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| The East Ridge   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Colorado, United States, North America Route Type: Mountaineering Season: Summer Time Required: Most of a day Rock Difficulty: Class 4
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| Page By: altitude14er Created/Edited: Jul 19, 2006 / Oct 3, 2006 Object ID: 208760 Hits: 473 Loading... Page Score: 85.93% - 1 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview Crystal Peak (13,852ft.)
East Ridge – Class 3 & 4 Rock with Descent of East Slopes
9.1 Miles Roundtrip - 3,971ft. Elevation Gain
From a geological standpoint, this is the most interesting and exciting route on Crystal. The East Ridge is the most difficult route available on Crystal Peak. It is the only route on Crystal that requires rock scrambling and combines three summits in one day. First you summit Mt. Helen, then Father Dyer, with Crystal Peak to top it off.
Getting There* Spruce Creek Trailhead
Take Colorado 9 to Breckenridge. You will see a sign for the Spruce Creek Road in Breckenridge. The Spruce Creek Road is about 7.5 miles north of the summit of Hoosier Pass on Colorado 9. Turn west and follow the road just over a mile to the 2WD trailhead (on your right).
Route DescriptionStart at the Spruce Creek Trailhead and walk down the Spruce Creek Road. Follow the road towards Crystal Lake. While still below treeline you will see a marked sign for the wheeler trail on your right. Follow this small trail through the forest. Mt. Helen (13,164ft.) will begin to show itself through the trees to your left (west). At a time of your choosing, break off the wheeler trail and bushwhack west towards Helens East slopes. The area where you leave the trail is near treeline (11,000ft.). In a little over a mile you will gain a steep, un-relentless 2,170ft to reach Helens summit. The hiking ends at the top of Helen. From here you get great views of the long East Ridge leading to Father Dyer (13,615ft.). Father Dyer is your next destination. The rock scrambling begins. The ridge is easy leading towards the 12,900ft. saddle. It is possible to stay on the ridge top proper but this will increase the difficulty to Class 4. One can minimize the difficult towers by dropping off the ridge top and navigating the south side of the ridge. Doing this will keep the difficulty to Class 3 but require extra elevation losses along the way.
The north side of the ridge is highly exposed most of the way to Father Dyer. It would be difficult to escape this ridge during a storm, yet the south side of the ridge would offer the most sensible bail off route. Once on top of Father Dyer the rock scrambling is over. Descend the now gentle ridge to the Crystal peak – Father Dyer saddle. Walk triumphantly to the rounded summit of Crystal – You just climbed three Colorado 13ers! From the summit of Crystal you can see a faint trail leading toward Upper Crystal Lake. Follow this faint trail past the crystal lakes. Near treeline you will intersect the Wheeler Trail again. Follow it back to the Spruce Creek TH. This descent is more reasonable than doing the East Ridge again and provides for a nice tour de Crystal.
Essential Gear"The Ten Essentials", Helmut Recommended!, Boots Suitable for Rock Climbing, etc., etc.
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