Ideas for insane trips, runs, hikes, climbs, and traverses
Grand Canyon - rim to rim to rim
What: A one-day crossing of the Grand Canyon and back!
Type of event: Running/Hiking/Walking
Course: Out-and-Back
Distance: 47 miles
Elevation: 13,000' of ascent, 13,000' of descent
Technical Rating: Grade III-IV?, Class 1?
Season: Fall or Spring
Description: A one-day run/hike/walk of the Grand Canyon from the South Rim to the North Rim and back. Usual route is to descend the South Kaibob Trail to Phantom Ranch, cross the Colorado river and ascend the North Kaibob Trail to the North Rim. You then return via the North Kaibob Trail to Phantom Ranch, cross the river and ascend the Bright Angel Trail to back to the South Rim.
Grand Slam
What: A one-day ascent of Long's Peak, Mount Meeker, Mount Pagoda, Storm Peak and Mount Lady Washington!
Type of event: Mountaineering
Course: Loop
Distance: ~20 miles
Elevation: ~7,600' of ascent and 7,600' of descent
Technical Rating: Grade III, Class 3, Moderate Snow
Season: Summer
Description: A one-day ascent of Long's, Meeker, Pagoda, Storm Peak, and Lady Washington from the Long's Peak TH. Start up the East Long's Peak Trail, cut off to Chasm Lake, ascend the Loft Route to Meeker, return to the Loft and ascend Clark's Arrow to the summit of Longs. From Longs, descend to just below the Homestretch and cross over to Pagoda and return. Descend the Keyhole route to the Keyhole and ascend to Storm Peak. Descend Storm Peak's east slopes and cross the Boulder field and ascend the west face of Lady Washington. Descend the east slopes of Lady Washington, returning to the trail at the Chasm Lake junction. Follow the East Long's Peak Trail back to the car.
Maroon Bells Marathon
What: A one-day run/hike of the loop that circumnavigates the Maroon Bells.
Type of event: Mountaineering/running/hiking
Course: Loop
Distance: 24.5 miles
Elevation: 8,020' of ascent and 8,020' of descent
Technical Rating: Grade II or III, Class 1/2
Season: Summer
Description: A one-day run of the trails that circumnavigate the Maroon Bells. Also known as the 4-pass loop. Crosses over 4 major mountain passes: West Maroon Pass (at 6.0 miles, and 12,736'), Frigid Air Pass (at 8.3 miles and 12,394'), Trail Rider Pass (at 15.8 miles, and 12,414'), and Buckskin Pass (at 20.9 miles and 12,528'). Start at Maroon Lake, hike up West Maroon Creek to West Maroon Pass at 6.0 miles / 18.5 miles. Drop down the other side and take the XX trail to the XY trail and climb up to Frigid Air Pass at 8.3 miles / 16.2 miles. Descend into the Fravert Basin and continue to ZZ trail that climbs to Trail Rider Pass. Climb to Trail Rider Pass at 15.8 miles / 8.7 miles and descend the other side to Snowmass Lake. At Snowmass lake take ZY trail and climb to Buckskin Pass at 20.9 miles / 3.6 miles. Descend back to West Maroon Creek from Buckskin Pass and return to the Trailhead at 24.5 miles.
Indian Peaks Marathon
What: 26.5 mile trail run around the Indian Peaks Wilderness
Type of event: running/hiking
Course: Loop
Distance: 26.5 miles
Elevation: ??
Technical Rating: Class 1 or 2 - trails
Season: Summer
Description:
Tenmile Range Traverse
What: A one-day run/hike of the Tenmile Range
Type of event: Mountaineering/running/hiking
Course: Point-to-Point
Distance: 16 miles
Elevation: 7,186' of ascent and 7,696' of descent
Technical Rating: Grade III?, Class 3+/4
Season: Summer
Description: A one-day run/climb/hike of the entire Tenmile Range, from Breckenridge (at Peak 10) to Frisco (Peak 1).
Continental Divide Traverse - Milner Pass to Bear Lake
What: A one-day hike of the CD from Milner Pass to Bear Lake, in RMNP
Type of event: Mountaineering/running/hiking
Course: Point-to-Point
Distance: 17 miles
Elevation:
Technical Rating: Class 2+
Season: Spring-Fall
Description: A one-day hike of the CD from Milner Pass to Bear Lake, in RMNP.
Sanitarado
What: A one-day run/hike from Mount Sanitas to Eldorado Mountain
Type of event: Mountaineering/running/hiking
Course: Point-to-Point
Distance: 22 miles
Elevation: 9750' ascent
Technical Rating: Class 3
Season: Spring-Fall
Description: A one-day run/hike from Mount Sanitas to Eldorado Mountain, along Boulders front range mountains, including all points between.
Start: Mount Sanitas TH
1. Mount Sanitas via Sanitas Trail
2. Down Sunshine Valley Trail
3. Through Red Rocks Park, across Canyon to Flagstaff via View Point Trail
4. Up Flagstaff via Flagstaff Mountain Trail
5. Down Range View Trail to Flagstaff Road
6. Up Green via either EM Greenman or Ranger Trail
7. Down Green via Green Bear Trail to Bear Canyon
8. Up Bear Peak via Bear Peak West Ridge Trail
9. Cross to South Boulder Peak via the trail across the saddle
10. Descend Shadow Canyon to the Mesa Trailhead
11. Eldorado Mountain via Rattlesnake Gulch to North Ridge or NE Ridge
12. Descend the same route, follow road back to South Mesa TH
James Jaunt
What: A one-day hike from Rollins to Berthoud Pass
Type of event: Mountaineering/running/hiking
Course: Point-to-Point
Distance:
Elevation:
Technical Rating:
Season: Year-round?
Description: James Peak Wilderness, Rollins Pass to Berthoud Pass. Would probably include minimal elevation gain if you drive all the way up to Rollins Pass from Winter Park.
Never Summer Traverse
What: A traverse of all or part of the Never Summer Range
Type of event: Mountaineering/running/hiking
Course: Point-to-Point
Distance:
Elevation:
Technical Rating:
Season: Summer
Description: A 1 to 4 day traverse of the Never Summer Range. Brutal.
Gondwanaland
What: A traverse from Guanella Pass to Loveland Pass
Type of event: Mountaineering/running/hiking
Course: Point-to-Point
Distance: 13.4 miles
Elevation: 7350' ascent
Technical Rating:
Season: ??
Description: Traverse goes over Square Top, Argentine, Edwards, Grays, Torreys, Grizzly, "Cupid".
Weston Nile
What: Weston Pass to Mosquito Pass traverse
Type of event: Mountaineering/running/hiking
Course: Point-to-Point
Distance: 13 miles
Elevation: 5630' ascent
Technical Rating:
Season:
Description: Weston Pass to Mosquito Pass traverse
Glacier Gorge Traverse
What: Weston Pass to Mosquito Pass traverse
Type of event: Mountaineering/running/hiking
Course: Point-to-Point
Distance: 23 miles
Elevation: 11,447' of ascent / 11,447' of descent
Technical Rating: Class 4+/Low Class 5, several rappells
Season: Summer
Description: This is a major epic of a traverse of all the peaks in the Glacier Gorge cirque in Rocky Mountain National Park. It nets you 11 peaks in 23 miles. There are several rappells (I've heard up to 8, but I don't think it's that much).
The Traverse ascends in order:
1. Mount Lady Washington, 13,281 ft.,
2. Storm Peak, 13,326 ft.,
3. Longs Peak, 14,259 ft.,
4. Pagoda Mountain, 13,497 ft.,
5. Chiefs Head Peak, 13,579 ft.,
6. McHenrys Peak, 13,327 ft.,
7. Powell Peak, 13,208 ft.,
8. Taylor Peak, 13,153 ft.,
9. Otis Peak, 12,486 ft.,
10. Hallett Peak, 12,713 ft.,
11. Flattop Mountain, 12,324 ft.
It is 23.01 miles long and has an elevation gain/loss of 11,447 ft..
