Climbed the standard Red Couloir on Crestone Peak, easy but seems like it'll never end. Then did the traverse to Needle. Stayed fairly high, making the approach to the traverse a little more interesting.
Only the last technical section from the Black Gendarme was fun, in my opinion. Fun C4 section. Down the majority of the East Gully (kind of like canyoneering when descending the lower part).
Tried for Humboldt the same day. Plenty of time but rained off.
6/21/12 Via Ellingwood Ledges then continued to Crestone Peak
ripper333 - Jun 2, 2012 10:14 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2012
peak to needle traverse
didnt like this traverse too much..the final pitch to top of needle was cool..but was a beautiful bluebird day with fun peeps and laughing so who cares.. ha.. thanks Dale for giving us a ride on ur atv to TH and then joining us.. that extra 3 miles would have blew at end of long day..ellingwood arete is way to go on this sitch..coocoochachoo
DerekFreed - Mar 30, 2012 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2009
Fun Peak!
Hiked this peak via the standard route from South Colony. Had a lot of fun on it!
xpda - Oct 29, 2011 12:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2003
Crestone Needle
Solo
Ted Eliason - Oct 13, 2011 3:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
Needle to Peak
Started the day in thunder and got to the summit by 10am. One the traverse to Crestone Peak the clouds started to break up and gave mixed weather for the rest of the day.
PhenomenalWoman - Sep 26, 2011 10:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2011
Mind Over Matter
Originally planned for Crestone Peak, but after waking up to crazy wind and getting a late start waiting to see if it would subside, decided to climb the infamous needle. The most nervous I've ever been on a summit, but the climb up and down was stellar!
Favorite climb so far by far. Such a fun day on the mountain!
triyoda - Jul 17, 2011 10:54 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2011
Challenging
Partner bailed. Went solo, nobody else on the route. Great summit, but I was nervous about descending and did not stay long.
zoomloco - Jul 16, 2011 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
ellingwood arete direct to traverse
Ellingwood route is good if you do most of it unroped. traverse to peak is mostly not on the ceast, mostly 2nd class, and not interesting except for the initial descent. notes on all 4 classic traverses here: http://zoomloco.xanga.com/732717261/purple-mountain-majesties/
Livetronica - Jun 8, 2011 12:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2001
epic!!!
solo journey starting from the unusual town of crestone
my 4th 14er
big horn sheep, marmots and pikas galore
the Blood of Christ wilderness is very, very special
Stegosaurus - May 1, 2011 4:51 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.
Jeremy Hakes - Apr 18, 2011 2:09 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2002
Great peak
One of the best.
centrifuge - Jan 12, 2011 10:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2007
second peak
this weekend, and lots of fun
Panthera uncia - Dec 22, 2010 6:02 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
Standard from the TH
Got up early to climb this one from the trailhead in one push. Saw some incredible meteor action before the sun came up. Fun climb indeed!
Matt Miller - Dec 11, 2010 1:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2008
Rough ride
The worst part of the entire journey was the ride into the trailhead. Climbed the Needle with my incredible wife Leah and then headed over to the Peak alone. Great day!
blueshade - Jul 6, 2012 9:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2012
Crestone TraverseClimbed the standard Red Couloir on Crestone Peak, easy but seems like it'll never end. Then did the traverse to Needle. Stayed fairly high, making the approach to the traverse a little more interesting.
Only the last technical section from the Black Gendarme was fun, in my opinion. Fun C4 section. Down the majority of the East Gully (kind of like canyoneering when descending the lower part).
Tried for Humboldt the same day. Plenty of time but rained off.
Mooner - Jun 23, 2012 4:08 pm
Up I Go6/21/12 Via Ellingwood Ledges then continued to Crestone Peak
ripper333 - Jun 2, 2012 10:14 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2012
peak to needle traversedidnt like this traverse too much..the final pitch to top of needle was cool..but was a beautiful bluebird day with fun peeps and laughing so who cares.. ha.. thanks Dale for giving us a ride on ur atv to TH and then joining us.. that extra 3 miles would have blew at end of long day..ellingwood arete is way to go on this sitch..coocoochachoo
DerekFreed - Mar 30, 2012 6:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2009
Fun Peak!Hiked this peak via the standard route from South Colony. Had a lot of fun on it!
xpda - Oct 29, 2011 12:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2003
Crestone NeedleSolo
Ted Eliason - Oct 13, 2011 3:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
Needle to PeakStarted the day in thunder and got to the summit by 10am. One the traverse to Crestone Peak the clouds started to break up and gave mixed weather for the rest of the day.
PhenomenalWoman - Sep 26, 2011 10:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2011
Mind Over MatterOriginally planned for Crestone Peak, but after waking up to crazy wind and getting a late start waiting to see if it would subside, decided to climb the infamous needle. The most nervous I've ever been on a summit, but the climb up and down was stellar!
sevenvii - Sep 15, 2011 2:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2011
Cloudy day on the NeedleNo vistas what-so-ever but still an enjoyable day in the Sangres.
csmcgranahan - Sep 10, 2011 11:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2011
As good as I had hoped!Summited the Needle from the upper trailhead with two guys I met at the lower trailhead - Jake and Bo. Great day!
matthewp - Aug 21, 2011 3:45 pm
Yeah buddy!Favorite climb so far by far. Such a fun day on the mountain!
triyoda - Jul 17, 2011 10:54 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2011
ChallengingPartner bailed. Went solo, nobody else on the route. Great summit, but I was nervous about descending and did not stay long.
zoomloco - Jul 16, 2011 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
ellingwood arete direct to traverseEllingwood route is good if you do most of it unroped. traverse to peak is mostly not on the ceast, mostly 2nd class, and not interesting except for the initial descent. notes on all 4 classic traverses here: http://zoomloco.xanga.com/732717261/purple-mountain-majesties/
Livetronica - Jun 8, 2011 12:11 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2001
epic!!!solo journey starting from the unusual town of crestone
my 4th 14er
big horn sheep, marmots and pikas galore
the Blood of Christ wilderness is very, very special
Stegosaurus - May 1, 2011 4:51 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.
Jeremy Hakes - Apr 18, 2011 2:09 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2002
Great peakOne of the best.
centrifuge - Jan 12, 2011 10:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2007
second peakthis weekend, and lots of fun
Panthera uncia - Dec 22, 2010 6:02 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2010
Standard from the THGot up early to climb this one from the trailhead in one push. Saw some incredible meteor action before the sun came up. Fun climb indeed!
Matt Miller - Dec 11, 2010 1:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2008
Rough rideThe worst part of the entire journey was the ride into the trailhead. Climbed the Needle with my incredible wife Leah and then headed over to the Peak alone. Great day!
Flyingclimber - Oct 5, 2010 8:38 pm
3 in one almost fourCrestone Needle, Peak, and Humbolt
BLong - Sep 4, 2010 10:38 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2010
Ellingwood AreteGreat trip up the fun & exposed Ellingwood Arete route