The Crestone Traverse, 14,203'! Epic Class 5 Climbing, Sangre de Cristo Mountains Colorado [4K UHD]

This adventure, a Class 4 hike from Crestone Peak to the Crestone Needle summit, is an epic video with route and descent beta, Google Earth Topo Maps inc. It starts out south of Westcliffe Colorado and up the Colony Lakes rd. which quickly turns into a full on 4WD road. The trip up the Red Gully of Crestone Peak alone is worth the price of admission and the ensuing traverse is Stunning! Please be aware, once you have completed the traverse the adventure is not over. The class 3 or 4 down climb from the Needle Summit is fairly demanding as well and does require careful route finding to stay on reasonable terrain!
Music:
JOURNEY TO MARS by Free Music
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Cyberpunk. Midtempo Electro Gaming by Alex Productions found on KZbin
Feel It by Alex Productions (No Copyright Music) found on KZbin
DISCLAIMER: The Expedition(s) documented on this channel are for entertainment purposes only, NOT FOR Explicit Instruction or Route Execution. I have had MANY NEAR DEATH experiences and a couple serious accidents over 30 years of Backcountry adventures, the RISKS are very REAL. I do not recommend or encourage attempting the routes or strategies shown in these videos, and assume no personal responsibility if you choose to do a similar outing. As always, hike, bike and climb at your own risk. Know Your LIMITS and stay within them if you expect to avoid any accidents. even then. . .

[@tygroach]

Ok Karl, true to form, you and Spenser crushed it! Thank you so, SOOOOO much for this. The views and detail you put in to capture this are fantastic. So glad you got such beautiful weather too (hope we get that as well). Will be watching this over and over until Labor Day. Great job, congrats!!

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Man, really huge to hear this from you, awesome! This is a big adventure, one you will find incredible in every aspect! Check back in anytime, and please share with those buds who would appreciate it, thanks!

[@mountaintrailventures]

Thank You for an Amazing and Beautiful video! Excellent and Congrats!

[@petr-podrouzek]

Absolutely fantastic, Karl !!!! 😀

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Many thanks my good friend!!! 🙏

[@tygroach]

Yeah buddy! Perfect timing, can't wait to see this Karl. I'm gonna do the Crestone Traverse as well over Labor Day this year.

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

See that you found it helpful, thanks again man

[@alehax27]

I did it this weekend. Fun climb with just the right amount of good cairns. Great video as usual!

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Thanks for the nice comment, congrats on your accomplishment!!

[@summitseekersexperience]

Great Video, nice job man!

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Appreciate that! Good to hear from you👍

[@tracyfisher6244]

Great Video and Narrative - you both are Great Climbers!

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Appreciate that 👍👍! Karl

[@GregariousAntithesis]

Amazing video

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Thanks!

[@PilotEJ401]

WOW great job in sometimes dicey situations. Still have no clue how you have the capacity to climb and document at this level. Spencer was impressive on that ascent! 💪💪💪

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Thanks again my brother, Spencer was very strong on this trip! Appreciate you man

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

That was awesome!!! Beautiful shots, and great advice for the climb too. Would love to do this traverse at some point, and visit the Great Dunes as well. What an incredible area!

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

It's been a good summer! While this one did the BEST of all my offering this year, the Arrowhead to McHenrys is my favorite. That would be a super cool one for you and Elise, as long as you don't get off route! Thanks for dropping by! Maybe this off season we can finally do something? I am moving to the western slope, Grand Junction, to get out of EXPLODING Denver and anything near. We are under contract for a little 10ac horse ranch for the wife's critters. Being closer to more desert venues was a major factor as well. Cheaper as well!

[@LiveHardxLoveHard]

@@KarlDeckerPresents Nice! Will watch Arrowhead this week. Move sounds very smart -- in 18 months we're leaving LA, and the crazy rents here, and will be traveling full time. So looking forward to that. Haven't been adventuring the last couple weeks because of a health issue for Elise -- hopefully will get better soon and can start planning new adventures, and will keep you updated!

[@eddiej7259]

next time im in colorado im going to try a solo attempt at this. Your video didn't make it seem scary at all, either that or my tolerance is getting better lol

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

For me the crux was the long hiking day, just summiting Crestone peak is a long haul then the traverse, which I agree, not too bad at all. Just be sure you have good weather and little anxiety associated to exposure. Good climbing skills made it very chill. . .

[@dansouth2088]

Simply stunning!! Thank you Karl for yet another great adventure and video. Superb! One thing that might help us novices for routes such as these would maybe to spend just a little more time at the intro to give us a little more detail of the route? You and many who watch are experts but I think more context would be great for the casual viewer as well. Thank you!

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Hmmm, I will but I thought I covered it pretty tight, it was fairly short, only 2 hours including video shoot time. What parts should elaborate more on? Your suggestions are always welcome, good advice never hurts. . .

[@dansouth2088]

@@KarlDeckerPresents - So I watched again and there's about 10 seconds of showing the route. I think if a person is familiar with the Crestones it probably makes sense. If someone is not familiar there's lots to absorb in that 10 seconds. Just my two cents. And please make sure to know that your videos are just plain awesome and I'm just trying to make them better for those not familiar with some of these routes. Keep on keeping on!!

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

@@dansouth2088 The truth is, you are right and I thought I could do it all. Thrills and info. I do “flash” maps a few times chat it up start and finish but my conundrum is keeping it exciting while also informational. I have leaned to the exciting side. I think the best thing for my co adventurers is to use a separate resource for tight trip planning. For the 14ers it’s definitely 14ers.com, especially for this one. I’ll start adding a link and try to do more on the intro. Another reality is, sometimes at the beginning I’m not sure what will even get done and I leave the narrative “open ended” or even do 2 so once it is over one of them will work. . . Thanks again for you support, where are you located?

[@dansouth2088]

@@KarlDeckerPresents - Hey Kart. Well there is no doubt doing all of this on your own is a big challenge. Like I said I watch tons of action/adventure/travel videos and try to think of all that goes into the production. The great thing is that you have control but the bad part is you have to do it all and there are many aspects to the whole production. BTW I live on the gulf coast and am so happy to be heading to CO in August for some hiking and photography. If there's anything that I could help you with please let me know.

[@dansouth2088]

Wow, just awful. A climber died on this route 8/3/22. Keep it safe everyone!

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Thanks Dan, a reality check is never a bad idea, even if there is no accident. . Spencer asked me where to climb on the traverse head wall and my answer was clear on the video, “where ever you are the safest”, whatever about the video. . . I wonder exactly what happen? Heard ‘off route’ but, I felt like it was very clear and personally I’ve been off route more times than I’d like to admit. . . Like yesterday in a BIG WAY, oops. One thing I say often to my buddies and need to say loudly on this channel, never make a move you can not reverse and you’ll always have an escape. In a way it makes me quite safe, I can down climb 5.9 if I have to and I would Never solo 5.9, leaves me many escape options a general hiker may not have. . . Protecting and advising the people around you, even strangers, is the right thing to do. . . As long as you’re sure the advice is solid. . . Thanks again Dan. . .

[@dansouth2088]

@@KarlDeckerPresents - Another great reason for people to check out your videos. It's not just about beta but also about avoiding trouble for sure. Keep us the great work!

[@scoops4490]

So sad. He was truly an amazing person and will be missed by so many.

[@robertkinnamen6633]

What day did you guys go up? We went up August 6th, 2022!

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Mid July 2022, about 3 weeks before you...

[@rcarrollmassage]

Try that shit in winter

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

I “tried” technically harder on Pawnee peak, did do a solo winter video of Kelso ridge, December on the Cables route on Longs as well and OMG, winter is a BEAST up there and those trips were mild winter conditions! Not to mention the long, tiring approaches. . The cameras hate the cold and honestly, me too,lol! One mistake and minor injury could mean death, especially solo, I miss the lack of color as well. . I have come up with a great cure! The desert adventures the last 2 winters have been Epic! Red rock canyon and the Swell are amazing, I’m going to do more Moab this winter as well! I Highly recommend these winter venues.

[@GregariousAntithesis]

Has anyone skied off this?

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

I'm sure, search it! Thx

[@emanueltutuc7441]

I love these videos. But please don't botch the terminology! It's "gendarme", not glenarm. Google can help with origin and pronunciation. Thank you!

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

Glad you love the videos, despite the imperfections. Thanks 👍

[@jasonthomas16]

The cinematography on your videos is 10/10. Id truly love to get a hike in with you one of these days I just know right now I couldn’t keep your pace 🥲. Iam Working on it

[@KarlDeckerPresents]

I am getting pretty fast BUT I don’t actually move up the mountain that fast since I end up climbing most of it twice, lol. Always great to work the fitness zone though, I’m off to the climbing gym right now. One of the advantages is, super efficiency while climbing from rock climbing extreme routes. Doing those, it is imperative to move perfectly, staying in balance since the hand holds, being so small, don’t help much. And it’s so energy intensive, You have to save as much gas as possible for the toughest parts