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!
BLong - Sep 4, 2010 10:38 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2010
Ellingwood Arete
Great trip up the fun & exposed Ellingwood Arete route
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!
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
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!
Alan Ellis - Mar 10, 2010 10:11 pm
Re: Ellingwood AreteI'm interested in your "Epic." What happened? Thanks.
AE
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.