In south-central Colorado, the Crestones stands tall and tucked away in the Sangre De Cristo mountain range. This collection of five peaks soaring above fourteen thousand feet are mine for the taking. In between my slice of heaven for the week and the trailhead parking lot is four miles and fifty pounds on my back. Every step requires my physical all.

There is something extremely grounding about living with only the bare necessities, falling asleep to the sound of fast moving water, and waking up in a bowl of mountains. A campsite ideal for backpackers sits on the banks of a stream that feeds into South Colony Lake. Waiting there is a leveled spot for your tent, a pre-dug fire pit, and even a hip level rock outcropping that serves as a campers gourmet kitchen. It is a dream. From this site you can clearly see Humboldt, Crestone Peak, and Crestone Needle, each with an appearance different from the other. Soft and round Humboldt sits across from massive rock faced Cretonne Peak, which stands next to the dramatic spires that make up Crestone Needle. Crisp white snow fills in the crevices of the mountains with bright blue sky above and green grass below, picturesque at every turn.

Climbing fourteen thousand feet of mountain requires a plan and gear for every possible mishap, knowledge of your trail and the weather patterns for the area, an exit strategy, and an excitement for the payoff that comes from standing on your conquered mountain. The difference between climbing a class two “14er” and a class three, is vast and important.

A class two is this nicely carved path of switchbacks up a huge mountain, the only key is pacing yourself and enjoying the view, while climbing a class three or greater demands your physical ability be paired with technical equipment. Climbing a class two like Humboldt is a left foot, right foot grind redeemed by breathtaking views. Climbing a class three like Crestone Needle however, feels like a feat. Equipped with snow shoes, helmet, two ice axes, crampons, gloves and gators, the trek is long and requires focused precision. Scrambling up rock slides and knife edges, delicately crossing massive banks of snow, picking an axe into loose rock, all in an effort to reach the summit is what makes a 14er exciting.

The Crestones are roughly three and a half hours from Denver through the San Isabel National Forest with access to five of Colorado’s fifty-eight 14ers. Because of the effort and 4 wheel drive it takes to get there, the mountains and campsites are quiet and pristine. There is much solace to be found from a busy life in this local paradise. If getting there is half the battle, the other half is being forced to leave.