Sarah Simon - Jul 21, 2014 9:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2014
S Colony - Broken Hand - Red Gully, w/ E Crestone
Loved everything about this peak except the dual ascents of Broken Hand Pass - never a favorite in my book. Still a bit of snow that I kick-stepped up and used my ax on the way down. Easy route finding - MUCH easier than the Needle. Scooted over to East Crestone afterward, it's only about an 8 minute round-trip on fairly easy terrain. Proud of Mikey for tackling this as his 1st 14er, even if I think he had visions of killing me in his head during the re-ascent of Broken Hand Pass. ;) Hehehehe.
Kevintheclimber - Dec 31, 2013 5:37 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2012
insane
We got lost along the way. Went off route. No equipment. Luckily the weather was perfect.
Didnt see a single soul. We used cottonwood trail....bushwhacking at its finest
DanielL - Oct 5, 2013 10:46 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2011
Red Gully to Traverse
Great climb up Red Gully, then went on to traverse to the Needle. Probably my favorite climb of all time!
Gareth - Sep 3, 2013 5:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2013
Red Gully
After having climbed Crestone Needle back on Labor Day 2004, nine years later, on the same weekend, I came back and completed the pair. Crestone Peak is a neat mountain, but I have to say that I liked Crestone Needle better. I'd hate to be in the Red Gully if the rock was wet! I had forgotten what a pain Broken Hand Pass was.
morethanreal - Sep 3, 2013 5:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2013
First time in Colorado
The Red Gully is much longer than expected!
pacojgarza - Aug 16, 2013 10:12 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2013
first time on the peak
Had nice weather that made for a great time getting to this summit via the red gully after a wet hike to So. Colony lake the previous evening. It was the first of 20 peaks that I summited on my 14 day peakbagging trip.
cftbq - Aug 10, 2013 8:54 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2013
Red Gully
A return climb by the standard route, with two new climbing partners. No one else on the mountain, summit fogged in by the time we got there. Just made it back down to Cottonwood Lake before rain and graupel hit! Very satisfying.
Fun and relatively easy climb up the red gully to the saddle. Easy scambling to the peak and East Crestone. Cottonwood Creek trail was semi-bushwhacking but very scenic with many waterfalls. We camped near treeline just before it got steep and it was a good decision. Could be done as a day trip with good weather (13 miles RT)
MarkDidier - Oct 24, 2012 8:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2012
Via Broken Hand Pass and Red Gully
I really enjoyed this peak. We backpacked in to South Colony Lakes. The climb up Broken Hand Pass was the toughest part of the day - too much scree!!! The red gully was a lot of fun, and the final scramble up the ridge crest wasn't all that exposed. While definitely a tough day, it wasn't as difficult as advertised.
milan - Oct 21, 2012 5:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2012
Great
After a day on Culebra, this mountain hit the spot! Beautiful, fun, the Red Gully was relentless.
with Faith. Arrived night before & set up camp slightly lower than lower lake (~11,600'). Rain during hike in reminded me of previous attempt, where we got shut down by rain (&had one of my most miserable camping experiences (& Faith's worst) ever), & made me nervous. Hard to sleep night before.
Left @ 5.23. Started climbing @ 8.00. Started on R-side off-width that Rich had been nagging me to do ever since he did it. Full-value, & kicked my ass (although it was short- ~15'), but got through it w/o hanging. Major scrapes on my R leg, as had shorts on... Rest of climb easier but fun- great combo of face & cracks!
Rock was mostly quite solid, & delightful to climb on! Not as runout as the Prow. Belay ledges comfy & spacious too (except for P2 belay- 195' above belay 1). Belayed 4 pitches & simul'ed rest. I led pitched-out stuff. Topped out on climb @ 13.15. Faith feeling shitty from cold & didn't like the look of remainder of climb to summit (& questionable weather).
I took off up N buttress alone @ 13.32. Fun to top of tower- class 4 traversing to notch exposed & OUTRAGEOUS!! Stoked to put it behind me (until way down...). Chill & fun from notch.
Summited @ 14.22. Great views- Crestones, Sierra Blanca, Pikes, Kit Carson, sand dunes, ... Left summit @ 14.41.
Summited E summit @ 14.49. Left @ 14.55. Drop-offs from E summit ridiculous!
Back where I left Faith (13,540') an hour later. Packed up our stuff & took off. Enjoyed sunny, blessed late afternoon descent. Back @ camp @ 18.54. LONG but GREAT day!!
Ken Dammen - Aug 15, 2012 12:01 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2012
Red gulley via broken hand pass
Climbed class 3 red gulley route with Dustin. Fun route with a little fun exposed scramble at the finish. Wear your helmet on this one.
I like it on top - Jul 24, 2012 1:10 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2012
Red Gulley
Great climb up the red gulley and beautiful summit.
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.
Sarah Simon - Jul 21, 2014 9:22 am Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2014
S Colony - Broken Hand - Red Gully, w/ E CrestoneLoved everything about this peak except the dual ascents of Broken Hand Pass - never a favorite in my book. Still a bit of snow that I kick-stepped up and used my ax on the way down. Easy route finding - MUCH easier than the Needle. Scooted over to East Crestone afterward, it's only about an 8 minute round-trip on fairly easy terrain. Proud of Mikey for tackling this as his 1st 14er, even if I think he had visions of killing me in his head during the re-ascent of Broken Hand Pass. ;) Hehehehe.
Kevintheclimber - Dec 31, 2013 5:37 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2012
insaneWe got lost along the way. Went off route. No equipment. Luckily the weather was perfect.
Didnt see a single soul. We used cottonwood trail....bushwhacking at its finest
MadGrad96 - Nov 1, 2013 7:50 am
Crestone PeakStandard route
DanielL - Oct 5, 2013 10:46 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2011
Red Gully to TraverseGreat climb up Red Gully, then went on to traverse to the Needle. Probably my favorite climb of all time!
Gareth - Sep 3, 2013 5:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2013
Red GullyAfter having climbed Crestone Needle back on Labor Day 2004, nine years later, on the same weekend, I came back and completed the pair. Crestone Peak is a neat mountain, but I have to say that I liked Crestone Needle better. I'd hate to be in the Red Gully if the rock was wet! I had forgotten what a pain Broken Hand Pass was.
morethanreal - Sep 3, 2013 5:17 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2013
First time in ColoradoThe Red Gully is much longer than expected!
pacojgarza - Aug 16, 2013 10:12 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2013
first time on the peakHad nice weather that made for a great time getting to this summit via the red gully after a wet hike to So. Colony lake the previous evening. It was the first of 20 peaks that I summited on my 14 day peakbagging trip.
cftbq - Aug 10, 2013 8:54 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2013
Red GullyA return climb by the standard route, with two new climbing partners. No one else on the mountain, summit fogged in by the time we got there. Just made it back down to Cottonwood Lake before rain and graupel hit! Very satisfying.
Trailboss88 - Jul 20, 2013 1:12 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2013
via Cottonwood CreekFun and relatively easy climb up the red gully to the saddle. Easy scambling to the peak and East Crestone. Cottonwood Creek trail was semi-bushwhacking but very scenic with many waterfalls. We camped near treeline just before it got steep and it was a good decision. Could be done as a day trip with good weather (13 miles RT)
MarkDidier - Oct 24, 2012 8:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2012
Via Broken Hand Pass and Red GullyI really enjoyed this peak. We backpacked in to South Colony Lakes. The climb up Broken Hand Pass was the toughest part of the day - too much scree!!! The red gully was a lot of fun, and the final scramble up the ridge crest wasn't all that exposed. While definitely a tough day, it wasn't as difficult as advertised.
milan - Oct 21, 2012 5:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2012
GreatAfter a day on Culebra, this mountain hit the spot! Beautiful, fun, the Red Gully was relentless.
Diggler - Sep 29, 2012 8:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2012
North Pillar, North Buttresswith Faith. Arrived night before & set up camp slightly lower than lower lake (~11,600'). Rain during hike in reminded me of previous attempt, where we got shut down by rain (&had one of my most miserable camping experiences (& Faith's worst) ever), & made me nervous. Hard to sleep night before.
Left @ 5.23. Started climbing @ 8.00. Started on R-side off-width that Rich had been nagging me to do ever since he did it. Full-value, & kicked my ass (although it was short- ~15'), but got through it w/o hanging. Major scrapes on my R leg, as had shorts on... Rest of climb easier but fun- great combo of face & cracks!
Rock was mostly quite solid, & delightful to climb on! Not as runout as the Prow. Belay ledges comfy & spacious too (except for P2 belay- 195' above belay 1). Belayed 4 pitches & simul'ed rest. I led pitched-out stuff. Topped out on climb @ 13.15. Faith feeling shitty from cold & didn't like the look of remainder of climb to summit (& questionable weather).
I took off up N buttress alone @ 13.32. Fun to top of tower- class 4 traversing to notch exposed & OUTRAGEOUS!! Stoked to put it behind me (until way down...). Chill & fun from notch.
Summited @ 14.22. Great views- Crestones, Sierra Blanca, Pikes, Kit Carson, sand dunes, ... Left summit @ 14.41.
Summited E summit @ 14.49. Left @ 14.55. Drop-offs from E summit ridiculous!
Back where I left Faith (13,540') an hour later. Packed up our stuff & took off. Enjoyed sunny, blessed late afternoon descent. Back @ camp @ 18.54. LONG but GREAT day!!
Ken Dammen - Aug 15, 2012 12:01 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2012
Red gulley via broken hand passClimbed class 3 red gulley route with Dustin. Fun route with a little fun exposed scramble at the finish. Wear your helmet on this one.
I like it on top - Jul 24, 2012 1:10 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2012
Red GulleyGreat climb up the red gulley and beautiful summit.
blueshade - Jul 6, 2012 9:01 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 4:09 pm
Up I Go6/21/12 Climbing Ellingwood Ledges to the Needle. Needle to Peak
Pete Castricone - May 31, 2012 3:32 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2012
Peak to NeedleThe Crestones...I finally found something that beats Snowmass as the worst 14er in Colorado.
JakeCO - Apr 10, 2012 12:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2011
SW GullyCamped at Lower S. Colony Lake (windy), Climbed snow over Broken hand pass and up the SW gully, gorgeous day, perfect weekend!
DerekFreed - Apr 3, 2012 2:30 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2010
Red GullyStandard route from camp at the old 4WD TH. Nice route, but still prefer Crestone Needle's standard route.
xpda - Oct 29, 2011 12:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 1996
Crestone PeakClimbed wrong peak, backtracked 900' vertical.