Crestone Needle/Peak as 2nd/3rd 14er?

[steven1110]

I have a potential trip to CO coming up in July and I'm wanting to do my first (plus more) 14er, solo. I'll be based out of CO Springs since a friend lives down there so I thought about hitting up one/some of the peaks towards the southwest of the City. My first though was to hit Great Sand Dunes and then do Mt. Herard (13k) to give a nice overlook to what I had already saw as ground level. I then migrated my thought into trying Kit Carson/Challenger since there'd still be a more distant overlook of GSDs. However after reading that Crestone Needle and Peak were highly regarded as one of the best 14ers, my mind started to change again.

I've read up on each of the climbs but I don't know if I'm being too confident or hasty in my choice of the Crestones. I'd do Humboldt Peak on the first day, camp at South Colony, and then at least attempt to do Crestone Peak and Needle...most likely on separate days.

Again, I don't know if I'm underestimating the difficult of the trail or just being overconfident. I'm of reasonably good shape, and have done a few long, high elevation change hikes in Zion and Yosemite but those were both sub-9k elevation. The highest I've been to date is 12k in RMNP. I don't have any climbing or off-trail experience but I do consider myself a good judgement of my abilities and being able to reason through situations.

Anyway, I guess I'm just looking for a bit of feedback on whether or not the experienced folk here would recommend me giving it a shot. Any and all opinions are welcome. Thanks.

[Jim Davies]

[csmith]

I would not recommend doing the Crestones as some of your first 14ers, especially without climbing/off trail experience and going solo. I would stick with class 1 or class 2 peaks. The combination of altitude, route-finding, scrambling, and lack of experience make it inadvisable in my opinion.

[jdorje]

That said, Kit Carson is significantly more dangerous than either of the Crestones.

[KState14er]

Again, I don't know if I'm underestimating the difficult of the trail or just being overconfident. I'm of reasonably good shape, and have done a few long, high elevation change hikes in Zion and Yosemite but those were both sub-9k elevation. The highest I've been to date is 12k in RMNP. I don't have any climbing or off-trail experience but I do consider myself a good judgement of my abilities and being able to reason through situations.

This paragraph tells me everything I need to know. There is no trail. You have to climb. It is sustained, exposed class 3 climbing.

Don't go.

Or if you do, just let SAR know ahead of time so they can follow you up the mountain.

In all seriousness, you aren't ready for the Crestones based on the rest of your post. These are high, real, dangerous mountains that have claimed many lives of more experienced climbers. There is some argument that the Needle might be the most difficult 14er in CO. It is certainly in the Top 5 for most people. It's just not a place for novices.

Sorry to be so harsh, but you should probably get this idea out of your head ASAP. Enjoy your hike up Pikes Peak and Humboldt and call it a trip.

[coneydogron]

I do consider myself a good judgement of my abilities and being able to reason through situations.

if you hold true to that statement then you should be fine. Besides if the Crestones aren't jiving with you that day and you turn back, it gives for a good excuse to visit them again. Its a pretty scenic area up there...

[Billy the Kid]

I may have some insight, as I had an experience last summer that is very relevant to this thread. Last summer, a friend and I hiked in and camped at South Colony Lake, with the plan of climbing Crestone Needle. Upon arriving at our campsite for the night, we met a young man who was camping next to us. After we settled in, he came over to introduce himself and make small talk with us. He told us that he had just climbed Humboldt that day, for his very first 14er ever. He then asked what our plans were and I told him we were hiking the Needle the next day. He asked if he could join us, and of course, I was very hesitant and doubtful about this idea. But, he was very determined and excited about coming along. From looking at him, I could tell he was in very good physical shape so I decided to let him join us. Now, I'm not the most experienced or talented person on this site by any means. However, I did have Class 3 and 4 experience and had studied this route and trip reports very extensively before my arrival. In the end, our camping neighbor joined us and summited The Needle with no issue what so ever...he definitely had the time of his life on that mountain with us. Now, many people would not support this, but in the end it is your decision. If you do decide to attempt the Crestones, I think it is very vital that you do/are the following:

Be in good physical shape- this is not an easy stroll in the park
Study the route and trip reports on this website as much as possible
AND MOST IMPORTANTY, do not consider the Crestones, unless you can find some experienced hikers to join you

My two cents...

[John Landers]

Maybe he is from Canada and will be awesome while a National Guard helicopter gets called along with 2 dozen SAR folks.

[iholdthepain]

Keep to your plan of camping at S. Colony Lakes and summit Humboldt. I did both this past weekend, and I think it's the most incredible place to camp! You will be very happy with the views of the Needle and the Peak. If you knockout Humboldt without any problem, then buddy up with someone going up the Crestones, the next day, who knows the route. If it gets too hairy, you can always turn around. It's cool enough just getting up and over Broken Hand Pass... That's what we did, but there was no way I was going up the e. gully and traversing to the w. gully... Especially without someone knowledgeable to help guide us.

Either way, that 4wd road is pretty hairy in some spots. Be sure to have good clearance or be prepared to park 2.7 miles further down at the 2WD TH.

Happy Trails!

[steven1110]

Thanks for all the comments so far!...even the "harsh" ones. It's better to get slapped in the face now rather than when I'm on the mountain. There is pretty conclusive opinion that I should not be doing the Crestone's solo and I'll take that to heart. I'll reevaluate my trip and decide what direction I want to take. I may end up just doing Humholdt and then crossing over to Cottonwood Lake to get a good view of Peak's base or I may end up nixing that area all together and do a couple in the lower Sawatch range.

Thanks for the comments guys.

[desertdog]

I climbed the Peak as my 4th 14er..scared the s**t out of me. Wait till you have more experience so you can enjoy it.