Mt. Neva to Mt. Jasper Traverse

 

Saturday November 4^th, 2023

My name is Wyatt Hughes and I met Justin and Laura on the Bear’s Playground just below Crestone Peak near Crestone Colorado. The date was August 19^th, 2023. I was just some kid running down the spree looking to bag all five Crestone Peaks in 24 hours, and they let me join their group without question. Not ten minutes into our ascent, I knew Justin and Laura where on another level.

They provided abundant knowledge and patience to two other climbers and me in our group. By the time we reached the summit of Crestone Peak, I knew at heart these two astonishing people were worth a friendship. And by the summit of Crestone Needle after the Crestone Traverse, Justin and Laura became idolized in my mind. They will humbly deny this every time I bring it up, but they are mentors of mine and I hold them both in extremely high regards.

I eventually completed my quest that weekend of climbing Challenger Point, Kit Carson Mountain, Columbia Point, Obstruction Point, Crestone Peak, The Crestone Traverse, Crestone Needle, and Humbolt Peak right at 24 hours non-stop. This feat would have never been possible without the advice and compassion of Justin and Laura. I will hold this weekend and meeting in my heart for the rest of my days on this Earth; more importantly, every time I summit a new mountain.

We kept in touch for the next few months always trying to align our weekends and ideas. Finally, the week before the 4^th of November 2023 we found time to hit the mountains again together. After some deliberation, we decided to hit the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area near Eldora Colorado. Justin had brought up the idea of traversing to and around Mount Neva and Mount Jasper. This blew my idea out of the water (a 20-mile Slog around Quandary Peak), so we hit the trail early on the morning of the 4^th.

It was a windy day, but the ambient air temperature was bearable. The kind of misery us climbers love to talk poorly about, but secretly enjoy. The trail had snow, but for the first few miles it had already been broken in. After a while snow covered the trail, but due to it still being early in the snow season, we made decent time alternating lead hikers. This made for a quick approach to the traverse up to Mount Neva.

A thin, clear sheet of Rime covered every square inch of the Traverse and surrounding clouds kept visibility only to a few hundred feet. We kept yelling “come on sun” as we put hand and foot to rock. Laura took amazing pictures of the Class 4 up and down to Mount Neva. She captured amazing moments and action in elegancy. I am thankful for this because my hands were cold, and I opted to keep my camera in my pocket for most of the frigid morning. The climbing took concentration, but I completely enjoyed every second of it.

After a quick summit snack on Neva, we headed South to Jasper. This required Class 3 climbing mostly, but with more snow. Adding a twist to the Traverse, but at the same time, stoking the fire within me. Mountaineering, climbing, hiking, mountains, and simply nature put my mind at ease. And even more so, calm my soul. It feels like a reset button to my very demeanor towards life. Allowing me to meet and spend time with wonderful people like Justin and Laura. The wind howled away relentlessly still, but at last the sun started to heat the clouds. Allowing its rays to shine on us providing some welcomed warmth.

From the top of Mount Jasper, we took a couple of photos and enjoyed some lighthearted laughs looking back on the ridges we had just conquered. Then it was time to head back to the Vehicles. The down-climb off Jasper was not easy but added another fun twist to the day. I would say it was easy 3^rd Class, but with the slope angle and snow, we donned Axes and Traversed down and across a steep side hill. Once we reached a saddle, we started down a snow gulley towards the Trail below us. After some postholing, we all remembered glissading was a possibility. The rest of the decent was extremely fun and took no time at all after this adjustment.

On the way to the Trail, we crossed a frozen lake (the ice was slick, and I tested my reflexes on multiple occasions) and followed some footprints through the woods. This is not always the smartest thing to do, but the tracks went in both directions. Implying there was a good chance this hiker made it back to the truck alive. The wind was almost non-excitant here and this allowed us to actually carry out conversations. We got to know each other better and open up a little. I had no doubt before, but now I knew certainty; Justin and Laura were people I needed to form a lifelong friendship with.

We reached the vehicles in good time and actually beat the Beta time we based the Route off of. After cleaning up and putting our packs away, it was time for a beer. We stopped in Nederland Colorado at the Knotted Root Brewing Company for some IPAs and conversation before heading our separate ways home. The entire day was spectacular in my eyes and filled my heart with memories for a lifetime. Excitement grows within me for our adventures to come and I can never thank Laura and Justin enough for what they have already done for me. Even more so for what they are willing to teach me in the future and their advice on higher Peaks. Mount Denali is in my sights; I humbly request the mountain’s permission to summit and will forever have these two Mountaineers to thank for playing a huge part in my journey.