spannring29 - Oct 21, 2007 12:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2007
# 1
Favorite mountain to date. The route finding and scrambling were a blast.
chicagotransplant - Sep 17, 2007 10:14 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2007
Peak to Needle
Traversed Peak to Needle, lots of fun scrambling on the traverse, especially right below the summit. Descended the standard route, but withouth switching gullies, just stayed in the 'east gully', some nice 4th class in there!
Natasha - Aug 27, 2007 11:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2007
Standard Route
Beautiful day for an incredible mountain. Loved the class 3 scrambling and climbing. Can't wait to try Crestone Peak next!
matt81 - Aug 26, 2007 5:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
South Face
Continued on to the top via the east gully.
lizrdboy - Aug 2, 2007 9:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2007
South Face Route
We had to get up at 0500 to do it, but we managed to summit before the rain storms hit. Nice route. Solid rock and easy class 3 for the most part. Great climb!
Ascended via the Ellingwood's Ledges (standard route). Start time: 5am from the tent at the south lake. Peeked over at the direct start which ascends a right-facing corner- that way is definitly the way to go! Sheep were within 50' of us on the way up. Summitted at 1:30pm. Hit with full-on thunderstorm (lightening, hail, wind) on the descent of the hiking route at around 11,500'. Reached camp at 4pm. Warm sleeping bags were very welcoming! "Classic" + alpine= epic!
Scott Rogers - Jul 11, 2007 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2006
Awesome
The climb was completely dry and one of the best experiences I have ever had.
Old Ickabod - Jun 30, 2007 11:08 am Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Great Climb!
After summitting Crestone Peak from Cottonwood Lake, Summitridge and I made our way up the Needle from the pass. Great weather, minimal snow, and the downclimbing was a breeze.
bernardhohman - Jun 26, 2007 10:40 am Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Outstanding Standard Route
Old Ickabod and I enjoyed a great weather day as we bagged both Peak and Needle.
Eric Holle - May 9, 2007 11:40 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2007
South Couloir
Climbed the South Couloir with Tim and Ben. Such a sick route, amazing climb. Ben and I spent 12 days in the Sangres, and this was the best route we climbed the whole time!
Timothy Pearl - May 2, 2007 1:15 am Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2007
South
With Eric Holle and Ben. From South Colony via Broken Hand Pass. This is such a gorgeous route up the south of the Needle. There should be mention of this as a spring "couloir" route... I'll post it with a little motivation. Anyone?
Flex - Jan 21, 2007 10:37 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2006
S Face & Ellingwood Ledges Jul/06
2 couples and our dog on the 4th of July up the S Face, then up the Ellingwood the next day with Jeff K for my 32nd B-day!
boisedoc - Dec 17, 2006 4:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 1991
Great one
Very enjoyable scrambling on firm rock make this one of the best 14ers
BalletBoy - Nov 11, 2006 7:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
My Favorite 14'er
Rained and snowed the night before hiking to the summit. The nice conglomerate rock was covered in snow and ice forcing us to kick-in foot and toe holds. Warmed up upon descent which made it easier going. Great views of the Sand Dunes from the Summit. Search and rescue was out that day looking for a hiker from St. Louis that had disappeared several days before. Very interesting with all the helicopters around.
Outdoorpartner - Oct 5, 2006 5:33 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2006
Too much exposure
I was solo and turned around due to too much exposure and a broken GPS. I'll try again with some method to lower my pack down upon the descent.
tjchino - Sep 11, 2006 7:57 pm Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2005
South Face
Exciting climb with good friends.
CO PUMA - Sep 9, 2006 9:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Peak to Needle Traverse
This was a great climb. I loved the last class 4 pitch up to summit of the Needle. That rock was so solid and a blast to climb on. Most of our traverse was in super thick fog, so route finding was challenging but we made it over in under 3 hours from Crestone Peak. On our way down we met up with a SAR crew helping two 60 year old guys off a ledge above Cottonwood Lake. They had gotten stuck up there over night. Glad to hear they are ok though.
ktiffany22 - Sep 3, 2006 6:01 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2006
A long fun day
As my 35th 14er overall, I'd say that the Needle ranks in as 1 of my top 2 favorites! What a fun-filled day of climbing! Had so much fun and finished so early in the day that we went over and hiked Humboldt as well!
mmitten - Aug 20, 2006 2:26 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2006
Cottonwood / Spanish Creek access restriction!!
The Cottonwood Creek trailhead and the Spanish Creek trailhead both have no trespassing signs up that read "No Public Access to National Forest Land," and "Property of the Crestone Zen Monastery." See trip report.
spannring29 - Oct 21, 2007 12:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2007
# 1Favorite mountain to date. The route finding and scrambling were a blast.
chicagotransplant - Sep 17, 2007 10:14 am Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2007
Peak to NeedleTraversed Peak to Needle, lots of fun scrambling on the traverse, especially right below the summit. Descended the standard route, but withouth switching gullies, just stayed in the 'east gully', some nice 4th class in there!
dr_gonz - Sep 4, 2007 4:13 pm
needledid it from the traverse. wow. seriously... wow.
Natasha - Aug 27, 2007 11:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2007
Standard RouteBeautiful day for an incredible mountain. Loved the class 3 scrambling and climbing. Can't wait to try Crestone Peak next!
matt81 - Aug 26, 2007 5:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
South FaceContinued on to the top via the east gully.
lizrdboy - Aug 2, 2007 9:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2007
South Face RouteWe had to get up at 0500 to do it, but we managed to summit before the rain storms hit. Nice route. Solid rock and easy class 3 for the most part. Great climb!
ledavis23 - Jul 20, 2007 12:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2007
Epic!Ascended via the Ellingwood's Ledges (standard route). Start time: 5am from the tent at the south lake. Peeked over at the direct start which ascends a right-facing corner- that way is definitly the way to go! Sheep were within 50' of us on the way up. Summitted at 1:30pm. Hit with full-on thunderstorm (lightening, hail, wind) on the descent of the hiking route at around 11,500'. Reached camp at 4pm. Warm sleeping bags were very welcoming! "Classic" + alpine= epic!
Scott Rogers - Jul 11, 2007 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2006
AwesomeThe climb was completely dry and one of the best experiences I have ever had.
Old Ickabod - Jun 30, 2007 11:08 am Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Great Climb!After summitting Crestone Peak from Cottonwood Lake, Summitridge and I made our way up the Needle from the pass. Great weather, minimal snow, and the downclimbing was a breeze.
bernardhohman - Jun 26, 2007 10:40 am Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
Outstanding Standard RouteOld Ickabod and I enjoyed a great weather day as we bagged both Peak and Needle.
Eric Holle - May 9, 2007 11:40 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2007
South CouloirClimbed the South Couloir with Tim and Ben. Such a sick route, amazing climb. Ben and I spent 12 days in the Sangres, and this was the best route we climbed the whole time!
Timothy Pearl - May 2, 2007 1:15 am Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2007
SouthWith Eric Holle and Ben. From South Colony via Broken Hand Pass. This is such a gorgeous route up the south of the Needle. There should be mention of this as a spring "couloir" route... I'll post it with a little motivation. Anyone?
Flex - Jan 21, 2007 10:37 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2006
S Face & Ellingwood Ledges Jul/062 couples and our dog on the 4th of July up the S Face, then up the Ellingwood the next day with Jeff K for my 32nd B-day!
boisedoc - Dec 17, 2006 4:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 1991
Great oneVery enjoyable scrambling on firm rock make this one of the best 14ers
BalletBoy - Nov 11, 2006 7:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2006
My Favorite 14'erRained and snowed the night before hiking to the summit. The nice conglomerate rock was covered in snow and ice forcing us to kick-in foot and toe holds. Warmed up upon descent which made it easier going. Great views of the Sand Dunes from the Summit. Search and rescue was out that day looking for a hiker from St. Louis that had disappeared several days before. Very interesting with all the helicopters around.
Outdoorpartner - Oct 5, 2006 5:33 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2006
Too much exposureI was solo and turned around due to too much exposure and a broken GPS. I'll try again with some method to lower my pack down upon the descent.
tjchino - Sep 11, 2006 7:57 pm Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2005
South FaceExciting climb with good friends.
CO PUMA - Sep 9, 2006 9:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Peak to Needle TraverseThis was a great climb. I loved the last class 4 pitch up to summit of the Needle. That rock was so solid and a blast to climb on. Most of our traverse was in super thick fog, so route finding was challenging but we made it over in under 3 hours from Crestone Peak. On our way down we met up with a SAR crew helping two 60 year old guys off a ledge above Cottonwood Lake. They had gotten stuck up there over night. Glad to hear they are ok though.
ktiffany22 - Sep 3, 2006 6:01 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2006
A long fun dayAs my 35th 14er overall, I'd say that the Needle ranks in as 1 of my top 2 favorites! What a fun-filled day of climbing! Had so much fun and finished so early in the day that we went over and hiked Humboldt as well!
mmitten - Aug 20, 2006 2:26 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2006
Cottonwood / Spanish Creek access restriction!!The Cottonwood Creek trailhead and the Spanish Creek trailhead both have no trespassing signs up that read "No Public Access to National Forest Land," and "Property of the Crestone Zen Monastery." See trip report.