Judd's gotten beaned in the noggin a few too many times by rockfall in the Hourglass, don't listen to him.Scott P wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 5:56 pmI thought it sucked without the snow. Not challenging in a technical sense, but a huge pain in the a**.
What could be the only really interesting part of the climb (Hourglass) is tainted by the fact that rockfall makes it hard to enjoy since you can't spend time I the only interesting part.
I would assume that it's much prettier and fun with snow on it.
Crestone Needle/Peak
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- supranihilest
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Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
- CaptainSuburbia
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Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
Haha maybe too much rugby and hockey in my youth. I've only done the hourglass with snow. SW ridge and West ridge are better routes when the hourglass is dry.supranihilest wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 6:02 pmJudd's gotten beaned in the noggin a few too many times by rockfall in the Hourglass, don't listen to him.Scott P wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 5:56 pmI thought it sucked without the snow. Not challenging in a technical sense, but a huge pain in the a**.
What could be the only really interesting part of the climb (Hourglass) is tainted by the fact that rockfall makes it hard to enjoy since you can't spend time I the only interesting part.
I would assume that it's much prettier and fun with snow on it.
Some day our kids will study Clash lyrics in school.
Nothing drives people crazy like people drive people crazy.
Save Challenger Point
Nothing drives people crazy like people drive people crazy.
Save Challenger Point
- supranihilest
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Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
Southwest ridge is a great route for sure! I still haven't done the west ridge, but the southwest ridge is very Little Bear minus the crappy Hourglass. Your description of the west ridge sounds like fun too. Kind of funny that the standard route on LB is also the worst one.CaptainSuburbia wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:18 pmHaha maybe too much rugby and hockey in my youth. I've only done the hourglass with snow. SW ridge and West ridge are better routes when the hourglass is dry.supranihilest wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 6:02 pmJudd's gotten beaned in the noggin a few too many times by rockfall in the Hourglass, don't listen to him.Scott P wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 5:56 pm
I thought it sucked without the snow. Not challenging in a technical sense, but a huge pain in the a**.
What could be the only really interesting part of the climb (Hourglass) is tainted by the fact that rockfall makes it hard to enjoy since you can't spend time I the only interesting part.
I would assume that it's much prettier and fun with snow on it.
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Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
Anyone have a 4x4 to make this trip whenever? I've been up Humboldt and up the ellingwood ridge route on the needle. I need crestone peak. I'm down to climb the needle again and traverse over. Also need little bear and want to climb hourglass when dry. Don't want to hike from 2wd lots again , msg Matt 4439008741
- nyker
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Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
+1Scott P wrote: ↑Wed May 19, 2021 8:18 amPersonally, I would suggest switching your Little Bear and Crestones dates since you mention that you have snow climbing equipment.
Little Bear sucks once the snow melts off. Dry conditions can be an advantage on the Crestones.
This is just a suggestion though.
I don't know what the conditions will be like when you are there, and maybe there won't be enough snow for a "good" safer ascent, but if you have the option to potentially mitigate some of the main risk of Little Bear, i.e. rockfall, why wouldn't you do it? Then climb the 'stones in drier conditions as a bonus. Maybe you are a climbing ninja and move on snow like a fleet footed marmot, I don't know your background - Your remaining peaks on your list do require a bit more planning and have higher consequences if things go wrong so it pays to think ahead and try insofar as possible get them in better conditions. If you can't change your trip dates have a backup peak or two in you mind if conditions on your planned peaks aren't great.
Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
That bushwhack though. It’s the worst stretch in the entire state. If you could be airlifted to the start of the SW ridge it’d be fantastic.supranihilest wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:35 pmSouthwest ridge is a great route for sure! I still haven't done the west ridge, but the southwest ridge is very Little Bear minus the crappy Hourglass. Your description of the west ridge sounds like fun too. Kind of funny that the standard route on LB is also the worst one.CaptainSuburbia wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:18 pmHaha maybe too much rugby and hockey in my youth. I've only done the hourglass with snow. SW ridge and West ridge are better routes when the hourglass is dry.supranihilest wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 6:02 pm
Judd's gotten beaned in the noggin a few too many times by rockfall in the Hourglass, don't listen to him.
Or maybe just do Blanca to LB then back to Blanca. That’s a fantastic idea.
- supranihilest
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Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
Maybe as far as 14ers go, but many of the lower peak and desert peak bushwhacks give LB's southwest ridge a run for their money or are worse. I've come home bleeding and with ripped gear frequently from those nasty little scrub oak and cactus covered monsters. And yes, I liked it.
Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
Meh, I've don't that bushwhack twice and didn't think it was as bad as people have made it out to be. Tomayto, Tomahto.
- justiner
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Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
The 'schwack is fine. Coming hot off of being in Alaska, it was almost giggle-worthy. And then the ridge is just an altogether fantastic experience. There's not many places where you can just rise up from the valley floor like that.
- CaptainSuburbia
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Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
Having done it 3 times I've grown to like the bushwack. Wearing a helmet from the car makes it more pleasant. It's still not as nice as walking Como Rd though.supranihilest wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 1:43 pmMaybe as far as 14ers go, but many of the lower peak and desert peak bushwhacks give LB's southwest ridge a run for their money or are worse. I've come home bleeding and with ripped gear frequently from those nasty little scrub oak and cactus covered monsters. And yes, I liked it.
Some day our kids will study Clash lyrics in school.
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- greenonion
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Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
Go Pens! Ahem… do you still plan on going back to LB west ridge direct to up AND down climb that ridge to see if doable-ish??CaptainSuburbia wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:18 pmHaha maybe too much rugby and hockey in my youth. I've only done the hourglass with snow. SW ridge and West ridge are better routes when the hourglass is dry.supranihilest wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 6:02 pmJudd's gotten beaned in the noggin a few too many times by rockfall in the Hourglass, don't listen to him.Scott P wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 5:56 pm
I thought it sucked without the snow. Not challenging in a technical sense, but a huge pain in the a**.
What could be the only really interesting part of the climb (Hourglass) is tainted by the fact that rockfall makes it hard to enjoy since you can't spend time I the only interesting part.
I would assume that it's much prettier and fun with snow on it.
- CaptainSuburbia
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Re: Crestone Needle/Peak
Go Caps! Yes, I'll be heading up the west ridge very soon. Just waiting for a little more snow to melt...greenonion wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 5:19 pmGo Pens! Ahem… do you still plan on going back to LB west ridge direct to up AND down climb that ridge to see if doable-ish??CaptainSuburbia wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:18 pmHaha maybe too much rugby and hockey in my youth. I've only done the hourglass with snow. SW ridge and West ridge are better routes when the hourglass is dry.supranihilest wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 6:02 pm
Judd's gotten beaned in the noggin a few too many times by rockfall in the Hourglass, don't listen to him.
Some day our kids will study Clash lyrics in school.
Nothing drives people crazy like people drive people crazy.
Save Challenger Point
Nothing drives people crazy like people drive people crazy.
Save Challenger Point