Colorado 14ers: Castle Peak & Conundrum Peak Virtual Trail Guide

[@cmcer1995]

I am looking at doing Castle Peak here real soon. I have climbed 34 14ers stopping in 2001 after starting in 1995. Recently started thinking about doing at least 3 more for 37. Got inspired when my granddaughter started climbing in Colorado. I have watched several of your videos before and appreciate your descriptions of your climbs and photography. I will be getting myself in shape and acclimated to make my ascents. Need to get some altitude for my attitude which always makes me appreciate my mountains. Thanks for this great video.

[@jenniferschubert4744]

This was such an incredibly helpful and useful video! Thank you so much!

[@marcohanig176]

I just love your honesty!!!! Approach is boring...this part is no fun at all....so far this hike has very little redeeming qualities to it! So refreshing for you to tell it how it really is!

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

You will really like the rest of my videos then 😂 In all seriousness, if you aren’t being honest about the experience why even share it with others? Glad you enjoy!

[@guillgirard]

Thanks for the great filming. That sucker (Castle peak) has the distinction of being the only 14er I attempted but not summited (all 19 others were a success). Gave up in the rock glacier shortly after the road ends. I could see no trail segments, no cairns, all I could see was unstable rocks, and the summit of both peaks being way too far out to be reached safely that day despite perfect weather. Hiked up that miserable road from campsite 2. I so concur about it being boring. "so far this hike has very little redeeming qualities to it!" yep, I so very much second that!

[@gracemcglinn3770]

I did teocalli last week and the views of castle and conundrum are incredible - definitely made me wanna do this hike

[@BrentAllen]

So helpful to have all these videos as I go through my Colorado 14ers. One update for ya is on the website you mention distance from multiple TH as well as with Conundrum and without. It looks like the last 2 distances mention they are both from the Pear Pass Split, and include both peaks. I think you meant to only mention Castle on the shortest route, but mentioned Conundrum as well.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Appreciate the update Brent, thanks.

[@johnthompson363]

Another great video! Love the drone images mixed in. Really gives a sense of scale and shows off some impressive views.

[@georgesheffield1580]

Nice shots of the rock glaciers

[@Eamesam]

Sick drone footage

[@Awon2zip]

Hiked both of these back in mid September. There was still a decent amount of snow on Castle but that gully was already dry, definitely don't recommend going down that way. Loose dirt/rock and very steep!

[@davee8113]

Thanks!

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Cheers, appreciate it.

[@dcco76]

On the list for the next trip to the mountains! If you haven’t yet done Electric Pass it’s near Castle/Conundrum and definitely worth an early morning hike up. Seeing the sunrise from the top of the pass is breathtaking!

[@warchieft2k]

AWESOME! I'm surprised there is so little snow this time of the year....

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

None of my videos are shot/released in real time 👍

[@justthewods2244]

Great content !

[@angelgreene933]

Hahahaha that was funny when you fall. Did you hurt your bun bun

[@stevegia]

Nice video. Climbed this years ago from Conundrum Hot Springs. Wonder if the route i took is the steep slope you point out at 12:35 where you only recommend it if there is snow there. I did it in August, no snow, was a very tough climb up.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

I don't believe so - that route comes up from the other side of that ridge (IE opposite side of that nasty spot). How was the hot springs? Always wanted to check that out myself.

[@stevegia]

@@TheVirtualsherpa I think you may be right. The hot springs are amazing, very beautiful scenery surrounding them.

[@ieeetransoncircuitssystemf1101]

would it be more dangerous holding a camera stick, than have camera just mounted on a helmet ?

[@georgesheffield1580]

Prefer the approach from crested butte . Not as loose/ crumbly as Paramid and the bells or as many turistas

[@georgesheffield1580]

Longer route , down the west side into the conundrum creek area and back

[@jameslindholm166]

You should check out phantom terrace. Its not a crazy hike but its a cool area with a couple of 13ers you can hit

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Never heard of it before will check it out, thanks.

[@courtneymcdonald1679]

Ya I slipped about 40 feet down the saddle route on steep ice because I made the wrong call. It is no joke, don’t do it without ample snow.

[@markb3806]

So did you re-climb Castle after Conundrum to avoid the descent of the saddle? We climbed Castle in 1986 when Borneman/Lampert was the only guide book available. One of my first 14'ers. The video brought back a lot of great memories. Agreed that the approach is tedious but the NE ridge was a lot of fun. What catches my eye is the lack of snow. When we climbed Castle in 1986 in mid August, snow filled the basin between Conundrum and Castle all the way up to the saddle. It was a simple downclimb off Castle to get to a point we could safely glissade with ice axes and quickly descend to a point not far from the end of the road. In most of my trips to Montezuma Basin during that era, there was snow up to or almost up to the saddle throughout most of the summer. It's crazy how little snow is present on these large (what were once) permanent snowfields these days.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

To be honest, I mostly rehiked it because I had the time and my last effort was so rushed that I wanted to enjoy this trip more. Agree that snow levels have been dipping noticeably year over year but last year was also just a poor winter for us on the average. Really showed up with all the fires across the state. Thanks for the story, always cool to hear memories from others 👍🏽

[@diana.goes.hiking3276]

Again thank you for continuing to post your videos! Absolutely amazing great shots that gives you an overview of both the trail and both mountains. The views are stunning! When did you summit these this go around?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Can’t remember off hand - sometime in October but the full trail guide has my Garmin data which always contains the date hiked 👍🏽

[@braydonnathanael4541]

InstaBlaster

[@jamesking4225]

What hard shell jacket do you use

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Check out the 14ers packing list video - linked in the description, I talk about and link everything I use 👍🏽

[@jamesking4225]

Yea I found it last night lol thanks

[@schaffs9481]

What date was this climb actually made?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

October 8th, you can read more about it here: www.thevirtualsherpa.com/castle-peak-conundrum-peak-14er-trailguide/

[@markcafiero2662]

I can empathize with you when you complain about crowds on the summit. But when you complain about hiking in between two people from the same group, I think you need to chill out a bit. I've been hiking these 14ers since high school (CO native) and I've never once been irritated about that.

[@andrewmitchell5807]

Its gotta be worse though when trying to record a video while climbing

[@melryan9412]

Agreed