Crystal Peak

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/5/2023, By: ColoNativeGal
Info: From the saddle up to the summit the ridge is still holding snow. Traction and ice ax is highly recommended. The ridge connected to Father Dyer is dry. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/2/2023, By: nilaoire
Info: From what we could see from Fr Dyer today, some snow from the top of Crystal down to the saddle between it and Peak 10. Usual snow field below the saddle above Upper Crystal Lake. 

Route: Ridge from Father Dyer Peak
Posted On: 7/2/2023, By: glenhanderson
Info: Fun scramble route up Father Dyer Peak East Ridge, then over to Crystal Peak, then down the northeast ridge of Crystal back to the alpine meadow at Lower Crystal Lake for the descent back to the car. First the TH situation. We non-Coloradoans thought we might be able to get up to the Lake or at least Francie's Cabin area via the Crystal Creek Road. We had a 4WD Sprinter Van. Uh no. We did see trucks, jeeps, and SUVs make it that day. We ended up parking at the Lower Spruce Creek TH instead and hiked up the Crystal Creek Road. That was not a bad way to go. Not sure why anyone would take the rough road to Upper Spruce Creek? That is also very rough and not viable for the van and you don't really benefit versus just going up Crystal Creek Road. Anyway, once we hit the Lower Crystal Lake, we veered left and hiked up to the ridge below Father Dyer. There were a couple snow patches on the way, no problem. The scramble route up the east ridge is pretty tame. A few times we stuck to narrow ridges or class 3 sections, but they all seemed avoidable by faint trails that went around. The wind came and went, but was noticeable along many of the ridges we took, had to wear shells and gloves at times. No snow encountered on the east ridge of Father Dyer. We met a Boulder couple on the summit who had come from the spicier ridge from Mount Helen and had a chat and then followed them over to Crystal Peak. This ridge is basic boulder hopping and class 2. No snow. From Crystal we took the northeast ridge down to the saddle below Peak 10 and then caught the trail that goes back down to Lower Crystal Lake. The Crystal ridge descent did have some snow travel and it was soft and postholing. We avoided as much as we could. It was straightforward though and we never used gaiters or spikes nor did we have ice axes. We ran into a number of vehicles and people coming up to the Lake area to either camp or hang out and when we got back down to Lower Spruce Creek TH and drove off, it was super busy with vehicles parked everywhere. Expected I guess since it's a long July 4th weekend for many. Great loop today and fantastic views all around! There was a bit of rain and hail late in the day as we were descending from Lower Crystal but only lasted 10 mins. 

Route: Combo Helen/Father Dyer/Crystal
Posted On: 7/1/2023, By: sarahmariekirk
Info: Report for Crystal Peak A (also climbed with Helen, Father Dyer and Peak 10) but will post each peak conditions separately. Crystal was dry coming from Father Dyer but heading down towards Peak 10, there was some slushy snow that covered 90% of the slopes, but easily avoidable if you stay far left on the ridgeline. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 5/14/2023, By: PeakMiller
Info: Snow from TH to Summit. We saw a few other groups along the way. Sunnier than the predicted forecast. Snow was great up high, but pretty slow moving below the lakes. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/18/2022, By: JChitwood
Info: Summer conditions warm and sunny short sleeves to the summit. One small patch of snow to walk around on the trail and some snow on the north sides of the peaks to the south. Great day in the mountains. Summit pyramid is easiest climbed by attempting to stay close to the ridge. We followed a trail to the left then went straight up steep talus to the summit. Not recommended stay on the ridge and you'll find a trail after the first few hundred vertical feet. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/20/2022, By: Istoodupthere
Info: Really enjoyed this one. Easy to follow road/trail most of the way to the summit. Some easy scrambling near summit. Between the two upper lakes you need to get off trail briefly to get up to the trail that leads to the summit. Of course I blew by this a good quarter mile and had to climb up some steep talus to get to the trail. Wasn't a big deal. I'll post a pic of the cairn to look for 100 feet or so above you. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 7/18/2022, By: nlee13
Info: Did the Roachs' South Slopes route from Sand Creek Trailhead and Mohawk Lakes. Snow free all the way up except a small patch that we chose to cross near the summit. Trail goes away near the uppermost lake and it is a free for all once you pick your route north up the talus. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/10/2022, By: dr_j
Info: All snow is avoidable along the route, just a few small remaining fields around 13600' and above. The lower portion has plenty of wet spots before Lower Crystal Lake, look for a suitable crossing, or just cool off your feet. I ascended the ridge a bit too early, it's best to go up / down closer to the upper lake, or you'll be fighting a lot of loose talus. Wildflowers are blooming, high summer in Colorado is here. 

Route: Combo Helen/Father Dyer/Crystal
Posted On: 7/5/2022, By: arthurtect
Info: Ascended up Helen's east slope (green and covered with wildflowers), then traversed to Father Dyer and Crystal (dry and awesome). Descended down Crystals south slope (hill of loose rocks) and then connected to the Mohawk Lakes trail back to our vehicle. Mountain goats and Big Horn sheep and every flower imaginable! 

Route: Pacific-Crystal Traverse
Posted On: 7/2/2022, By: pbergmaier
Info: Did Crystal after summiting Pacific Peak, beginning at the lower Mayflower Gulch TH, by the highway. Started at 5:45am and reached summit of Pacific at 9am and the summit of Crystal by 10:20am. As previously stated, all snow fields going up Pacific's west ridge are avoidable if so desired. The traverse from Pacific to Crystal is dry as well and all snow fields can also be avoided. We descended west from the Pacific-Crystal saddle and contoured back to the bottom of Pacific's west ridge. Here you will probably still need to cross several low-angle snow fields if you want to take the easiest and most direct route. On the ascent, we crossed Mayflower Creek very early, via the concrete flow control system just 0.1 miles from the lower TH, and bushwhacked our way up to the Pacific Creek drainage. On the descent, we instead opted to follow the established trail back down across Mayflower Creek to the old cabin remains at the upper TH. This latter creek crossing was a sloppy, muddy mess and we recommend avoiding it for at least the next couple weeks until it dries up a bit. 

Route: loop with Pacific, East slopes ski
Posted On: 5/16/2022, By: SnowAlien
Info: Day was still young @1.30pm, I didn't get enough good skiing to justify the Mohawk lakes slog (and exit) and I knew Crystal lake exit is quicker. So I skinned over to Crystal arriving @3pm. Skiing down was better than expected, ripen corn, and I didn't knock down anything even at headwall. Back at the car just before 5pm, although hiking dry road in ski boots in the last mile was annoying. 

Route: Combo Helen/Father Dyer/Crystal
Posted On: 10/24/2021, By: DrSluice
Info: Fresh snow settled between rocks. Definitely time to be careful with snow on the class III sections. Traction was useful mostly for the roads near the TH which were a sheet of ice. 

Route: Combo Helen/Father Dyer/Crystal
Posted On: 10/17/2021, By: rosey33
Info: Spruce creek road is snow covered and gets icy at the end of the day. Ascended Mt Helens east slope which started out with a bushwhack because we missed the turn off to find “the gully” which takes you above tree line. Minimal post holing. Traverse from helens to father Dyer was a blast with recent snow making things more interesting. After summit father Dyer it's an Easy walk over to Crystal no traction was needed all day. Could be useful walking the last bit back to your car. Descending off Crystal had quite a few deep snow drifts but easily avoidable. Once on the trail it's an easy walk back 

Route: East Slopes
Posted On: 10/4/2021, By: CheapCigarMan
Info: Fresh snow with partly sunny skies and no wind made for a most spectacular day in the mountains. Hiked Roach's East Slopes route from Lower Crystal Lake / Upper Spruce Creek 4WD TH. Solid rock on the slope and from the saddle to the summit. No traction needed.