We made the short approach and camped at the upper South Colony Lake. Then up to the ridge and up the NW Gully. Then down the red gully and over Broken Hand Pass to make a loop of it. Nice area and an interesting route. Steep, but never scary steep.
skorpeo - Aug 29, 2010 12:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2010
From new parking lot
Thirteen hours from new parking lot. My partner, Paul could have easily taken 3-4 hours off that time.
From the saddle to the summit was a bit airy, but fun.
metal4lyf - Aug 16, 2010 11:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
N Buttress
The North Buttress is an amazing route and a great preparation for the Peak-to-Needle traverse (which is easier in my opinion than the crux of the buttress). Incredible!
Awesome Climb, Missed out on the exposure, we were climbing in mostly fog and cloud cover, lite hail. Definately an experience. Hope to do the needle soon.
Eric Holle - Jun 7, 2010 2:52 pm Date Climbed: May 21, 2010
South Couloir
This was a great snow climb from South Colony Lakes. On our way back to Broken Hand Pass, we climbed Crestolita as well.
theREALCarpeDM - Apr 8, 2010 5:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
Climbing Crestone Peak was very memorable for me, since it was my last of the 14ers in Colorado. I hiked up the South Face from Cottonwood Creek in September of 2003.
JB99 - Dec 9, 2009 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2009
Had a fine day; first the Needle, then back to Cottonwood Lake and around for my second try of the trip. With weather threatening, I made it from the big cairn at the bottom to the summit in 1:09 - zoom! I was quite pleased. BTW, the class 4 traverse to the East Summit that Roach describes is actually a class 2+ walkup.
Red Gully from S Colony Lakes to 214' vertical feet from the saddle and then thunder went BOOM! And we went bye-bye.
seano - Sep 7, 2009 9:26 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2009
Red Gully
Cruiser class 2-3, with a Colorado Fourteener Interstate to the base. Nice peak.
RMdaytripsgrl - Aug 14, 2009 11:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2009
This time via Traverse
Did the West summit last month, but had some unfinished business. This time we did the East summit from the traverse from the Needle. Descent of the NW couloir. (A LITTLE BETA: Save the NW couloir for a nice snow climb folks. It's about half class 4 and a loose pile of SH_T at this time of year - I had to be on belay for 2/3 of it as I am not a pro down-climber on loose, wet class 4!!! Toss in an ice field right where you must cross to the exit too, an axe AND belay was needed to safely cross w/o crampons)
rocketsredglare - Aug 10, 2009 1:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2009
Broken CO cherry
One of the best days in the mountains I have had. The Red Gully is a definite climb, this is not an easy one and it definitely gives you some exposure! The summit is a beauty and the climb down and out is not as bad as you think coming up :)
Started at 10 and out by 7 going pretty easy and waiting for my party for an hour and a half. Ran the last 2-3 miles out. PERFECT!!
strudolyubov - Aug 2, 2009 12:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2009
Red Gully
Climbed Crestone Peak (both W and E summits) via Red Gully after climbing the Needle earlier in the morning. Perfect weather, awesome views!
mattpayne11 - Jul 28, 2009 1:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2009
rockymountaindiva - Oct 11, 2010 12:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
Another foggy summitHappy to get this one after the miserable slog up Cottonwood Creek!
Flyingclimber - Oct 5, 2010 8:39 pm
3 in one almost fourCrestone Needle, Peak, Humbolt
mirhash - Sep 7, 2010 10:50 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2010
The Peak from Cottonwood CreekTried to make the peak to needle traverse but had to bail due to nil visibility
ericnoel - Sep 6, 2010 4:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2010
Crestone and East CrestoneWe made the short approach and camped at the upper South Colony Lake. Then up to the ridge and up the NW Gully. Then down the red gully and over Broken Hand Pass to make a loop of it. Nice area and an interesting route. Steep, but never scary steep.
skorpeo - Aug 29, 2010 12:34 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2010
From new parking lotThirteen hours from new parking lot. My partner, Paul could have easily taken 3-4 hours off that time.
From the saddle to the summit was a bit airy, but fun.
metal4lyf - Aug 16, 2010 11:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2010
N ButtressThe North Buttress is an amazing route and a great preparation for the Peak-to-Needle traverse (which is easier in my opinion than the crux of the buttress). Incredible!
BGL84 - Jul 4, 2010 9:34 pm
Red CouloirAwesome Climb, Missed out on the exposure, we were climbing in mostly fog and cloud cover, lite hail. Definately an experience. Hope to do the needle soon.
Eric Holle - Jun 7, 2010 2:52 pm Date Climbed: May 21, 2010
South CouloirThis was a great snow climb from South Colony Lakes. On our way back to Broken Hand Pass, we climbed Crestolita as well.
theREALCarpeDM - Apr 8, 2010 5:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
Red GullyLove the Sangres!
utclimber - Mar 28, 2010 4:00 pm
Final 14erClimbing Crestone Peak was very memorable for me, since it was my last of the 14ers in Colorado. I hiked up the South Face from Cottonwood Creek in September of 2003.
JB99 - Dec 9, 2009 4:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2009
Climbed with my little brotherhttp://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=6600&parmuser=JB99&cpgm=tripuser
pyerger - Dec 4, 2009 1:08 pm
south face x3I have climbed this a few times Great scramble up the south face. Did the traverse, from peak to needle once.
Darren9 - Nov 7, 2009 1:28 am
Red Couloir rocksOne of my first real couloir climbs and very fun. Part of guides training for WSC in Gunnison
ElliottDavis - Sep 17, 2009 2:31 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2009
Second time's a charmHad a fine day; first the Needle, then back to Cottonwood Lake and around for my second try of the trip. With weather threatening, I made it from the big cairn at the bottom to the summit in 1:09 - zoom! I was quite pleased. BTW, the class 4 traverse to the East Summit that Roach describes is actually a class 2+ walkup.
ElliottDavis - Sep 17, 2009 2:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2009
hail and thunderRed Gully from S Colony Lakes to 214' vertical feet from the saddle and then thunder went BOOM! And we went bye-bye.
seano - Sep 7, 2009 9:26 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2009
Red GullyCruiser class 2-3, with a Colorado Fourteener Interstate to the base. Nice peak.
RMdaytripsgrl - Aug 14, 2009 11:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2009
This time via TraverseDid the West summit last month, but had some unfinished business. This time we did the East summit from the traverse from the Needle. Descent of the NW couloir. (A LITTLE BETA: Save the NW couloir for a nice snow climb folks. It's about half class 4 and a loose pile of SH_T at this time of year - I had to be on belay for 2/3 of it as I am not a pro down-climber on loose, wet class 4!!! Toss in an ice field right where you must cross to the exit too, an axe AND belay was needed to safely cross w/o crampons)
rocketsredglare - Aug 10, 2009 1:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2009
Broken CO cherryOne of the best days in the mountains I have had. The Red Gully is a definite climb, this is not an easy one and it definitely gives you some exposure! The summit is a beauty and the climb down and out is not as bad as you think coming up :)
Started at 10 and out by 7 going pretty easy and waiting for my party for an hour and a half. Ran the last 2-3 miles out. PERFECT!!
strudolyubov - Aug 2, 2009 12:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2009
Red GullyClimbed Crestone Peak (both W and E summits) via Red Gully after climbing the Needle earlier in the morning. Perfect weather, awesome views!
mattpayne11 - Jul 28, 2009 1:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2009
Red GullyVia Cottonwood Creek TH.