With Rachael from Broken Hand Pass, also climbed Crestolita. The north side of the pass holding snow in the choke, not much of it but enough to keep your attention as its in the steepest part of the gully and may require some class 3 moves to scramble along the adjacent boulders. Broken Hand Peak was dry and very pleasant to hike with great views!
Down the standard route on Crestolita, then up and down the west ridge on a cold, windy day. Great views of the Crestones when the clouds weren't in the way. Trip report.
Eleutheros - Oct 5, 2013 9:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2013
Chasing That Sun
One of two people at South Colony Lakes on a sunny, stunning Monday morning. Incredible pics of the Sangres in all directions. Nice, easy climb with some 3rd class variations. Glad I brought crampons for Broken Hand Pass after the early snows..
REM - Jun 25, 2011 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2009
Prior to Road Closure
Regret not having gone beyond the Pass, now it will require more of a commitment.
Stegosaurus - May 1, 2011 4:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2010
Defining Independence Day
Some solos in the Sangres for Independence Day: Crestone Needle via Southface, followed by Broken Hand Peak via North ridge/West slopes, followed by Humboldt Peak via typical West ridge in one long day. Drove over from Rye and left the truck at the South Colony Lakes trailhead around 4:30 am, first one on the Needle summit at 8:00 am sharp, Broken Hand summit at 10:15 am, rested at upper South Colony Lake for lunch hour (beautiful trout visible in the rapids), Humboldt Peak summit around 3:30 pm, back at the truck at 6:00 pm and back in Rye in time for dinner. Beautiful day, great rock, but felt like I had been run over by a train the next morning. Highly recommend.
mmcguigan - Oct 21, 2010 8:12 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2010
nice hike
Nice hike. Climbed BH on our way back from Crestone Peak.
Sarah Simon - Aug 15, 2010 10:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
West Slope
After setting up camp in the S. Colony Lakes area the weather was holding, so we took a nice side trip up Broken Hand Peak. The ascent of the pass is loose and tedious, but the steep stroll up grassy ledges to the summit of Broken Hand Peak is a joy.
Somehow, I was very confused, and instead of going to climb the Needle. I did climb this peak. It was raining, mountains were in the clouds. And there were no people on the trail/no trail. I was just finding my own way up.
km_donovan - Aug 9, 2008 4:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2008
Broken Hand Pass
A fun climb. Most likely you will have it to yourself.
SarahThompson - Apr 14, 2008 11:19 am Date Climbed: May 28, 2006
Dessert after the Crestone Traverse
A low snow year in the Sangre de Cristos made this climb possible early in the season. We backpacked up Cottonwood Creek and camped for 2 nights at 11,200 ft. Climbed the Red Gully on Crestone Peak, traversed to Crestone Needle, and then climbed Broken Hand before returning to camp. It was a chilly, cloudy, windy, exhausting day but well worth it of course. Its hard to beat scrambling in the Crestone area. For Broken Hand, we followed Roach's route in his 14er book. Don't get too anxious and try to get to the summit from too close to Broken Hand Pass - we did and backed off some 5th class rock.
Eric Holle - May 9, 2007 11:57 pm Date Climbed: May 1, 2007
Broken Hand Pass
Climbed Broken Hand Pk with Ben in the morning, Humbolt in the evening from our S Colony Basecamp. We climbed Crestone Needle the day before, and on the way down we put in some nice steps that helped us fly up to the pass the next day. It only took 40 minutes to the pass. Ben and I had the sweetest view of our entire 12 day Sangre de Cristo trip from the summit when the clouds broke and we caught a view of the S Couloir on Crestone Needle!
Route Climbed: West Slopes Date Climbed: August 21, 2004
After climbing Crestone Peak that morning, we took lunch at Cottonwood Lake. We fortunately caught a break in the weather after we ate, so Erin and I tore off for the summit, which we reached 50 minutes after we left the lake. The views of the Crestones are completely inspiring. I only wish we had had more time to enjoy the summit! A trip report is available here.
chicagotransplant - Jun 11, 2018 7:56 am Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2018
Normal RouteWith Rachael from Broken Hand Pass, also climbed Crestolita. The north side of the pass holding snow in the choke, not much of it but enough to keep your attention as its in the steepest part of the gully and may require some class 3 moves to scramble along the adjacent boulders. Broken Hand Peak was dry and very pleasant to hike with great views!
seano - Sep 24, 2016 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2016
From CrestolitaDown the standard route on Crestolita, then up and down the west ridge on a cold, windy day. Great views of the Crestones when the clouds weren't in the way. Trip report.
Eleutheros - Oct 5, 2013 9:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2013
Chasing That SunOne of two people at South Colony Lakes on a sunny, stunning Monday morning. Incredible pics of the Sangres in all directions. Nice, easy climb with some 3rd class variations. Glad I brought crampons for Broken Hand Pass after the early snows..
REM - Jun 25, 2011 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2009
Prior to Road ClosureRegret not having gone beyond the Pass, now it will require more of a commitment.
Stegosaurus - May 1, 2011 4:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2010
Defining Independence DaySome solos in the Sangres for Independence Day: Crestone Needle via Southface, followed by Broken Hand Peak via North ridge/West slopes, followed by Humboldt Peak via typical West ridge in one long day. Drove over from Rye and left the truck at the South Colony Lakes trailhead around 4:30 am, first one on the Needle summit at 8:00 am sharp, Broken Hand summit at 10:15 am, rested at upper South Colony Lake for lunch hour (beautiful trout visible in the rapids), Humboldt Peak summit around 3:30 pm, back at the truck at 6:00 pm and back in Rye in time for dinner. Beautiful day, great rock, but felt like I had been run over by a train the next morning. Highly recommend.
mmcguigan - Oct 21, 2010 8:12 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2010
nice hikeNice hike. Climbed BH on our way back from Crestone Peak.
Sarah Simon - Aug 15, 2010 10:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
West SlopeAfter setting up camp in the S. Colony Lakes area the weather was holding, so we took a nice side trip up Broken Hand Peak. The ascent of the pass is loose and tedious, but the steep stroll up grassy ledges to the summit of Broken Hand Peak is a joy.
Darren9 - Nov 7, 2009 1:24 am
with the CrestonesFun climb in conjunction with the Crestones as part of a training for WP mountaineering instructors.
RC Cola - Jul 13, 2009 3:29 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2004
an excellent climb!This was a fun little day hike/climb with some great views of the Crestones and even Blanca/Ellingwood. No crowds on this route!
Liba Kopeckova - Jul 10, 2009 9:03 am
got confusedSomehow, I was very confused, and instead of going to climb the Needle. I did climb this peak. It was raining, mountains were in the clouds. And there were no people on the trail/no trail. I was just finding my own way up.
km_donovan - Aug 9, 2008 4:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2008
Broken Hand PassA fun climb. Most likely you will have it to yourself.
SarahThompson - Apr 14, 2008 11:19 am Date Climbed: May 28, 2006
Dessert after the Crestone TraverseA low snow year in the Sangre de Cristos made this climb possible early in the season. We backpacked up Cottonwood Creek and camped for 2 nights at 11,200 ft. Climbed the Red Gully on Crestone Peak, traversed to Crestone Needle, and then climbed Broken Hand before returning to camp. It was a chilly, cloudy, windy, exhausting day but well worth it of course. Its hard to beat scrambling in the Crestone area. For Broken Hand, we followed Roach's route in his 14er book. Don't get too anxious and try to get to the summit from too close to Broken Hand Pass - we did and backed off some 5th class rock.
Eric Holle - May 9, 2007 11:57 pm Date Climbed: May 1, 2007
Broken Hand PassClimbed Broken Hand Pk with Ben in the morning, Humbolt in the evening from our S Colony Basecamp. We climbed Crestone Needle the day before, and on the way down we put in some nice steps that helped us fly up to the pass the next day. It only took 40 minutes to the pass. Ben and I had the sweetest view of our entire 12 day Sangre de Cristo trip from the summit when the clouds broke and we caught a view of the S Couloir on Crestone Needle!
zachary_dc - Feb 17, 2006 5:52 pm
west slopesGreat view of the area from the summit, and a very enjoyable climb.
shknbke - Sep 20, 2005 1:01 am
Route Climbed: S. Colony 4wd TH to Broken Hand Pass Date Climbed: Sept 17, 2005We climbed Broken Hand as daybreak approached, summitting just as the sun rose. A seldom visited summit with staggering views.
RyanS - Aug 29, 2004 2:22 pm
Route Climbed: West Slopes Date Climbed: August 21, 2004After climbing Crestone Peak that morning, we took lunch at Cottonwood Lake. We fortunately caught a break in the weather after we ate, so Erin and I tore off for the summit, which we reached 50 minutes after we left the lake. The views of the Crestones are completely inspiring. I only wish we had had more time to enjoy the summit! A trip report is available here.