Hitch Hiking Adventures

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Hitch Hiking Adventures

This page is dedicated to my mountain pursuits big and small. Email for all your hiking inquries!

I'm here to share helpful mountain data and operate as a tour guide for summit hikes and backpacking trips here in the Colorado Rockies!

01/12/2021

At the root of it, my climbing and running is all about exploration.

New parts of myself unfold and manifest each time I have the courage to go somewhere meaningful. I share here to hopefully instill in others that going out into the woods or mountains will not only change your life, but it will reveal your character. Are you ready to fully acknowledge the best and worst parts of yourself? The mountain will cultivate that sort of introspection. “What you most need will be found where you least want to look.” CJ

30/11/2021

When you know it is going to be painful, but well worth it nonetheless….

We all have ample opportunities in life to lean into a hard situation or shy away fearing the worst might manifest.

When we decide to make the more meaningful choice in the face of adversity we become who we were meant to be.

Thanks to for the shot before the steep climb up another San Juan giant!

31/10/2021

I’m very pleased to share a collaborative post with the help of the extremely talented

Huron Peak (14,003’)
CO Rank: 52
YDS: 2
Mountain Range: Sawatch
Proximate Parent: Missouri Mt.
County: Chaffe
Route: Clear Creek TH to Northwest Slopes, took ridge line to Cross and descended southwest from Middle Mt.
Round Trip: 12.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 4,590 ft.

This was a magical day in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area where I felt my legs starting to really adapt to the demands of the mountains. Initially with the intention to climb only Huron Peak, the sight of a majestic ridge line in front of me while on the summit was too much to resist. I decided to venture to the 4 other mountains as I made my way back to my starting point, becoming intimately familiar with the views of San Isabel National Forest. I’ve since returned after my first experience to find Huron and it’s neighboring peaks equally as enthralling as the first time I laid eyes on them.

Here are a few words from my collaborator

Thank you, .hiking.adventures, for the opportunity to score your video! Your photos and story inspired this music. In this score I used BBCSO sample library, Soft Piano, and 9,000 ft Piano. I chose 's piano both for its ethereal tone and because it boasts as its home!

03/10/2021

Pacific Peak & Atlantic Peak (13,950’ & 13,841’)

CO Rank: 61 & 87
YDS: 2
Mountain Range: Tenmile
Proximate Parent: Fletcher Mt.
County: Summit
Route: Mayflower Gulch TH to Atlantic’s West Ridge to Pacific’s South Ridge
Round Trip: 8.49 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,711 ft.

I first climbed these peaks almost 6 years ago today, but I remember many of these views as if they were last week. The Tenmile Range, generally known for the mountains that make up the Breckenridge Ski Resort, is actually an extension of Colorado’s Mosquito Range. Normally when it comes to aggressive peak climbing, I tread lightly during the winter months. However, this crisp November day offered inspiring seasonal views of these sister peaks that summertime visitors won’t see. Given the routes class 2 nature, I knew the technicality wouldn’t be an issue. Being a novice climber at the time, I wasn’t sure how the ice and thin layer of snow would alter my experience and speed. The combination of sun, ice and snow created this illuminating aura nearly everywhere you looked that seemingly pulled me towards their pinnacles. The sea of rock one must be comfortable moving on for many hours when climbing these peaks can be tedious and enervating. Then add in some frozen moisture, steep slopes and you’ll have yourself a day on the mountain. Given the snow I knew I would see, I brought micro spikes. This accessory works by wrapping over the shoes, equipped with small metal spikes on the bottom to give more grip on slippery surfaces. Needless to say, they came in handy. While sitting atop these two peaks, it was hard for me not to reflect on my intimate relationship growing up on the Atlantic Ocean. Although I’ll always identify as a Norfolk, VA native, the mountains have been a sanctum for me to develop, worship and grieve as a young man. The decision to move out to Colorado in the spring of 2015 will forever be one of my greatest decisions.

29/09/2021

Bard Peak (13,641’)

CO Rank: 176
YDS: 2
Mountain Range: Front
Proximate Parent: Torreys Peak
County: Clear Creek
Route: Herman Gulch TH to Parnassus to West Ridge of Bard, then South Slopes to Bard Creek Trail to Herman Gulch TH
Round Trip: 9.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 4,429 ft.

Bard Peak is a really fun several hour trip depending on which way you decide to tackle it! For my trip I started around first light from Herman Gulch then to Watrous Gulch before ascending Mt. Parnassus. The cover shot of this post was taken from the summit of Parnassus. From here, the west ridge to Bard Peak (first picture) is rocky and precipitous on the climbers left, but grassy and sloped on the right. In the 6th picture you get a sense of the ridge traverse from Parnassus to Bard, then have a visual of the descent (red line) back to Bard Creek trail. This was a incredible fall weekend adventure that I finished by 11am and had the whole rest of my day ahead of me. A challenging, but engaging trip into the mountains can do inexplicable things for the soul!

25/09/2021

Mt. Edwards (13,850’)

CO Rank: 83
YDS: 2
Mountain Range: Front
Proximate Parent: Grays Peak
County: Clear Creek & Summit Border
Route: Argentine Pass TH to Southeast Ridge
Round Trip: 7.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,000 ft.

Mt. Edwards is a very inviting 13er that sits right next to two of the most traveled 14ers in all of Colorado, Grays Peak and Torreys Peak. With those 14ers seeing thousands of people per year, I would guess Mt. Edwards doesn’t even get a 20th of that same hiking traffic. Another major pros of this route is its mellow class 2 trail that is quite easy to follow as it leads up to Argentine Pass. This pass exhibits the grandeur of Colorado’s Front Range with sweeping views, ridge lines as far as you can see, and often times views of the real stewards of the mountains, goats!

When I first moved to Colorado, I was deeply invigorated by the idea of exploring my environment and allowing the experiences I would accrue to help me transform into a more adept explorer. What I learned early on in my adventures was that if you enter the mountains at peace with yourself and lean into them with a sense of wonder, they will produce a return that far exceeds the cost to explore them.

21/09/2021

Pyramid Peak (14,018’)

CO Rank: 47
YDS: 4
Mountain Range: Elk
Proximate Parent: Maroon Peak
County: Pitkin
Route: Maroon Creek Road to Northeast Ridge
Round Trip: 12 miles (shorter from the TH)
Elevation Gain: 4,467 ft.

Pyramid Peak is an absolute jewel of Elk Range. Beginning on the same trail used to climb the Maroon Bells, this route starts easy and mellow. After meandering through the aspens and pines, this trail turns southeast and begins to gets steeper. As you make your way up the mountain, the views behind you of the Maroon Bells becomes more and more dramatic. When the morning sun hits the iron laden peaks, it can be extremely hard to take your eyes off them. Before you know it you enter the boulder field and stand dwarfed at the base of Pyramid’s glorious north face. The climb from the boulder field to the ridge line is a ruthlessly steep mile or so that demands good aerobic conditioning. The final 1,000 ft. of climbing to the summit is some of the most dangerous terrain amongst the Colorado 14ers. At class 4, the exposure is quite high, which means the outcome of any sort of fall would be very bad to fatal. In addition, the rock in the Elk range is notoriously loose and flaky, this is normally referred to as ‘chossy’ rock. Wearing a helmet is also generally advised on the route.

Despite its inherent risks, this area is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous places you’ll ever lay your eyes. From the summit of Pyramid, one has views of Snowmass Mt., Capitol Peak, the Maroon Bells and many more. I was fortunate enough to share this awesome experience with two friends, and Both helped remind me how absolutely insane it is to have all this beauty around us. When an individual is in a new place with the intent to explore, they simultaneously create the possibility of discovering new parts of themselves.

20/09/2021

Mt. Harvard (14,420’) & Mt. Columbia (14,073’)

CO Rank: 3 & 35
YDS: 2
Mountain Range: Sawatch
Proximate Parent: Mt. Elbert & Mt. Harvard
County: Chaffee
Route: North Cottonwood Creek TH to Harvard then Columbia’s North Ridge
Round Trip: 13.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 4,778 ft.

These two majestic giants are a part of a group of peaks called the Collegiate Peaks that run along the southern section of Colorado’s Sawatch Range. Equipped with some great dispersed camping spots along their approach, these class 2 peaks give a real look into the glory of what Colorado has to offer to even the most careful adventurers. Well marked trails lead hikers toward these two summits where they can be connected via their shared ridge line. When immersed amongst these mountains, I was reminded of a quote I heard years earlier…”A single mountain contains enough adventure to fill a lifetime.” As you look around you can only begin to imagine all the potential experiences one could have if they endeavored to explore the nooks and grannies of such a massive place.

On this hike, I was accompanying my friend and fellow mountaineer Luc. In a short time, he taught me quite a bit about what it means to safely and effectively explore the backcountry. If you’re searching for an opportunity to bond with another person, try taking them hiking. An intimately shared experience that includes a worthy struggle is a potent way to bring people together and cultivate a strong bond. Among many great things the mountains have brought into my life, friends and great discourse are surely near the pinnacle. Encompassed within the act of moving through space over these hallowed grounds, you learn more about yourself, more about the value of sacrifice, and what you might become if you optimize that practice. Mountains are inherently humbling, both mentally and physically. However with a certain amount of both, it can be so spiritually enriching.

18/09/2021

Cathedral Peak (13,943’)

CO Rank: 62
YDS: 4
Mountain Range: Elk
Proximate Parent: Castle Peak
County: Pitkin
Route: Cathedral Lake TH to South Ridge
Round Trip: 9.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 4,180 ft.

There are only few mountains that have had such a profound effect on me as, Cathedral Peak. I vividly remember waking up in my ‘72 VW Transporter feeling exhausted and groggy from a big week of hiking combined with another night sleeping above 9,000 ft.

Fortunately, there were only a handful of times during my 124 summit summer of 2017 where I thought death was a real possibility. Cathedral Peak was one of those mountains I knew I must exercise great caution and meticulous patience not only on the ascent, but also the descent. Given the steep, exposed couloir I was climbing, paired with Cathedral’s flaky rock and a dangerous wet snowpack on the route, I knew one wrong move could cost it all. Instead of being gripped by the ever looming possibility of death on these exposed and technical peaks, I felt so engrossed in my pursuits where intense focus was the prevailing mood. What I was doing, this personal hero’s journey I was on, embedded so much meaning in my life that I knew the right decision was to push on and have faith in my body and mind. Obviously, I’m aware this isn’t always the right choice to make in the mountains, but in this case, it was. I was all alone for most of each day and was deeply entrenched in the endeavor of intuitively pursuing what spiritually beckoned me forward. Something that could not and would not be ignored. I remember crying soon after reaching the summit. What I found interesting is that this wasn’t a scared or anxiety imposed act, but more born of a shocking sense of awe and alignment I felt after my ascent was complete. I felt this magnificent sense of gratitude and calm wash over me as I looked upon some of the most beautiful sights of my life. I was unspeakably moved by the interconnected nature of my being with the environment I laid witness to. Here I was, a Norfolk boy sitting atop billions of rocks in Elk Range, 2000 miles from home, feeling more myself than ever before. ❤️

17/09/2021

Handies Peak (14,048’)

CO Rank: 40
YDS: 1
Mountain Range: San Juan
Proximate Parent: Uncompahgre Peak
County: Hinsdale
Route: Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch TH - East Slopes
Round Trip: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,628 ft.

Handies Peak is one of numerous 14,000+ ft. mountains (generally called 14ers) that lie outside the small southwestern Colorado town, Lake City. This is a great introductory hike as it remains class 1 virtually the whole route. Lake City, originally the homeland of the Ute Native American tribe, attracted the interest of new settlers with mining ambitions and gold fever in the mid 1800s.

Today this area is an incredible spot to camp, fish, hunt, hike, and find yourself immersed in wild open country. Handies Peak is a popular day hike just southwest of town. Although part of me hates publicly promoting the secret gem that Lake City is, I know how much good those ranges, rivers and mountains have brought to my life. Quite a wonderful place to wander. ❤️

15/09/2021

Gladstone Peak (13,913’)

CO Rank: 67
YDS: 4
Mountain Range: San Juan
Proximate Parent: Mount Wilson
County: Dolores & San Miguel
Route: Rock of Ages TH to North Ridge
Round Trip: 10.8 miles
Elevation: 4,124 ft.

Gladstone Peak is without a doubt one of my favorite mountains I’ve ever climbed due to its aesthetically pleasing and awe inspiring North Ridge. Gladstone is buried deep within the Lizard Head Wilderness, which stretches over 41,300 acres within the Uncompahgre & San Juan National Forests. The environment here is frankly, spectacular. Gladstone exhibits the wilderness area’s classic rugged mountain splendor alongside beautiful cirque lakes, and fresh mountain streams that plunge down eye popping waterfalls.

For the first 4 miles of this hike, you climb roughly 2500 feet over a rock laden class 2 trail before you crest the saddle and see this view. As you stand here, you are surrounded by 3 other 14,000+ ft. peaks, (Wilson Peak, El Diente, & Mount Wilson) yet I couldn’t take my eyes off of the journey ahead. The loose class 4 ridge route is not for beginners. While climbing, I felt a deep sense of connection to the mountain as I meticulously and carefully placed each foot and grabbed each handhold along this ridge line. The combination of putting in so much attention and energy in a place I find deeply inspiring is something I’ll never take for granted. I believe, if properly oriented, one can open themselves up to receive and integrate the beauty and serenity of wild places to change them for the better.

10/09/2021

Crystal Peak (13,852’)

CO Rank: 82
YDS Class: 2
Mountain Range: Tenmile
Proximate Parent: Pacific Peak
County: Summit
Route: Spruce Creek TH to Southeast Ridge
Round Trip: 7.42 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,757 ft.

Crystal Peak was a hike I did early on in my Centennial Project, where I climbed the highest 100 Peaks in the state of Colorado the summer of 2017. What I quickly learned is that hiking in June means tons of snow and hiking the Tenmile Range in means you very well may see mountain goats. This was my first experience running into these tactful and resilient creatures in their natural habitat. I was probably just as in awe of it all as they were perplexed to see me.

For this hike I climbed up the steep southeast side of Mount Helen before achieving the summit. In the 4th picture you’ll see the view from the summit of Mount Helen looking towards Father Dyer Peak (left) and Crystal Peak (right). From here I traversed the ridge line to Father Dyer Peak and then Crystal Peak before descending. This is a lung busting class 2 (class 3 on the ridge) hike that offers a high probability of a wildlife sighting. Summit county has 5 of the highest 100 peaks in the state and is a good place to start sharpening your teeth if you’re just getting into hiking! If you’ve hiked in the Tenmile Range, what’s been your favorite peak?

09/09/2021

North Maroon Peak (14,014’)

CO Rank: 51*
YDS Class: 4
Mountain Range: Elk
Proximate Parent: Marin Peak
County: Pitkin
Route: Northeast Ridge
Round Trip: 10.89 miles
Elevation Gain: 5,512 ft.

This classic Colorado mountain is one of two peaks collectively referred to as the Maroon Bells. This is one of the most photographed areas in the entire US every year, and for good reason. Due to its popularity and the fact you have plenty of class 3 & 4 navigating, you’ll want to start this earlier in the morning. Normally completed as a day hike, this route offers incredible views of alpine lakes and beautiful red ‘chossy’ (loose and unstable) sandstone rock that towers above you from nearly every vantage. This was personally one of my favorite Colorado 14ers and you may have noticed I put an asterisk next to it’s CO Rank. This is due to the fact that North Maroon is actually an unranked peak. This means that there is a neighboring peak that stands at a higher elevation and the relief between the two mountains does not exceed 300 feet. Overall, I’d highly recommend this mountain to experienced individuals who have put time in on class 3, 4, & 5 terrain previously. Also shot out to my great friend and photographer for the first picture.

Let me know what you think in the comments!

08/09/2021

Welcome to Hitch Hiking Adventures! My name is James Hitch and this page is dedicated to my personal mountain pursuits and to share my passion for the outdoors with you all. My goal is to share helpful information in order to improve your ability to safely navigate in the backcountry, while also sharing nuanced details of the mountains I climb in hopes of assisting you during your own adventures.

I am also happy to announce that I am open for hire as a mountain and backpacking guide! My focus is to help bring adventure to those who want to get into the mountains, but might be hesitant to wander out on their own. I’m open for day hikes, multi-day backpacking, and kid-friendly hikes! This can span from leading you safely into the front range foothills to climbing the biggest peaks in your state! Feel free to email me with any questions or inquiries at [email protected]! See you out on the trail!

Pictured: Rinker Peak (13,783’)
CO Rank: 114th Highest
Mountain Range: Sawatch
Proximate Parent: Mt. Hope
County: Chaffee
Route: Willis Gulch TH - East Ridge
Round Trip: 11.44 miles
Elevation Gain: 4720 ft.

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I’m very pleased to share a collaborative post with the help of the extremely talented @colinpangcomposer Huron Peak (14,003’) CO Rank: 52 YDS: 2 Mountain Range: Sawatch Proximate Parent: Missouri Mt. County: Chaffe Route: Clear Creek TH to Northwest Slopes, took ridge line to Cross and descended southwest from Middle Mt. Round Trip: 12.5 miles Elevation Gain: 4,590 ft. This was a magical day in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area where I felt my legs starting to really adapt to the demands of the mountains. Initially with the intention to climb only Huron Peak, the sight of a majestic ridge line in front of me while on the summit was too much to resist. I decided to venture to the 4 other mountains as I made my way back to my starting point, becoming intimately familiar with the views of San Isabel National Forest. I’ve since returned after my first experience to find Huron and it’s neighboring peaks equally as enthralling as the first time I laid eyes on them. Here are a few words from my collaborator @colinpangcomposer Thank you, @hitch.hiking.adventures, for the opportunity to score your video! Your photos and story inspired this music. In this score I used @spitfireaudio BBCSO sample library, @labscommunity Soft Piano, and @rosslara 9,000 ft Piano. I chose @rosslara's piano both for its ethereal tone and because it boasts #breckenridge as its home!

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