metal4lyf - Aug 16, 2010 11:10 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
Peak-to-Needle
We took our time route-finding on a sunny day and completed the traverse in 3 hours with no problems. Trip reports and route descriptions are invaluable. Amazing traverse!
Sarah Simon - Aug 15, 2010 10:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2010
Standard Route / South Face Gullies
We headed to S. Colony Lakes to attempt the Ellingwood Arete, but the weather did not look promising, so we opted for the standard route, instead. Honestly, as fantastic as the Arete would have been, I have zero regrets. This standard route was (mostly) solid and fun. The worst part, in my mind, was that dreadful ascent of Broken Hand Pass, especially since the monsoons caused the massive rockfall. Dynamite day, fantastic peak.
belexes - Aug 2, 2010 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2010
South Colony/South Gully
I climbed the Needle with my hiking buddy, Sandy. The original goal was Crestone Peak, but I neglected to bring my Roach 14ers book with me, so we wandered around looking for the route to the Peak before giving up on that and going up the Needle instead. We were not disappointed. It was good to get in some class 3 scrambling. The views were great, and though the weather was pretty lousy the previous days, it was fine when we were up there. Unfortunately, we learned later that a couple from Texas died in a fall from the Needle a few days prior. Custer County SAR sent in helicopters to Upper Colony Lake to recover the bodies, just as we were breaking camp at Lower Colony Lake after the climb.
Alex Wood - Jul 31, 2010 12:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2010
Beautiful Summit
We had planned on doing the traverse (Needle to Peak). We had brought rope and basic rock gear, but we got a little later of a start then we had planned (left South Colony at 6). I had picked up a bug from a few days ago and it got worse on the ascent. That and the weather forced us opt out on the traverse. The Needle was an amazing summit! The approach was incredible! 14er number 18!
Climbed up the east gully towards the summit via the dihedral. Great ramp exiting the east gully near the summit! Back down the west gully w/traverse to east gully. That rock is a lot of fun!
I'm interested in your "Epic." What happened? Thanks.
AE
seano - Sep 7, 2009 9:15 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2009
from Peak
Fun class 3 knobs. You drop down surprisingly far to start (13,700'?).
Ingman - Aug 16, 2009 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
via Ellingwood Arete
w/ B. Gibbs & C. Treiber
Camp: 6:45am Summit: 10:40am
Very high winds rejected our planned traverse to Crestone Peak. Descended the standard route. Ellingwood arete is amazing!
RMdaytripsgrl - Aug 14, 2009 11:44 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2009
Love the Needle!
Standard route up from S. Colony Lakes camp w/Chad, made it in 3.0 hours flat - what a fun climb! Traversed to Peak. Did the East summit this time since we did the West summit last month. Descent of NW Couloir route.
strudolyubov - Aug 2, 2009 1:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2009
Standard Route and Ellingwood Arete
Climbed the Needle via standard route from South Colony Lakes. Ascended steeper east gully and descended via west gully route. There was still some water running in the middle of the east gully. Great weather, incredible views!
08/17/2013: Climbed Ellingwood Ledges route with Ryan. Nice rock, beautiful setting, - classic!
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.
metal4lyf - Aug 16, 2010 11:10 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
Peak-to-NeedleWe took our time route-finding on a sunny day and completed the traverse in 3 hours with no problems. Trip reports and route descriptions are invaluable. Amazing traverse!
Sarah Simon - Aug 15, 2010 10:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2010
Standard Route / South Face GulliesWe headed to S. Colony Lakes to attempt the Ellingwood Arete, but the weather did not look promising, so we opted for the standard route, instead. Honestly, as fantastic as the Arete would have been, I have zero regrets. This standard route was (mostly) solid and fun. The worst part, in my mind, was that dreadful ascent of Broken Hand Pass, especially since the monsoons caused the massive rockfall. Dynamite day, fantastic peak.
belexes - Aug 2, 2010 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2010
South Colony/South GullyI climbed the Needle with my hiking buddy, Sandy. The original goal was Crestone Peak, but I neglected to bring my Roach 14ers book with me, so we wandered around looking for the route to the Peak before giving up on that and going up the Needle instead. We were not disappointed. It was good to get in some class 3 scrambling. The views were great, and though the weather was pretty lousy the previous days, it was fine when we were up there. Unfortunately, we learned later that a couple from Texas died in a fall from the Needle a few days prior. Custer County SAR sent in helicopters to Upper Colony Lake to recover the bodies, just as we were breaking camp at Lower Colony Lake after the climb.
Alex Wood - Jul 31, 2010 12:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2010
Beautiful SummitWe had planned on doing the traverse (Needle to Peak). We had brought rope and basic rock gear, but we got a little later of a start then we had planned (left South Colony at 6). I had picked up a bug from a few days ago and it got worse on the ascent. That and the weather forced us opt out on the traverse. The Needle was an amazing summit! The approach was incredible! 14er number 18!
utclimber - May 18, 2010 8:35 pm
Fun ScrambleThis is a great route. I don't remember exactly when I climbed Crestone Needle, but it was around 1997.
theREALCarpeDM - Apr 8, 2010 6:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2009
A favorite!I love the Sangres!
JB99 - Dec 9, 2009 4:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2009
Good timeshttp://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=7157&parmpeak=Crestone+Needle&cpgm=tripmain&ski=Include
Darren9 - Nov 7, 2009 1:33 am
love the needleClimbed during guides training in 1999. Has always been one of my most favorite CO 14ers.
VermontMike - Sep 23, 2009 2:44 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2009
Standard Route variationClimbed up the east gully towards the summit via the dihedral. Great ramp exiting the east gully near the summit! Back down the west gully w/traverse to east gully. That rock is a lot of fun!
ElliottDavis - Sep 17, 2009 2:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2009
Standard RouteSo good. Thrilling.yhnnh
"yhnnh" was typed by my cat. She likes to say her piece sometimes.
heather14 - Sep 7, 2009 8:55 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2009
Ellingwood AreteWe did the direct start to the arete. Turned into an epic.
Alan Ellis - Mar 10, 2010 10:11 pm
Re: Ellingwood AreteI'm interested in your "Epic." What happened? Thanks.
AE
seano - Sep 7, 2009 9:15 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2009
from PeakFun class 3 knobs. You drop down surprisingly far to start (13,700'?).
Ingman - Aug 16, 2009 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
via Ellingwood Aretew/ B. Gibbs & C. Treiber
Camp: 6:45am Summit: 10:40am
Very high winds rejected our planned traverse to Crestone Peak. Descended the standard route. Ellingwood arete is amazing!
RMdaytripsgrl - Aug 14, 2009 11:44 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2009
Love the Needle!Standard route up from S. Colony Lakes camp w/Chad, made it in 3.0 hours flat - what a fun climb! Traversed to Peak. Did the East summit this time since we did the West summit last month. Descent of NW Couloir route.
strudolyubov - Aug 2, 2009 1:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2009
Standard Route and Ellingwood AreteClimbed the Needle via standard route from South Colony Lakes. Ascended steeper east gully and descended via west gully route. There was still some water running in the middle of the east gully. Great weather, incredible views!
08/17/2013: Climbed Ellingwood Ledges route with Ryan. Nice rock, beautiful setting, - classic!
pyerger - Jul 30, 2009 3:12 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2007
the needleClimbed this a couple of times, great scramble.
Alan Ellis - Jul 29, 2009 7:20 am Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2009
2nd Time on the AreteLucky we had good weather. :)
Thanks to Jackie, Andy, and Fabio for a great day.
mattpayne11 - Jul 28, 2009 1:50 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2009
Standard RouteAwesome mountain. Much easier than advertised.
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.