Colorado Trail Thru-Hike 2022: Episode 3, Twin Lakes to Monarch Pass (Days 10-12)

I recently completed a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail. In these videos, I wanted to capture the deeper essence of the experience. Admittedly, this will become harder as these videos progress. This is a very strenuous trail. The more tired I became, the less B-roll footage I took during the days on trail. I wanted to avoid these becoming just another normal "ER vlog" because, honestly, those hold little value to me anymore. As I evolve, I want what I produce to evolve a bit as well.
Regardless, I will put every ounce of energy into making these videos reflect my experience on this trail. There were good days, bad days, and tons of heavy breathing and gasping for oxygen. There were hellacious climbs, miles of ankle-rolling, chewed-up trail, and vistas that left tears streaming down my face. I was not the same person in Durango (the end) as I was leaving Waterton Canyon in Denver (the start).
That's why I do what I do. To evolve. To push to my limits. To reset my baseline. To reaffirm my beliefs, my love for my family, and my desire to live a righteous life while on this earth. This trail was a PERFECT arena to give me all of this. For that, I am forever grateful.
If you are ever looking for something to read, please check out my two books on Amazon:
Pushing North: Tame the Mind, Savor the Journey
www.amazon.com/dp/B0997DNRXF/...
Time to Choose... Your Ego or You?: Unraveling Humanity's Biggest Secret
www.amazon.com/dp/B08GRZG712/...
#coloradotrail #thruhike #SOBO

Пікірлер: 49

  • @RR-ow8ud
    @RR-ow8ud Жыл бұрын

    WATCHING

  • @maryhadaway1656
    @maryhadaway1656 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful Thank you for sharing

  • @TheBlackCamper
    @TheBlackCamper Жыл бұрын

    With those climbs in front of me I would have just laid there and pretend to sleep! Thanks for showing the toughness and the beauty of this trail!

  • @EarlyRiser71

    @EarlyRiser71

    Жыл бұрын

    Get back out on the AT bro! I miss those videos of your journey! Hope you and the family are well! 🕓

  • @TheBlackCamper

    @TheBlackCamper

    Жыл бұрын

    @@EarlyRiser71 Trying to working it into the plan! Family is doing great!

  • @RR-ow8ud
    @RR-ow8ud Жыл бұрын

    Omg HOLY LAND

  • @Oceanwheel40
    @Oceanwheel40 Жыл бұрын

    What a spectacular video! Awesome beauty. It goes beyond all memory and consciousness. You truly have captured the magic of natures most awesome power. The views, the expanses, the high mountains and backcountry. You have done a truly amazi g job capturing it all. The word beautiful or sublime barely touches it. I have spent alot of time in the west when I was younger. Everything is so much bigger out there. You are just a grain of sand among grains surrounded by giants. I truly appreciate and value you, your journeys, your willingness to share and teach and open up about yourself and how you connect to the journey and how the wilds play a part in your life. This video really help motivate me this morning to get out of bed and get moving my week 3 of recovery, your 3rd episode truly inspired me and you gave me something that is invaluable, not tangible the heart, and the will and determination to carry on amongst some tough odds. Your videos are extremely meaningful to me. Thank you ER for making my life worth living. I will make my return to the AT and beyond at some point. If I can be of help in anyway, please let me know.

  • @shellyfahren1936
    @shellyfahren1936 Жыл бұрын

    Great video series! I’m section hiking the CT. Love it!!!

  • @HDCrumbsnatcher
    @HDCrumbsnatcher Жыл бұрын

    Great videos

  • @cottontalesfromthetrail5474
    @cottontalesfromthetrail5474 Жыл бұрын

    ER, the music you selected is spot on brother. I am absolutely loving the music and the editing you on doing. Get ready for many happy Saturdays during football season. God Bless America and all that keep her free! Love ya brother

  • @orvalporter962
    @orvalporter962 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for showing the scree fields. Most do not have them in their videos. The honesty of your videos is refreshing. In my mid 70’s I like to know what to expect on a trek. Great job!! 👊🇺🇸

  • @heatherhendrickson6048
    @heatherhendrickson6048 Жыл бұрын

    I’ve been watching your videos from way back when. Thank you for your vulnerability and allowing us to see some really amazing things through your eyes….or lens. 😊

  • @grahames9228
    @grahames9228 Жыл бұрын

    Nice.

  • @lindacollett1390
    @lindacollett1390 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing the beautiful country side of Colorado with us. Looked like some rough hiking but beautiful scenery. Looking forward to your next adventure. Aunt Linda

  • @phronsiekeys
    @phronsiekeys Жыл бұрын

    No words, except: Spectacular! Wow! Thanks!

  • @craig.m.spielberg
    @craig.m.spielberg Жыл бұрын

    The deeper you get into the trail, the more beautiful it gets. What a great way to start the day - listening to Watts!

  • @kampersadventures958

    @kampersadventures958

    Жыл бұрын

    Spielberg….you and then ER were such a motivating force for me to hike the AT and v-log my journey. One day, I hope to meet you both. Take care!

  • @kampersadventures958
    @kampersadventures958 Жыл бұрын

    Soooooo good! You are a beast!!! Huge miles!!! We debated and debated and finally decided to take the East because of the huge storms predicted and it was still beautiful, but dang…..the West is so much more epic! Thanks for all your hard work at capturing the CT in all its glory my friend.

  • @jukieb14jcfb17
    @jukieb14jcfb17 Жыл бұрын

    What a glorious church you got to be in! Amazing. Thanks for sharing. ❤

  • @eaglemtnmom1107

    @eaglemtnmom1107

    Жыл бұрын

    EMM 💕

  • @MoeBergOSS

    @MoeBergOSS

    Жыл бұрын

    Praise God for allowing us to experience His creation.

  • @RR-ow8ud
    @RR-ow8ud Жыл бұрын

    We're with you along your hikes

  • @JayFAdventures
    @JayFAdventures Жыл бұрын

    Great video, brother! SO glad I took the west route…it was AMAZING! Had to laugh at the “zero illum”, too…still having those tactical moments. HA! Looking forward to your next video.

  • @Dante07cid
    @Dante07cid Жыл бұрын

    So thankful you have shared 🙏. Mountains are somehow a part of my soul. Never tire of being there in person or in video. Alan Watts certainly a good companion.

  • @OneEyeHikes
    @OneEyeHikes Жыл бұрын

    Great video Trey! I’ve been thru the CWA twice now and Thru-hiked the CT this year too. It never get old! Sometimes, I literally cried in the majesty and beauty of it all. Thanks for taking me with you.

  • @tjjansma547
    @tjjansma547 Жыл бұрын

    Great hike brother! I've been there once, it's AMAZING I know... Three words for your next Colorado hike... Holy Cross Wilderness 😁 you would live it! Another piece of Colorado that holds a dear place in my hiking memory... Nothing in Colorado comes easy, but it's always more than worth the effort! 🌞🙏😎✌️

  • @ChicaandSunsets
    @ChicaandSunsets Жыл бұрын

    Soooooo beautiful! Thanks for reminding us.

  • @jamesbonner5989
    @jamesbonner5989 Жыл бұрын

    34 miles hiked on your third day out, wow. Thanks for the great views. Dawgs are doing great !

  • @ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING
    @ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING Жыл бұрын

    Great episode! Incredible views. Long hard miles. Those passes are amazing. Crow✌️

  • @rickneece7554
    @rickneece7554 Жыл бұрын

    Great job on the videos! Thank you for sharing. Love the books!

  • @gabecorey7137
    @gabecorey7137 Жыл бұрын

    Bro, You look like Russel Brand got a haircut. Luv ya!

  • @EarlyRiser71

    @EarlyRiser71

    Жыл бұрын

    Somebody at work said that yesterday. Hope you are well bro!

  • @georgedutton1462
    @georgedutton1462 Жыл бұрын

    Alan watts is my favorite thanks for sharing

  • @annajo1963
    @annajo1963 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful!

  • @frankynodots
    @frankynodots Жыл бұрын

    Outstanding stuff.

  • @thegreatexaggerator9077
    @thegreatexaggerator9077 Жыл бұрын

    Stunning!

  • @FrostyHiker
    @FrostyHiker Жыл бұрын

    The west is gorgeous!! Having hiked the east, you get the climbs but not the views.

  • @BearTrekAdventures
    @BearTrekAdventures Жыл бұрын

    Absolutely beautiful scenery! It comes out in your voice how special that place is. Curious if you spent anytime in CO before you started to acclimate to the elevation.

  • @EarlyRiser71

    @EarlyRiser71

    Жыл бұрын

    Nope. Flew into to Denver and started the next morning. Going SOBO allows you to stairstep up to altitude moreso that going NOBO.

  • @GoneFeralWithSquidly
    @GoneFeralWithSquidly Жыл бұрын

    I love hiking in Colorado but it’s tough going there from my 290’ home in Alabama. 🦑

  • @jwsnma
    @jwsnma Жыл бұрын

    Great video and spectacular scenery. Did I see switchbacks on the trail??. Spending most of my younger days in the Whites we never saw those.

  • @LizKidder
    @LizKidder Жыл бұрын

    Danggggg 30+ miles days🤯 I’m planning on collegiate west but don’t think I’m cut out for THAT big of miles. Do you think west route is still doable with maybe 20-mile days?!?😅 you’re an animal!🎉

  • @EarlyRiser71

    @EarlyRiser71

    Жыл бұрын

    Don't know if I am an animal or just get homesick and it drives me forward. Maybe a little of both. If my wife was able to hike, it might slow me down a bit. I'm not sure though. My entire adult life has been spent around warriors who always push themselves to the limit. It's hard to get out of that mindset. I love it most days!! You will be fine on the whole trail just doing 15-20's. Resupply towns are spaced out perfectly.

  • @BravestoneHikes
    @BravestoneHikes Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for another great video! I am loving the quotes you out at the beginning 😊 what did you do to acclimate? Living in the southeast (at a low elevation) this is what I am concerned about for when I do this trail next summer. Stunning video you captured on this section. Great job! Love your musicality with your video clips.

  • @EarlyRiser71

    @EarlyRiser71

    Жыл бұрын

    I am someone who works out and trains constantly. It allows me to adapt to most things fairly quickly. The altitude was tough, very tough at times, but my body is used to taking hits, recovering, and keep moving forward. That helped tremendously.

  • @expatadventureturkey9324
    @expatadventureturkey9324 Жыл бұрын

    Enjoying the content, great way of capturing you through hike. Looks like your carrying the Gossamer Gear G240? Is this correct, what are your thought on the pack. Again great stuff!

  • @EarlyRiser71

    @EarlyRiser71

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes, GG g4-20. Awesome pack but I use a pack cover in rain because it will absorb water. Great for long water carries!

  • @expatadventureturkey9324

    @expatadventureturkey9324

    Жыл бұрын

    @@EarlyRiser71 Thanks appreciate the feedback, hope a great week and even better weekend.

  • @MoeBergOSS
    @MoeBergOSS Жыл бұрын

    Collegiate West is about 5 more miles and about 2,000 elevation gain more than Collegiate East. West have one less resupply spot in that approx. 80 miles as well.