Route Climbed: Ellingwood Arete Date Climbed: Aug '04
Soloed the route. Not as hard as I thought it was going to be. Pretty good exposure and a big psycological climb for the soloist. But on great rock the whole time. Some people have a problem with the descent. I thought it was pretty straight forward.
Route Climbed: South Couloir Date Climbed: September 17, 2005
2nd Needle summit. this one wasn't on the schedule but i was presented with the opportuniy of canceling my own plans to help two people who didn't believe they could do this mountain have the climbing experience of their lives. oh yeah, it's still my favorite mountain!
Route Climbed: Unmarked "farther south side route" Date Climbed: 8-20-05
Wow, what a rugged set of mtns. in that area. Needle was surprising. There is a lot of trail maintenance going on up there right now, so the main trail can be confusing at times. Well at least that was our excuse for going the wrong way. We were following the trail from south lakes, then once on the saddle we totally over shot the trail. We ended up in some very vertical / technical / wet sections the rest of the way to the summit. We figured class three scrambling shouldn't be too bad, but what we ended up in was definatley not class 3, let alone a trail or route. It took us 6 to 7 hours just to make the summit, but I was just thankful to have made it in one piece. Doulbe check your route most of the way up, there were rock cairns everywhere, and it was very hard to make out which one was the right one. Some of the cairns were in places where if you went to them you couldn't turn back unless your a damn good "down climber" with no rope. Damn, what a mountain.
absolutely the greatest climb i've ever done! the couloir completely rocks and the 900-foot vertical climb of the congolmerate was a thrill.............there's no reason whatsoever to switch couloirs.
Route Climbed: Peak-to-Needle Traverse Date Climbed: July 24, 2005
Summitted with bc44caesar. Awesome traverse, especially from the Black Gendarme and up the crux 4th class wall. Dicey coming down the south couloir from the Needle, especially once the storms hit, but quite a memorable day!
Route Climbed: Traverse from the Peak, Descended South Couloir Date Climbed: 24 Jul 2005
Traversed from the Peak in 2hrs 15min. Had a little route finding trouble below the Black Gendarme. The final climb to the summit was enjoyable, but thunderstorms were nearly upon us. Fortunately the skies didn't open up until we were part ways into the descent during which we got quite a soaking.
Oh, and the 4x4 road to Colony Lakes is way overrated - it isn't that hard for any 4x4 - I have a stock SUV and made it down in like 45min...
Route Climbed: South Face Date Climbed: July 13, 2005
A fun climb, took about 3 hours to get from camp to the summit. Conditions were perfect and the couloir was in good shape. The trip would have been better it if weren't for the horrible approach. The 6 miles to camp sucked ass and it was even worse the next day after climbing. A 4x4 is HIGHLY suggested so you don't have to kill yourself on the approach.
Route Climbed: Ellingwood Arete Date Climbed: 7/03
Not only did I reach the summit but I slept on top of it. We got very lost on the descent. It was getting dark and we found ourselves downclimbing 5.2. Our only choice was to go back up and wait for daylight. Coldest night of my life. It was worth it for such a beuatiful Peak. Looking to to the Peak to Needle traverse next time. Any takers?
Route Climbed: South Face from South Colony Lakes Date Climbed: August 8, 1979
After our success on Longs the year before, us Kansas boys were ready for another adventure. We backpacked up the entire road, then climbed Humboldt the next day, and then the Needle the following day. In those years the snowpack was much greater than it has been lately; we had a snowbank over the creek below our campsite, and there was only one other climbing party in the valley (those were the days). Unfortunately, we should have had ice axes (which we didn't) to reach the Broken Hand Pass, so we improvised with pointed rocks!!! On the summit the other party arrived twenty minutes after us and started smoking pot! We made it down to the pass before the daily hailstorm and rain broke loose, and while we were donning our raingear, the dopers came down with their plastic ponchos flapping in the rain and wind, and proceded to glissade the steep snow below the pass (no axes either). One slipped, and I thought we were going to watch him crash into the boulders at the bottom, but he was able to right himself. Whew.
iceisnice - Oct 3, 2005 9:34 pm
Route Climbed: Ellingwood Arete Date Climbed: Aug '04Soloed the route. Not as hard as I thought it was going to be. Pretty good exposure and a big psycological climb for the soloist. But on great rock the whole time. Some people have a problem with the descent. I thought it was pretty straight forward.
brandon - Oct 1, 2005 2:11 pm
Route Climbed: Ellingwood Arete Date Climbed: 8/14/05Solo save for the head crack, with Andrew... 6:30 car to car
K_G_Wright - Sep 23, 2005 4:16 pm
Route Climbed: Standard South Couloir Date Climbed: September 8, 2005Had the whole ridge / valley to myself on a Thursday! Soloed the standard South Couloir route in windy, sunny, dry conditions! AWESOME!
shanahan96 - Sep 19, 2005 1:39 am
Route Climbed: South Couloir Date Climbed: September 17, 20052nd Needle summit. this one wasn't on the schedule but i was presented with the opportuniy of canceling my own plans to help two people who didn't believe they could do this mountain have the climbing experience of their lives. oh yeah, it's still my favorite mountain!
jamie
Ed F - Sep 15, 2005 8:33 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: September 15, 2005Fun! Loved the sustained scrambling.
tdoughty - Sep 5, 2005 1:49 pm
Route Climbed: South FaceWith Paul and Paul.
Mike Mc - Aug 28, 2005 10:30 pm
Route Climbed: South Face Date Climbed: August 13, 2005Awesome Climb! The summit was rather foggy.
kylerlott - Aug 27, 2005 1:45 pm
Route Climbed: Unmarked "farther south side route" Date Climbed: 8-20-05Wow, what a rugged set of mtns. in that area. Needle was surprising. There is a lot of trail maintenance going on up there right now, so the main trail can be confusing at times. Well at least that was our excuse for going the wrong way. We were following the trail from south lakes, then once on the saddle we totally over shot the trail. We ended up in some very vertical / technical / wet sections the rest of the way to the summit. We figured class three scrambling shouldn't be too bad, but what we ended up in was definatley not class 3, let alone a trail or route. It took us 6 to 7 hours just to make the summit, but I was just thankful to have made it in one piece. Doulbe check your route most of the way up, there were rock cairns everywhere, and it was very hard to make out which one was the right one. Some of the cairns were in places where if you went to them you couldn't turn back unless your a damn good "down climber" with no rope. Damn, what a mountain.
doumall - Aug 4, 2005 12:50 pm
Route Climbed: South Face Date Climbed: July 31st 2005Even better than the Peak! 49th 14er!
edlins - Aug 1, 2005 12:31 pm
Route Climbed: Ellingwood Arete Date Climbed: August 31, 2005Spectacular!!! Summiting Crestone Needle is an accomplishment by any route.
shanahan96 - Jul 28, 2005 2:17 pm
Route Climbed: South Couloir Date Climbed: 8-2-04absolutely the greatest climb i've ever done! the couloir completely rocks and the 900-foot vertical climb of the congolmerate was a thrill.............there's no reason whatsoever to switch couloirs.
climb this route!
Brad Snider - Jul 25, 2005 2:17 am
Route Climbed: Peak-to-Needle Traverse Date Climbed: July 24, 2005Summitted with bc44caesar. Awesome traverse, especially from the Black Gendarme and up the crux 4th class wall. Dicey coming down the south couloir from the Needle, especially once the storms hit, but quite a memorable day!
bc44caesar - Jul 25, 2005 1:23 am
Route Climbed: Traverse from the Peak, Descended South Couloir Date Climbed: 24 Jul 2005Traversed from the Peak in 2hrs 15min. Had a little route finding trouble below the Black Gendarme. The final climb to the summit was enjoyable, but thunderstorms were nearly upon us. Fortunately the skies didn't open up until we were part ways into the descent during which we got quite a soaking.
Oh, and the 4x4 road to Colony Lakes is way overrated - it isn't that hard for any 4x4 - I have a stock SUV and made it down in like 45min...
alpine master - Jul 24, 2005 1:07 pm
Route Climbed: South Face Date Climbed: July 22 05Great climb. Quick from South Colony lake. Not as bad as it looks.
Genghis Climber - Jul 15, 2005 12:43 am
Route Climbed: South Face Date Climbed: July 13, 2005A fun climb, took about 3 hours to get from camp to the summit. Conditions were perfect and the couloir was in good shape. The trip would have been better it if weren't for the horrible approach. The 6 miles to camp sucked ass and it was even worse the next day after climbing. A 4x4 is HIGHLY suggested so you don't have to kill yourself on the approach.
sjvista - Jul 2, 2005 1:40 pm
Route Climbed: standard Date Climbed: July 4, 2003totally clear day. What a road to get back to the trailhead though. By far the toughest 4x4 road I've been on in the state.
Foxy Long Bottoms - Jun 20, 2005 1:57 pm
Route Climbed: Ellingwood Arete Date Climbed: 7/03Not only did I reach the summit but I slept on top of it. We got very lost on the descent. It was getting dark and we found ourselves downclimbing 5.2. Our only choice was to go back up and wait for daylight. Coldest night of my life. It was worth it for such a beuatiful Peak. Looking to to the Peak to Needle traverse next time. Any takers?
km_donovan - Jun 6, 2005 10:47 pm
Route Climbed: South Face II Date Climbed: June 2, 2005Check out the full Trip Report.
ColoradoScott - Feb 3, 2005 12:52 pm
Route Climbed: South Face from South Colony Lakes Date Climbed: August 8, 1979After our success on Longs the year before, us Kansas boys were ready for another adventure. We backpacked up the entire road, then climbed Humboldt the next day, and then the Needle the following day. In those years the snowpack was much greater than it has been lately; we had a snowbank over the creek below our campsite, and there was only one other climbing party in the valley (those were the days). Unfortunately, we should have had ice axes (which we didn't) to reach the Broken Hand Pass, so we improvised with pointed rocks!!! On the summit the other party arrived twenty minutes after us and started smoking pot! We made it down to the pass before the daily hailstorm and rain broke loose, and while we were donning our raingear, the dopers came down with their plastic ponchos flapping in the rain and wind, and proceded to glissade the steep snow below the pass (no axes either). One slipped, and I thought we were going to watch him crash into the boulders at the bottom, but he was able to right himself. Whew.
DaveC - Jan 9, 2005 1:52 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: July '99Like climbing a ladder. Love that conglomerate!