Route Climbed: South Colony/South Slopes Date Climbed: March 21, 2005
My wife and I started at 5am and reached the summit at 2pm. We followed the road for about 5 miles and then headed up the south slopes. The weather was wonderful all day, but unfortunately we did not bring our sunscreen (stupid) and are now terribly sunburned. Well, a lesson learned.
The sky was perfectly clear and we had wonderful views of the Crestones, etc.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 7, 1979
This was my second 14er. We backpacked up the Colony Lakes road from where we parked the car the day before, and choked down a crappy dinner of freeze-dried lasagne (the meatballs tasted like dogfood! - They sure have improved over the years). Then we headed up the standard route; I now understood the term "false summit" since there seemed to be dozens along the route. At least the awesome views of the Crestones took our minds off of them. I was impressed by the dropoff to the north along this route. It was a great day and we had the enire mountain to ourselves.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: June 17, 2000
Started out from the South Colony Lake 4WD trailhead, and hiked in clouds for most of the trip. We ended up on the false summit until the clouds cleared and we saw the real summit. The CFI trail was nice, although it added additional time to the route.
The road to the trailhead was rough, but we were able to do the 4.5 miles in about 2 hours or so.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: 2 Oct 2004
This was a consolation prize for the weekend. Our goal was the Crestone Peak - Needle Traverse and then Humboldt the following day. The winter weather that moved in late in the week helped postpone that goal. We tried to gain the summit of the Peak only to turn back at 13,800 due to the conditions. A quick trip up Humboldt and back to camp capped a 10 hour day. The area is beautiful and wasn't crowded due to the weather with only several day hikers and a few camping groups. The road in was rough but not bad in a Toyota Tacoma. We'll be back for another try.
Route Climbed: Rainbow Trail-East Ridge Date Climbed: September 30, 2004
14er #14. De ja vu of my snowstorm hike on Huron 10 days ago. More wind and fog than snow this time though. As usual, my view was very limited, but I did get to see the Crestones later in my hike down (the standard west route). Note: the summit log container was broken and no paper/pen to be found. Thus, not able to sign in there...
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: June 26, 2004
Went to climb this the afternoon after climbing Crestone Needle. We left camp at about 1:30pm and started hiking up the long switchbacks to the ridge right into a fun graupel storm. There was a big trail crew working and they all decided to go down due to weather and tried to convince us to go down as well. We continued up and the weather never really cleared but never produced any lightning just more graupel. 2nd summit of the day with no view at all.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 27, 2002
Crestone Needle and Humboldt in a day is a grunt! Especially when you start near the 2WD trailhead.... This was the day that I took this special shot of Humboldt from Crestone Needle's summit. A trip report is available here.
Route Climbed: Kit Carson - Cottonwood Date Climbed: Aug. 2, 2003
Started at 6 AM from the Willow Creek trailhead in Crestone, traversed Challenger, Kit Carson and Columbia before reaching Humboldt at 1:50 PM. Descended to the lake and up Broken Hand pass but by now it was raining and there was distant thunder so I bailed on my attempt to bag the Crestones (I climbed them last year anyway) and bushwacked down Cottonwood creek to the road about 6 PM. I jogged about 2 of the 7 miles back to my car before getting a ride.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 1998
Again, this one was a few years ago. I climbed it with Boy Scout Troop 122 out of Los Alamos, NM - and about the only thing I remember was being absolutely floored by the views of the Crestones
Route Climbed: Upper Colony Lake/ Ridge Date Climbed: June 2003
A much easier climb than the Crestone Twins. As you ascend, watch for false cairns. I did not, and ended up on the North Face, from which i followed to the summit. It was not too bad, but the actual route is much easier. We cached axes and such on the ridge,(due to snow) and a buddy left a backpack, which was torn to pieces by marmots, so heads up.
Route Climbed: three 14ers Date Climbed: Augest 10, 2001
I climbed all three of the local 14ers this day in one long hard push. Real hardmen can add in Kit Carson too, but, ah well, maybe next time.
Did a wierd variation up a sketchy couloir on the SE face of the Needle, then traversed to Crestone Peak summit --- also sketchy in places; couldn't see the simple ridge route the guide described (need better guide!) -- and then slogged up Humboldt, which is the least interesting in terms of climbing, but a nice relaxing grind to end the day. Started at 530am, got down by 130 to avoid lingering monsoon weather.
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 1, 2003
Started very early to beat the daily crowds. Summited at 7:30 am and had the entire mountain to myself. This is a nice day hike and warm up for the big peaks nearby. Views of the Crestones and the Sangres are the icing.
Route Climbed: Standard West Ridge Date Climbed: 1996
Humbolt Peak couldn't be a more perfect introdction to the spectacular Sangre's. The view of the Crestones will blow you away. This peak will also inspire you to keep climbing away.
doumall - Jul 13, 2005 3:09 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August, 28 200436th 14er!
mdavenport2 - May 25, 2005 10:06 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: September 19, 1998Climbed with my son on a windy day. Backpack into South Colony Lakes and stayed one night. Want to go back soon.
georgbetsy - Mar 24, 2005 12:28 am
Route Climbed: South Colony/South Slopes Date Climbed: March 21, 2005My wife and I started at 5am and reached the summit at 2pm. We followed the road for about 5 miles and then headed up the south slopes. The weather was wonderful all day, but unfortunately we did not bring our sunscreen (stupid) and are now terribly sunburned. Well, a lesson learned.
The sky was perfectly clear and we had wonderful views of the Crestones, etc.
ColoradoScott - Feb 4, 2005 12:01 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 7, 1979This was my second 14er. We backpacked up the Colony Lakes road from where we parked the car the day before, and choked down a crappy dinner of freeze-dried lasagne (the meatballs tasted like dogfood! - They sure have improved over the years). Then we headed up the standard route; I now understood the term "false summit" since there seemed to be dozens along the route. At least the awesome views of the Crestones took our minds off of them. I was impressed by the dropoff to the north along this route. It was a great day and we had the enire mountain to ourselves.
Richrat - Jan 30, 2005 8:56 pm
Route Climbed: South Colony Lakes Trail Date Climbed: May 2002This was the most wind I have ever encountered. It made a class 1 mountain much more difficult.
bakcast - Nov 17, 2004 9:51 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: Summer 1996My first Fourteener...and first solo mountain....I can remember thinking that I wasn't going to make it.
mr_g - Oct 12, 2004 9:57 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: June 17, 2000Started out from the South Colony Lake 4WD trailhead, and hiked in clouds for most of the trip. We ended up on the false summit until the clouds cleared and we saw the real summit. The CFI trail was nice, although it added additional time to the route.
The road to the trailhead was rough, but we were able to do the 4.5 miles in about 2 hours or so.
Haliku - Oct 3, 2004 10:00 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: 2 Oct 2004This was a consolation prize for the weekend. Our goal was the Crestone Peak - Needle Traverse and then Humboldt the following day. The winter weather that moved in late in the week helped postpone that goal. We tried to gain the summit of the Peak only to turn back at 13,800 due to the conditions. A quick trip up Humboldt and back to camp capped a 10 hour day. The area is beautiful and wasn't crowded due to the weather with only several day hikers and a few camping groups. The road in was rough but not bad in a Toyota Tacoma. We'll be back for another try.
Brad Snider - Oct 1, 2004 12:02 am
Route Climbed: Rainbow Trail-East Ridge Date Climbed: September 30, 200414er #14. De ja vu of my snowstorm hike on Huron 10 days ago. More wind and fog than snow this time though. As usual, my view was very limited, but I did get to see the Crestones later in my hike down (the standard west route). Note: the summit log container was broken and no paper/pen to be found. Thus, not able to sign in there...
Saintgrizzly - Aug 11, 2004 12:43 am
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: July, 1984Easy mountain, but nice. Climbed with Aaron and Mark. Wonderful view of the more "precipitous" Sangres from the top.
xskier77 - Jun 27, 2004 3:06 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: June 26, 2004Went to climb this the afternoon after climbing Crestone Needle. We left camp at about 1:30pm and started hiking up the long switchbacks to the ridge right into a fun graupel storm. There was a big trail crew working and they all decided to go down due to weather and tried to convince us to go down as well. We continued up and the weather never really cleared but never produced any lightning just more graupel. 2nd summit of the day with no view at all.
RyanS - Apr 12, 2004 12:16 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 27, 2002Crestone Needle and Humboldt in a day is a grunt! Especially when you start near the 2WD trailhead.... This was the day that I took this special shot of Humboldt from Crestone Needle's summit. A trip report is available here.
Larry V - Apr 10, 2004 9:01 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 1997The climb was cold and windy, but not too long. The view from the summit and west ridge were well worth the effort. Second time to summit Humboldt.
Matt Mahoney - Feb 19, 2004 8:40 pm
Route Climbed: Kit Carson - Cottonwood Date Climbed: Aug. 2, 2003Started at 6 AM from the Willow Creek trailhead in Crestone, traversed Challenger, Kit Carson and Columbia before reaching Humboldt at 1:50 PM. Descended to the lake and up Broken Hand pass but by now it was raining and there was distant thunder so I bailed on my attempt to bag the Crestones (I climbed them last year anyway) and bushwacked down Cottonwood creek to the road about 6 PM. I jogged about 2 of the 7 miles back to my car before getting a ride.
sbkelley - Jan 25, 2004 12:55 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 1998Again, this one was a few years ago. I climbed it with Boy Scout Troop 122 out of Los Alamos, NM - and about the only thing I remember was being absolutely floored by the views of the Crestones
hhsilleck - Jan 10, 2004 7:21 pm
Route Climbed: West ridge Date Climbed: July 2001Nice views of the Crestones.
summiteer16 - Dec 2, 2003 9:00 am
Route Climbed: Upper Colony Lake/ Ridge Date Climbed: June 2003A much easier climb than the Crestone Twins. As you ascend, watch for false cairns. I did not, and ended up on the North Face, from which i followed to the summit. It was not too bad, but the actual route is much easier. We cached axes and such on the ridge,(due to snow) and a buddy left a backpack, which was torn to pieces by marmots, so heads up.
eckdoerry - Nov 28, 2003 11:48 am
Route Climbed: three 14ers Date Climbed: Augest 10, 2001I climbed all three of the local 14ers this day in one long hard push. Real hardmen can add in Kit Carson too, but, ah well, maybe next time.
Did a wierd variation up a sketchy couloir on the SE face of the Needle, then traversed to Crestone Peak summit --- also sketchy in places; couldn't see the simple ridge route the guide described (need better guide!) -- and then slogged up Humboldt, which is the least interesting in terms of climbing, but a nice relaxing grind to end the day. Started at 530am, got down by 130 to avoid lingering monsoon weather.
Alan Ellis - Aug 3, 2003 3:40 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Date Climbed: August 1, 2003Started very early to beat the daily crowds. Summited at 7:30 am and had the entire mountain to myself. This is a nice day hike and warm up for the big peaks nearby. Views of the Crestones and the Sangres are the icing.
Kane - May 27, 2003 7:06 pm
Route Climbed: Standard West Ridge Date Climbed: 1996Humbolt Peak couldn't be a more perfect introdction to the spectacular Sangre's. The view of the Crestones will blow you away. This peak will also inspire you to keep climbing away.