13ers.com - Crystal Peak A | Route Descriptions

Combo Helen/Father Dyer/Crystal

Difficulty:	Class 3
Summit Elevation:	13,852 feet
Trailhead Elevation:	10,400 feet
Elevation Gain:	4,100 feet
Round-trip Length:	7.5 miles
Trailhead:	Crystal/Spruce Creek
Author:	BillMiddlebrook
Route Added:	08/11/2012
Last Updated:	08/11/2012

Trailhead:

From the south end of Breckenridge, drive 2 miles south on Colorado 9. Turn right on Spruce Creek Road. There is a sign here that says "The Crown". Stay right up a small hill and then left at an intersection. There are several side roads in this area. Stay on the main road and drive 1.2 miles (from Highway 9) to the Spruce Creek trailhead at 10,400’. There is a large parking area here.

Details:

This is a long, difficult, Class 3 route; If you’re looking for an easier Class 3 in the area, try Father Dyer’s East Ridge.

First, follow the Mt. Helen – East Slope route to reach the summit of Helen. Look west to see the long ridge to Father Dyer and Crystal Peaks – Photo #1 and Photo #2. Hike down the rugged ridge (Photo #3 and Photo #4) to reach a low point, nearly 300’ below the summit of Helen - Photo #5 and Photo #6. Continue west along the ridge crest (Photo #7) to reach more difficult terrain near 13,000’ - Photo #8 and Photo #9. Stay on the ridge crest (Photo #10 and Photo #11) and scramble over a few points along the ridge - Photo #12 and Photo #13. Photo #14 and Photo #15 show the location of a difficult, narrow notch which holds some loose rock. Downclimb a steep, exposed section (Photo #16) and climb left of the ridge crest to reach the highest part of the ridge - Photo #17, Photo #18, Photo #19 and Photo #20.

Plenty of tedious climbing is behind you, but it’s not over - Photo #21. Continue along the ridge to reach another prominent point - Photo #22. Keep scrambling (Photo #24), downclimb some tough rock (Photo #25) and pass over one last point (Photo #26) to reach the saddle before the summit of Father Dyer - Photo #27. Walk along the saddle, begin climbing toward the top (Photo #28) and rock-hop up the final pitch (Photo #29 and Photo #30) to reach the summit - Photo #31. Photo #32 is a close-up of the ridge between Helen and Father Dyer.

From the summit of Father Dyer, hike west along the ridge to Crystal Peak - Photo #33 and Photo #34. Rock-hop (Photo #35) down to the saddle between the two peaks and hike the final 350’ to the summit - Photo #36, Photo #37 and Photo #38. Descend Crystal Peak’s Northeast Ridge to the Wheeler trail, at 11,400’ in lower Crystal Creek. Turn right (south) on the Wheeler Trail and hike 0.7 mile back to your starting point on the south end of the Aqueduct road.

Notes:

The ridge between Helen and Father Dyer involves plenty of Class 3 scrambling, including a few sections where you’ll encounter some Class 4. With careful route-finding, you should be able to keep the difficulty at Class 3, albiet difficult Class 3.