Colorado 14ers: Matterhorn to Wetterhorn Traverse Virtual Trail Guide

[@jameshoffman552]

Proud of myself for making it through your traverse without bailing. I call that a white-knuckle viewing.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

😂

[@michaelcampbell8536]

I remember joking with my girlfriend when we were at the summit of Wetterhorn about traversing over to Matterhorn and here you are actually doing it. I could sense the worry in your voice. So glad you made it man, great job!

[@augustuswright8541]

Did this January '73 with COBS, camped below in slit trenches about 6 feet into the snowpack, -47 below in Gunnison that night, made the climb early in the morning. Thank you Tom Fox, Burt Redmane, and all the Outward Bound team in Lake City for a deeply cherished memory. Thanks VS for another excellent video that brought that morning back to life again.

[@gabeah]

Unreal journey, and solo! Your mental game is no joke, that shale was terrifying, and that entire knife edge was just waiting to fall. Congrats on a killer summit, and thanks for another amazing video. Juno forever. 🙏🏽

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Juno fucking forever 👊🏽

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Before attempting this route, please watch the entire video to understand the difficulties of this route. Read a free trail guide on this one here:www.thevirtualsherpa.com/matterhorn-to-wetterhorn-traverse-trail-guide/

[@jasonpatzke]

Did this about 10 years ago without any prior knowledge of the route or difficulty. Did Wetterhorn to Matterhorn, but followed the exact same route as far as I could tell from your video. When you get to those two towers by Matterhorn, it is very obvious that you cannot just go over the peaks like the rest. Great job and thanks for the video! Wish I would have thought to take some, didn't realize so few people had done it!

[@athenamann8029]

Just did this traverse 9/28/24 (in the opposite direction as you) as a spur-of-the-moment addition to Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre. I climbed the two towers closest to Matterhorn and although half of the rocks were wiggly, I made it. I would have 100% preferred to traverse those 2 towers. Watching this video now makes me feel so sketched out in hindsight.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Congrats on making it - I was just back in this basin a few weeks back and still have some PTSD from all those dinner plates 😂

[@glampstronzartonalbee3097]

Great video man, thank you taking us along for the journey! In general I appreciate your emphasis about the safety of the hikes and watching for weather conditions in many of your videos, this is a crucial aspect that some people discount many times. Keep it up bro, subbed not long ago and have binge watched all of the videos! Also your website is really well done and I plan to utilize it for my adventures in the future.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

100% weather is the first thing I plan for before even leaving the house on any hike. Absolutely will make or break a day. Thanks though, glad you are enjoying all the content 👍

[@dansouth2088]

This is awesome!! You are a champion for doing this solo.......and.....filming the way along!! Thanks again for bringing these epic videos our way!!

[@kevinsudnik6990]

Love the drone shot from near Matterhorn Creek Trail.

[@rebeccadonley5225]

Thank you for making this super informative video. This traverse is officially on my "oh hell no" list lol My anxiety was thru the roof watching you traverse left around that last tower. You're much tougher than I. That had to be the worst rock quality I've ever seen!

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Honestly, its on my "hell no" list as well 😂

[@danieldbattin]

Glad you made it safely! Be careful, we don’t want to lose you to an accident. Blessings!

[@diana.goes.hiking3276]

I was clenching the entire video 😱 I love your content! Thank you for posting this and all your videos! I can always count on them for true information on these trails! Love watching them! Congrats on so many summits!! 92 😱 woo hoo!

[@wmbiisurgeon9087]

Dadgum! This was an awesome trip report/video! Thanks for the talk about the route.

[@Sidesurf100]

Sherpa - that was absolutely terrifying to watch. Please continue to be careful and safe. You’re a very brave person. Looking forward to watching you, Jackie and Juno on the next CT section hike video so I can relax and enjoy.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Thank you, I will! Many more CT videos to come in the upcoming weeks.

[@MarcoPaolantonio]

after @myownfrontiers and @mediocre amateur your #youtube channel is among my favorites. Thanks

[@emmabellexo]

the sound of all that shale falling had me stressed lol. awesome video as always

[@joshjones120]

Did wetterhorn last month. Definitely coming back for the traverse

[@Thorinandcompany]

Yikes, that was a heart pounding, I could barely get through watching it, thought about bailing several times from the comfort of my bed. Stay safe :)

[@vermontsownboy6957]

Quite a day. Congrats on a good walk. On the strange side, the smoky atmosphere lends an apocalyptic feel. Sad that these are now our times.

[@Chicagoguy.762]

I love hiking and I'm doing my first 14er this May, Pikes Peak but I dont think I would want to do something like this. Great video, love the views

[@cobbler88]

I hope you weren't disappointed. There's so much garbage going on at the PP summit that it's about the worst spot on the mountain as far as views go. :)

[@apmde]

Awesome video! I love watching your videos and they help me with my fear of heights

[@texicon]

Great video. Thanks for the info… I’ll save my ammo for a different climb! Did Wetterhorn last week and contemplated a future traverse but you confirmed our assessment- heinous!!!

[@jamiebetker4137]

So glad you did this! I have wanted to do in the past, but very little data on it. Really helpful thank you.

[@anantdabholkar685]

This was one dangerous hike! Solo, without ropes and buddies! Like others here, I also got giddy of heights and almost bailed! Loose sand on loose rocks and dinner plates! No thanks, but you are incredibly brave!!

[@edwardlobb931]

The Little Bear to Blanca actually appears more dangerous. While holding the camera wand? Yikes! Both vids are incredible.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Yeah I think LB Blanca was still the sketchiest traverse I’ve done, but this one is up there.

[@georgesheffield1580]

Little bear is bad ,east face of ellingwood is bad too but it's N face is great 2000 ft wall

[@ManivanAdventures]

Really appreciate your emphasis on safety man. That looked sketchy as hell. As amazing as it looks, I think I’ll skip this one. Haha

[@georgesheffield1580]

Sometime go up thrre and take a look at the north face of the Wetterhorn ,one of the best high altitude walls in colorado

[@TheDionBlasterMethod]

Killing it man! Great video as usual. I was wondering, do you have plans to show some non-14er routes? Would love to see an Atlantic-Fletcher, Northstar-Wheeler, or Grizzly-Lenawee traverse video. Maybe on a separate channel if you want to reserve this one for 14ers exclusively?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

100% - this channel has never and will never be exclusively dedicated to 14ers. I think they are enjoyable, but hopefully for those who have watched over the years, the focus is much bigger. Just to give you a little insight: have several out of state hikes coming soon, more Colorado Trail, centennials and mellow non-mountain trail guides as well. The 14er videos tend to do well and I was lucky enough to record A LOT of them this year which is why there has been so many recently. Always more on the list, just trying to make time to hike it all!

[@TheDionBlasterMethod]

I feel a little silly now because I did watch your Katahdin vid a few days ago so I should have remembered you already have other stuff on here. Glad to hear there's always more coming :D!

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

@@TheDionBlasterMethod haha hey no worries at all, love the suggestions! All three were on my list. But yeah, poke around the channel a bit the main page has a handful of non-14er related playlists I think you will enjoy!

[@BABsOutside]

Personally this style of video I prefer and like more. The beta is super helpful. We just did Wetterhorn and wondered if you could do the ridge. That’s gonna be a big no for me dawg haha.

[@meganshields8530]

From a distance: hey that looks like fun! Up close: there's no f'ing way!

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Very good description!

[@alex_prizzi]

The rock goes from "I trust it" to "I'm gonna die" - I felt that one. lol

[@krischan3568]

Impressive. Great video !

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Thanks!

[@georgesheffield1580]

Do the shark fin for extra credit

[@lesdiesel]

If you have closed captions on it says [applause] for the sound when you send rocks flying. 👏👏 TVS didn't careen to his death! Seriously though awesome job. I will put that down as a huge NOPE in my book.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Lmao that is so funny

[@carsoncrain9690]

I’ve done 26/58 and most recently Wetterhirn, your videos are by far my favorite! Any remote thoughts about snow mass capitol?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Nah, not in the cards. Between the amount of technical (roped) climbing required and the elks rock quality - probably something that has a risk factor too high for me. I know it’s been done but will leave that “trail guide” for someone else haha

[@fredharvey2720]

You mean Capitol Peak?

[@habaceeba]

I have plans to hit Matterhorn and just downclimb back to the standard route of Wetterhorn. Nice job. I felt my legs sympathetically tensing up around minute 17:00. I love ridge traverses but with two kids at home, I think I will take your advice and skip this ridge. Large, loose rock combined with the narrow margin of error puts an 'X' on this one for me. Thanks for sharing this. Just curious, what's your gameplan as the snow starts piling up starting this weekend? Will you start pulling out the snowshoes and keep going? Skis?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

2020 has been such a weird year for me - basically been on furlough all year so still have about 5 months worth of videos still to release from "hiking season". Typically, when winter rolls around my hiking subsides substantially until spring when I get after couloirs. I love snowboarding and usually just do this during the winter and spring months with the exception of a few hikes. This year though, not sure... Ski season in resorts is such a question mark and I do have a splitboard I am dying to get more experience on. Not sure what will turn into content vs just be doing things, but stay tuned!

[@habaceeba]

@@TheVirtualsherpa It sucks being furloughed. I was there for a while. I usually just ski at the resort in winter too. It's just a simpler decision and planning process. Having AT gear though, I've vowed to use it more this season. It's great that you've been able to get out as much as you have and I really appreciate the content. Good luck to you this winter.

[@derpmeow7282]

there's a little buddy in the bottom right at the end of the video

[@cobbler88]

I'm not necessarily planning the traverse, but the most annoying thing to me is the unknown of the damn road to the trailhead(s)! I'm in a small SUV (CR-V size) so it's higher than a car but not jacked up as much as a truck. And info is always a mix.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Agree TH access in the more remote areas has become a crap shoot. Number 1: the countys maintain them less and at a more unpredictable rate Number 2: more people are trying to drive to them, many who can't drive and ruin the roads further and Number 3 everyone's driving experience and skills vary. For example, I was able to get my Subaru Legacy and Subaru Forester (on separate trips) to the upper TH - but you will read in other places that if you do not have a high clearance car - do not drive there. Sucks but always best to just plan for those extra miles and if you don't have to hike them, great.

[@justinanderson]

wow!

[@georgesheffield1580]

The north side of the wetterhorn is ( north face ) fantastic 5.10 continous except the top 5 ft which is the same crumbly stuff of this pic.

[@ryanpaul8588]

Having done the 4 great traverses, how would you rank this one vs. those?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Trail conditions are most similar to El Diente - Wilson but much more loose/dangerous on this IMO due to far, far less traffic and maybe just in general. Exposure similar to Crestone in parts, but not nearly as exposed as that final headwall. Probably somewhere in the middle of all of them... EDIT: More route finding then all of them combined tho

[@fredharvey2720]

Really tame compared to the Maroon Bells traverse.

[@drewharrell7657]

You consider Wetterhorn’s final pitch class 4?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

No, sorry misspoke.

[@georgesheffield1580]

3 ,3+

[@rob060]

The Rockies are basically in the process of crumbling.

[@georgesheffield1580]

Especially the elks and San Juan's.

[@berserkerbros4741]

Did you think this was sketchier or LB-Blanca?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Terrain-wise (class difficulty and exposure) no but conditions on the mountain and route finding absolutely. I can't emphasize enough how the mountain was falling apart for the first 1/2 of this traverse.

[@TheAAZSD]

Thanks for traversing this pile of garbage rock for us!

[@marcohanig176]

Type 2 1/2 fun?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

More like Type “I’m gonna die” fun 😂

[@altitoots]

Just did this route before we saw your video in the opposite direction. Figured I'd comment the trip report here of our beta that stayed on the ridge and didn't circumvent the two towers near Matterhorn. Cheers and nice work! 14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=21249#bottom

[@justrione]

Wow

[@lorenzotelleria4200]

What a pile of choss, cool video!

[@georgesheffield1580]

San Juan square marbles ( mot shale but volcanics

[@mickeybrumfield764]

Glad you don't recommend, was not going to do it anyway just doesn't look like that much fun.

[@SkateAndExplore]

Thats some gang shit!!

[@TheHungaryJack]

That is some of $h!ttiest rock imaginable. That must have sucked.

[@grantskidmore6921]

That one looks sketchy af

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

yeah, highly recommend NOT doing this one.

[@DenebaCyg]

Trail Guide for suicide.

[@wasclywabbit]

Sorry, but this video isn’t worth the non-stop bombardment by commercials.

[@erickperez8770]

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