Outstanding climbing, very airy, with beautiful views. I'm so gratefull to have the opportunity to climb it with my husband, Andy and Fabio. Thanks guys.
RC Cola - Jul 13, 2009 3:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2004
great climb!
One of my all-time favorites!
skyward22 - Jul 13, 2009 6:47 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2009
the arete
climbed w/Blumsky as his first 14er, my 9th? great climb but we got all the way up on ledges to the point where the face meets the arete, and in doing so passed the red knob. made for only about 3 technical pitches of climbing. got off-route on the downclimb and found some lower 5th downclimbing in one of the gullies. got down okay to find a marmot had chewed on my pack and had eaten by hat!
What a great climb, Ellingwood Arete with the traverse to Crestone Peak..This has to be one of the best areas of Colorado!
SarahThompson - Jan 6, 2009 6:35 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2005
In all 4 seasons, 5x total
7/16/05 - Climbed the standard route after backpacking from the 2WD TH and camping near South Colony Lakes. Dropped my camera and was able to rescue it but not the memory card :(. After fetching a new one at camp we capped off the day with an easy climb up Humboldt.
7/17/05 - Climbed the standard route again after climbing Crestone Peak so I could retake the pictures :)
5/28/06 - Classic traverse from Crestone Peak. Climbed down standard route and added on Broken Hand Peak before returning to camp along Cottonwood Creek.
2/21/09 - Winter ascent, standard route. Backpacked in along Cottonwood Creek. My most challening winter summit to date - quite an epic climb. Simulclimbed up the south couloirs, proper anchor/belay was necessary occasionally. Couloir crossover made for a spicy crux. Rapped/climbed down from 13,800 ft in the dark.
12/2/12 - Backpacked to South Colony Lakes, climbed Needle's standard route, and traversed to Crestone Peak. Very dry for December.
Fun route. The crux traverse between gullies was saucy. But for my money, the N Ridge of Kit Carson is still the best non-technical climb in the Crestones.
What a beautiful and challenging mountain! Originally planned to do the traverse from Crestone Peak, but high winds pushed us do the east to west gulley on the Needle. Climbed with long time climbing partner, Alan. Went on to climb Humbolt Peak that evening in beautiful Sangre de Cristo weather.
Asphazell - Sep 2, 2008 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
Standard route
I never thought I would climb this peak when I first saw it on Roach's 14ers book. I have come a long way since then. The rock is outstanding and exhilerating! Excellent holds made this a pure joy! I'll be back for the Arete!
alpspitze - Aug 13, 2008 12:59 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2008
Standard Route
This is one that I have been looking forward to for a long time. Had the mountain to myself. Started at 6am and summited at 8am.
myrone - Jul 19, 2008 9:58 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2008
Crestone Needle via Upper S. Colony TH
Started up at 6:25AM. Route finding isn't the easiest on this peak, but prevailed with help from friends I met along the way; reached summit at 10:25. Rising clouds socked-in a good portion of the views from the summit. Started back down at 10:45 and back to the TH at 2:08PM as it started to rain. My 41st 14'er...sweet!!
I will return and try the traverse and/or a different route some day.
MountainHikerCO - Feb 12, 2008 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2007
Third Time
This was my third time climbing the Needle. We went the standard route via Broken Hand Pass from South Colony Lakes.
MountainHikerCO - Feb 12, 2008 9:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 1991
Standard Route
This was my first climb of the Needle. We went the standard route via Broken Hand Pass from South Colony Lakes.
tomlauren - Feb 3, 2008 7:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2007
Crestone Traverse
From camp at Cottonwood Creek, climbed the South Face of Crestone Peak, performed the traverse to Crestone Needle, then descended the Needle's South Face back to camp. This was the final of the Four Great Fourteener Traverses for me. I thought that route-finding on this traverse was the most difficult of the four, especially near the Black Gendarme. I stayed on the summit for only 30 seconds due to a nasty storm cloud hovering directly overhead.
AltitudeSickness - Dec 20, 2007 12:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2006
Route Climbed: South Face: East Gully, off route
Started out as an early morning hike up to Broken Hand Pass for a bite of breakfast at sunrise because the rest of my crew decided not to climb that day. One member of my crew joined me about an hour after the sun came up and we decided to make a summit attempt. We pushed up the East Gully and were off route because the difficulty exceeded the trip reports assessment of it being class 3 & 4. We continued on up for several hundred feet on some loose cobblestone. I pulled off a piece twice during the climb. Quite scary for me. I nearly decided to call it off. After gathering my wits, pushed on to the summit. Was so glad I did. What a wonderful climb. Even though we were off route we both enjoyed it a great deal. The mountain goats made us feel bad by how easy they made the climb look. Fantastic day, elated at the end.
cavufool - Dec 14, 2007 6:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2007
Peak to Needle Traverse
Such a fun route. We ascended the Red Couloir after waiting 3 days for the weather to be favorable. The last part of climbing the Needle was a blast and required some difficult route finding because visibility was down to ~20 feet. An absolutely stellar mountain.
I started before first light so I could complete the traverse to the Needle and be off the mountain by early afternoon. Fortunately I was successful and back in camp before noon, because wicked thunderstorms rolled in and unleased rain and electricity from 12 to 2. I know of at least one climbing party that would've been in the thick of things if they'd stuck to their original schedule. I thought of them all afternoon, but still don't know if they turned around or pressed through the storm.
cruzit - Jul 24, 2009 4:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2009
Arete via Ellingwood LedgesOutstanding climbing, very airy, with beautiful views. I'm so gratefull to have the opportunity to climb it with my husband, Andy and Fabio. Thanks guys.
RC Cola - Jul 13, 2009 3:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2004
great climb!One of my all-time favorites!
skyward22 - Jul 13, 2009 6:47 am Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2009
the areteclimbed w/Blumsky as his first 14er, my 9th? great climb but we got all the way up on ledges to the point where the face meets the arete, and in doing so passed the red knob. made for only about 3 technical pitches of climbing. got off-route on the downclimb and found some lower 5th downclimbing in one of the gullies. got down okay to find a marmot had chewed on my pack and had eaten by hat!
Liba Kopeckova - Jul 8, 2009 4:10 am
from South Colonyvia Broken Hand Pass. Done over Labor Day weekend, very crowded that day. My dog did jump better than a mountain goat.
Pablohoney - Mar 27, 2009 8:05 pm
EllingwoodWhat a great climb, Ellingwood Arete with the traverse to Crestone Peak..This has to be one of the best areas of Colorado!
SarahThompson - Jan 6, 2009 6:35 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2005
In all 4 seasons, 5x total7/16/05 - Climbed the standard route after backpacking from the 2WD TH and camping near South Colony Lakes. Dropped my camera and was able to rescue it but not the memory card :(. After fetching a new one at camp we capped off the day with an easy climb up Humboldt.
7/17/05 - Climbed the standard route again after climbing Crestone Peak so I could retake the pictures :)
5/28/06 - Classic traverse from Crestone Peak. Climbed down standard route and added on Broken Hand Peak before returning to camp along Cottonwood Creek.
2/21/09 - Winter ascent, standard route. Backpacked in along Cottonwood Creek. My most challening winter summit to date - quite an epic climb. Simulclimbed up the south couloirs, proper anchor/belay was necessary occasionally. Couloir crossover made for a spicy crux. Rapped/climbed down from 13,800 ft in the dark.
12/2/12 - Backpacked to South Colony Lakes, climbed Needle's standard route, and traversed to Crestone Peak. Very dry for December.
Hope to get back sometime for Ellingwood Arete :)
bmcnary1 - Nov 24, 2008 8:36 pm
RadGreat break from work with friends
Gahugafuga - Sep 14, 2008 11:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2008
S FaceFun route. The crux traverse between gullies was saucy. But for my money, the N Ridge of Kit Carson is still the best non-technical climb in the Crestones.
shanrickv - Sep 7, 2008 5:10 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2008
Standard RouteWhat a beautiful and challenging mountain! Originally planned to do the traverse from Crestone Peak, but high winds pushed us do the east to west gulley on the Needle. Climbed with long time climbing partner, Alan. Went on to climb Humbolt Peak that evening in beautiful Sangre de Cristo weather.
Asphazell - Sep 2, 2008 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
Standard routeI never thought I would climb this peak when I first saw it on Roach's 14ers book. I have come a long way since then. The rock is outstanding and exhilerating! Excellent holds made this a pure joy! I'll be back for the Arete!
alpspitze - Aug 13, 2008 12:59 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2008
Standard RouteThis is one that I have been looking forward to for a long time. Had the mountain to myself. Started at 6am and summited at 8am.
myrone - Jul 19, 2008 9:58 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2008
Crestone Needle via Upper S. Colony THStarted up at 6:25AM. Route finding isn't the easiest on this peak, but prevailed with help from friends I met along the way; reached summit at 10:25. Rising clouds socked-in a good portion of the views from the summit. Started back down at 10:45 and back to the TH at 2:08PM as it started to rain. My 41st 14'er...sweet!!
Sierra Ledge Rat - Jul 18, 2008 12:32 am
1990: S FaceWith Duane "Buzz" Inderdahl
astrobassman - Mar 20, 2008 8:06 pm
Beautiful MountainI will return and try the traverse and/or a different route some day.
MountainHikerCO - Feb 12, 2008 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2007
Third TimeThis was my third time climbing the Needle. We went the standard route via Broken Hand Pass from South Colony Lakes.
MountainHikerCO - Feb 12, 2008 9:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 1991
Standard RouteThis was my first climb of the Needle. We went the standard route via Broken Hand Pass from South Colony Lakes.
tomlauren - Feb 3, 2008 7:46 am Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2007
Crestone TraverseFrom camp at Cottonwood Creek, climbed the South Face of Crestone Peak, performed the traverse to Crestone Needle, then descended the Needle's South Face back to camp. This was the final of the Four Great Fourteener Traverses for me. I thought that route-finding on this traverse was the most difficult of the four, especially near the Black Gendarme. I stayed on the summit for only 30 seconds due to a nasty storm cloud hovering directly overhead.
AltitudeSickness - Dec 20, 2007 12:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2006
Route Climbed: South Face: East Gully, off routeStarted out as an early morning hike up to Broken Hand Pass for a bite of breakfast at sunrise because the rest of my crew decided not to climb that day. One member of my crew joined me about an hour after the sun came up and we decided to make a summit attempt. We pushed up the East Gully and were off route because the difficulty exceeded the trip reports assessment of it being class 3 & 4. We continued on up for several hundred feet on some loose cobblestone. I pulled off a piece twice during the climb. Quite scary for me. I nearly decided to call it off. After gathering my wits, pushed on to the summit. Was so glad I did. What a wonderful climb. Even though we were off route we both enjoyed it a great deal. The mountain goats made us feel bad by how easy they made the climb look. Fantastic day, elated at the end.
cavufool - Dec 14, 2007 6:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2007
Peak to Needle TraverseSuch a fun route. We ascended the Red Couloir after waiting 3 days for the weather to be favorable. The last part of climbing the Needle was a blast and required some difficult route finding because visibility was down to ~20 feet. An absolutely stellar mountain.
MattGreene - Dec 1, 2007 9:16 pm
TraverseI started before first light so I could complete the traverse to the Needle and be off the mountain by early afternoon. Fortunately I was successful and back in camp before noon, because wicked thunderstorms rolled in and unleased rain and electricity from 12 to 2. I know of at least one climbing party that would've been in the thick of things if they'd stuck to their original schedule. I thought of them all afternoon, but still don't know if they turned around or pressed through the storm.