Little Bear to Blanca Peak Traverse, the Colorado Legend Documented! [4K UHD Cinematic]

Рет қаралды 12,051

4 жыл бұрын

A Thrilling and Spectacular traverse across the narrow and exposed ridge linking Little Bear and Blanca Peak 14ers starting with a ROUGH bike ascent up the 4x4 approach road and mountain climbing Little Bear. Note*** This is the original, full documentation of the challenges this adventure entails! This is a dangerous route and should only be attempted by trained and conditioned climbers after an in-depth review of the many risks involved. Special Thanks to the Virtual Sherpa for providing a solid Beta video that motivated me to do this climb in the first place!
Very pleased with the extensive dji drone footage, the perspectives do some justice to this incredible area!
Music By my favorite! Truly a GREAT and Generous unrecognized Artist!
Punch Deck
I'm Still Here, Brahe, Aimless Lyrics, Keep it Wavy, Longing, Oppressive Ambiance, | / punch-deck Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Also Featuring: Ambient infinitely by Keys of Moon | / keysofmoon Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Unknown World by Free Music | / fm_freemusic Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/...
DISCLAIMER: The Expedition(s) documented on this channel are for entertainment purposes only, NOT FOR Explicit Instruction or Route Execution. I have had MANY NEAR DEATH experiences and a couple serious accidents over 30 years of Backcountry adventures, the RISKS are very REAL. I do not recommend or encourage attempting the routes or strategies shown in these videos, and assume no personal responsibility if you choose to do a similar outing. As always, hike, bike and climb at your own risk. Know Your LIMITS and stay within them if you expect to avoid any accidents. even then. . .

Пікірлер: 92

@PilotEJ401 2 жыл бұрын

Perhaps the most EPIC solo ridge traverse on KZfaq. Incredible effort Karl

@KarlDeckerPresents 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks man I gave it all on this massive journey!! Wanted to leave this full version up for anyone interested in the whole story as tough and rewarding as it was

@darkknightniner9862 3 ай бұрын

This should have WAAAAAY more views than it does. This is one of the most incredible (and ballsy) climbs ive ever seen.

@KarlDeckerPresents 3 ай бұрын

Agree with you. Appreciate your comment, and please share with friends 👍! Cheers, Karl

@FoorYourSuccess 3 жыл бұрын

This is incredible Karl. Very few people do this traverse a year, and when I mean few, I mean less than 150, probably 100 at most. The drone work is incredible and you've got incredible skills. You deserve more views and followers with such quality work.

@KarlDeckerPresents 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend, it is a labor of love and this trip was a major honeymoon! I hope you will enjoy some of my other videos and they inspire you to do some of those adventures. For you I would recommend the Grizzly/Lawanee traverse video and doing it next summer, there is one, "real climbing"short down climb but with no real exposure . . . I just LOVED doing and editing that trip. I am just finishing the Kelso Ridge adventure, WOW, was it tough and I had major doubts about my footage with cameras freezing constantly, I think it came out quite well despite all the adversity . . . I hope we can do something together . . . much respect for your achievements and contagious attitude as well.

@KarlDeckerPresents Ай бұрын

I’m a Colorado native and very familiar with easy solo rock climbs. I’m super picky about the weather condition I plan to climb in as well but on easier trips. . . For me, can tolerate quite a bit of wind and some rain. . . Never lightening though! Check out my video of Ruby peak to Grays peak, I knew I’d be battling weather on that one and it was incredible. . . I also knew I had a tiny. Window of descent weather, one of my personal favorite videos!

@weekendcowboy 10 ай бұрын

I am compiling a little anthology of memorable Karl Decker quotes. Here are two from this video: "The good news is that it can't get any tougher." - while biking up on a tallus trail. "It's like a sidewalk, as long as you don't jump off, you'll probably be all right." - while balancing on a narrow edge with 2000 ft drops on both sides. What a fantastic traverse. You should have a Netflix special with episodic content.

@KarlDeckerPresents 10 ай бұрын

LoL thanks again!

@jackluke6209 10 ай бұрын

Your production quality is unrivaled. Don’t know how this video doesn’t have more views.

@KarlDeckerPresents 10 ай бұрын

Hey man appreciate that compliment! This one had a terrible thumbnail until it was changed a year ago. Since then, it's been a top performer. Thanks again 👍

@jonhill373 Ай бұрын

In the 80’s when Blanca was white, as the name implies, I glissaded down 1500’ of the snow face during my descent. Part standing and part sitting. Needless to say a snow axe is a must for safety. Undoubtedly, this was the fasted descent of all 54 fourteeners I’ve climbed.

@KarlDeckerPresents Ай бұрын

I love trying to descend that way, surely not as skillfully as some, but it is as you say, a quick way down after a hard battle! Thanks for the story! Karl 👍

@mgdala 2 күн бұрын

28:48 On the way to Alamosa as a kid we knew about a plane crash on Mt. Blanca. Supposedly full of toys. We'd look up and dream about all those toys up there. Also coming the other way seeing the Sangro de Christos the most mysterious mountain range. OMG! I can't look! Have I mentioned. You're fearless!

@KarlDeckerPresents 2 күн бұрын

Appreciate your thoughts, interesting story!

@user-bb4cb6hm6r 10 ай бұрын

That was incredible to watch. Had me nervous and scared from the comfort of my own bed lol. I chickened out at crater lake and turned around. Thank you for sharing your experience. Truly amazing!

@KarlDeckerPresents 10 ай бұрын

Of course no problem, that route is rated the most dangerous 14er climb in Colorado so yeah it's a beast!

@LScofield1 Ай бұрын

Awesome trip. Thanks for taking me along. Wishing you all the best!

@KarlDeckerPresents Ай бұрын

Look back on this mega traverse with great satisfaction! Glad you are enjoying these classic adventures...Best, Karl 👍👍

@jiripavelek743 14 күн бұрын

Nice movie!!👍 Geat music selection👍

@KarlDeckerPresents 14 күн бұрын

Thanks my friend! Very appreciative for your kind words! 👍

@Theninjaonthemountains 3 жыл бұрын

great shot of the ridge with the drone!!

@cmcer1995 9 ай бұрын

This climb is worthy of comments. The video was astounding of your climbing skills and sure footedness. The only time I about lost it was at 28:46 when you had a small slip it looked like, and I had to come back to that spot and rewatch it as it was a gut-wrenching moment. The affect was the same every time I watched it. Congratulations on a successful climb, one that very few climbers will attempt. Wonderful scenery too.

@KarlDeckerPresents 9 ай бұрын

Man means a lot, even three years out I'm still very proud of this video! Wasn't easy in any manner... thanks 👍👍, Karl!

@miketausig4205 Ай бұрын

My heart skipped a beat too.

@slobgnarly5012 Жыл бұрын

amazing video dude!

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

Appreciate you man 👍

@subienorris 9 ай бұрын

This is absolutely insane. It takes a special kind of person to be able to do this!

@KarlDeckerPresents 9 ай бұрын

Epic journey for sure! Thanks 👍

@mstrickler400 7 күн бұрын

Thanks. Great video. A friend and I did this nearly twenty years ago. Now this scares me just watching this!

@KarlDeckerPresents 7 күн бұрын

Appreciate your comment, you know what it's like up there! To your point, I have had to be more respectful of what my knees tell me already, so that day will come where I have to back off a bit, hopefully not for a few more years! Best, Karl 👍👍

@mstrickler400 7 күн бұрын

@@KarlDeckerPresents Thanks. I was 57 when I did this and already had one replaced hip. So it wasn't easy! But my time window for doing things like this has passed. Enjoy your remaining years of being able to do this, and keep the videos coming. Milt Strickler

@KarlDeckerPresents 7 күн бұрын

Will do sir! As long as I'm able

@kathykahn6524 4 жыл бұрын

They just keep getting better! Thanks for taking us places we would have NEVER made it to on our own.

@shawnmorgan3974 Жыл бұрын

I had the willies the entire time you were on the ridge. Insane!

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

Thanks Shawn! So did I for most of it, LoL

@PriscillaMKArt Жыл бұрын

At 28:50 my heart skipped a few beats 😶 impressive.

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

Oh yeah, that is one long, intense, brutal traverse, appreciate the comment!

@ionimp11 2 ай бұрын

Epic ridge climb, and remember, the cameraman never dies!

@KarlDeckerPresents 2 ай бұрын

I'll keep that in mind, so far so good 👍

@LifeAtHighAltitude Жыл бұрын

That drone footage is amazing. This is probably above my skill set and my trust in that rock.. congratulations

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

Thanks Pete! That's one brutal full adventure for sure.

@papajon62 Жыл бұрын

Epic hike and ride!

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

Thanks, probably the most exhausting and fulfilling adventure of my career!

@360vroomers 4 жыл бұрын

Great footage Karl!

@137mango 4 ай бұрын

This is incredible. Outstanding editing and overall video. Amazing.

@KarlDeckerPresents 4 ай бұрын

Thank you my friend, it was truly one of my lifetime achievements . Please come check out some others. While they may not be as daring I hope you will find the edits very engaging.

@gingerbread6614 Жыл бұрын

This was astounding. Thank you

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Appreciate your comment 👍

@josephbyrnhopf2481 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely thrilling! Thanks! The fish eye angles were stunning,

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

You're certainly welcome! Thanks for the comment Joseph 👍

@hakuhayashi8188 Жыл бұрын

Oh man *sweaty palms

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

Watching is often worse than doing, so they say Thanks 👍

@Theninjaonthemountains 3 жыл бұрын

close call 28:48!!!

@cmcer1995 Ай бұрын

Here I returned to view the slip at 28:46 and still takes my heart away. Just plain gutsy after that but not much choice but to complete the transverse. Not as many views as I was expecting either. I did see Virtual Sherpa's video before too obviously an excellent resource.

@KarlDeckerPresents Ай бұрын

The slip looked much more dramatic than it actually was!! Oh yeah, no way was that going to put a dent in the plan. Interesting you mentioned views. We changed the thumbnail and title 2 years ago and it has been our second best viewed since then, behind Longs . The watch time, more importantly, is #1. Thanks for your support! Karl 👍

@MjbBullHead69 Жыл бұрын

Always love your Drone footage… i love my DJI AIR 2S my wife surprized me with last October for my bday.

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

Thanks brother! That's always a welcome gift LoL, great piece of equipment

@robinelston5966 3 ай бұрын

Wonderful documentation, the views are spectacular. We took the easy way to Blanca decades ago via the Ellingwood saddle, great views of the beautiful Huerfano valley from there. Not sure I would have been up for the exposure of the Little Bear route. Again beautiful video, thanks for posting.

@KarlDeckerPresents 3 ай бұрын

Really glad you enjoyed this one, certainly an incredible combination of beauty, technical and mental aptitude, and a LOT of endurance! Appreciate your comment, Karl 👍!

@seanrask1759 Жыл бұрын

Made it too far on that road in my 4Runner, had that brutal descent to look forward to after an even more brutal hike

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

It's a LONG, tough journey FOR SURE. Thanks

@miketausig4205 Ай бұрын

Excellent, EXCELLENT video you got for this trip. As a viewer, I recognize it’s not just the taking of the video, but then the editing and post production that goes in to this final product. Really well done, and you should feel proud of what you created. For whatever reason, it seems the last several times I’ve watched this traverse it has been from the other direction - Blanca to Little Bear. I know it’s the same ridge but it looks much more gnarly going the other direction. One comment…I’m guessing you’re very familiar with these peaks, as you’re doing the traverses with one hand. Does that area not get massive wind gusts that would necessitate using both hands to hold on with? Fab video, again. Love the dialog you offer as you mosey. I’m a solo hiker as well, and not only appreciate the quiet, but I enjoy talking with myself. In all fairness though, that little slip you took at like 28:40 just about necessitated a note on my pacemaker software! Cheers man. Mike Oh PS: have you done Capitol? How does the traverse compare to the knife edge? Also, what brand helmet are you using. I like the way yours fits, better than mine.

@KarlDeckerPresents Ай бұрын

Im a Colorado native and very familiar with easy solo rock climbs. I’m super picky about the weather condition I plan to climb in as well but on easier trips. . . For me, can tolerate quite a bit of wind and some rain. . . Never lightening though! Check out my video of Ruby peak to Grays peak, I knew I’d be battling weather on that one and it was incredible. . . I also knew I had a tiny. Window of descent weather, one of my personal favorite videos! Cheers!

@miketausig4205 Ай бұрын

@@KarlDeckerPresents perfect! Thanks man.

@ianholl9100 11 ай бұрын

19:17 yeah this is the spot to be careful. HAHAHAHAH I thought that the whole traverse. Huge balls!

@KarlDeckerPresents 11 ай бұрын

Ya pretty gnarly 😎😎!!

@Zone9Rock Жыл бұрын

This video is like nothing I have ever seen before. Jaw dropping journey and excellent pro video production. It looks impossible and you captured that it is not! I am also stunned that this video has less than 1K views. If you have not done already, would be excellent to take the most epic moments in a given hike and put them in a KZfaq short. Guessing you will get an avalanche of viewers.

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for the great comment!! Very much appreciated. We actually changed the thumbnail about 2 months ago and this has gone parabolic. Now that we're over 1,000 subs, big growth is coming. The shorts idea is part of the overall plan. Thanks again 👍

@andrewshultz869 3 ай бұрын

Im very comfortable with climbing and heights etc but this scared the shit outta me, amazing camera work. U make this look too easy and terrifying at the same time.

@KarlDeckerPresents 3 ай бұрын

I get it! I will say the helmet cam, which is a necessity when doing a traverse or climb this sketch, does distort the image some, accentuating the drop-off. That said, it's still not for the faint of heart! Karl 👍

@jimc3891 Жыл бұрын

Karl, which was hairier, the traverse or the bike descent? Epic time in the Mountains both your skills and video. Once I started following you, whenever I miss the Mountains I watch one of your adventures. Thanks for posting absolutely beautiful visual feasts juxtaposed with real life and death moments. I was pleasantly surprised to hear you mention getting past your jitters, made the traverse relatable on a very elemental human level.

@deckersolutions4798 Жыл бұрын

I was quite worried about supermanning over the bars on the super steep bike descent, especially since my dropper seat post was limited by the big saddle bag under the seat but, it went very well and I was down happy in under an hour! Thanks Jim, I really try to keep it real. The BS drama is not going to be on my channel but, there have been a few . . .moments! Lately as well, I’m finishing a video right now where we got trapped in a canyon during freezing conditions right at nightfall.

@williamlarkin6760 Ай бұрын

Well done, my palms were sweaty in parts, you do that way more easily than than the vast majority of the human race could. That traverse looked sketch af but you seemed cool and collected throughout.

@KarlDeckerPresents Ай бұрын

Yes, thanks, I've had a lot of reps up in those situations, and I'm blessed with no real fear of exposure, but a great deal of respect for it! Thanks for the comment, please share with friends! Best to you, Karl 👍

@mgdala Күн бұрын

Surely you've won some awards😅

@KarlDeckerPresents Күн бұрын

Yes, very gratifying, thanks 👍

@stephensmith6599 9 ай бұрын

Nope, never, ever ... great job!

@KarlDeckerPresents 9 ай бұрын

I get it, trust me! LoL that is rated the most dangerous 14er summit route in Colorado, for very good reason. Sadly, 5 souls perished there in a 6 week period in 2017.

@stephensmith6599 9 ай бұрын

@@KarlDeckerPresents I really appreciate your videos/content. Helping me plan out what else I can do on the 14ers (half way done and 56 years old). I did the Southwest Ridge on Ellingwood ... and that is probably my max exposure.

@paulvogelsberg4782 11 ай бұрын

My palms were sweating.

@KarlDeckerPresents 11 ай бұрын

Understandably! That was a LONG, taxing adventure!

@user-ex9gs1cy6x 3 ай бұрын

Lake Caca.....with all the TP from the 4 wheeler frass

@KarlDeckerPresents 3 ай бұрын

True enough

@miketausig4205 Ай бұрын

Something tells me there was an unfortunate series of events here.

@nataliyasundina6693 Жыл бұрын

How do you measure hourglass difficulty level?

@KarlDeckerPresents Жыл бұрын

I felt the Climbing was fairly easy, easy class four but the danger of falling rocks was very high, I did get hit by a rock on that ascent sent from a party above. Luckily, I turned away and it hit my backpack.