trail. Never doubted your story, but can verify there are sight impaired folks enjoying RMNP. My hiking partner and I could only marvel.