Crestone Traverse 7/10-7/11/26 YouTube Video Climbing the Traverse

Getting to the Trailhead
This was my second time heading up to the South Colony Trailhead and I can't express how much I hate that 4WD road. From turning me and my Dad around a quarter mile from the trailhead to having the worst stress about the state of my buddies 2015 GMC Sierra this time around. We picked up a hitch hiker just above the two wheel drive road because there car was definitely not capable to make it up the road. The hitch hiker was surprisingly super rude for us giving them a ride but we were in such high spirits we just ignored their bs. We eventually decided to park a half mile back from the 4WD trailhead and started are trek up towards the South Colony lakes around 6:45pm.

The Trek to the Colony
The hike up to the old trailhead is a steady incline through the woods that slowly bends up and around the South facing side of Humboldt Peak. With a super heavy backpack it’s not fun at all just waiting until you finally reach the old trailhead and the fork to go left towards the Crestone Needle and Right Towards Humboldt.

The Push Up Broken Hand

It was 3:30am in the morning and our alarm went off. We both agreed to rest for another five minutes before stating the hike... that five minutes became a half an hour power nap with us finally leaving camp just after 4am. Hiking in the dark is one of my favorite things and doing it with the backdrop of stars and a huge 14er looming in the distance only adds to how much I love it. The weather was perfect and surprisingly not too smokey making the hike up broken hand pass super easy. We made it about halfway up the pass before seeing the sun come over the horizon lighting up the entire valley highlighting all the steep cliffs and beautiful scenery below us. Also to the trail runner who stopped and talked with us at the top of Broken Hand you are a beast it was amazing to meet you!

The Red Gully March
After talking to the trail runner me and Jackson would waste no time getting down to Cottonwood lake jogging down the switchbacks not stopping until we found a nice spot for our first snack break. After the refreshing break we would pass a few campsites passing the first group of people who would be attempting the Traverse with us that day.

The Red Gully was a slog seemingly going on forever all the way to practically the summit of Crestone Peak. The views of the Great Sand Dunes and the rising Sierra Blanca in the South would push me keep going higher and higher for prettier views. The only way I can describe the Red Gully is a more fun but harder Manitou Incline with rock fall.

Summit of Crestone Peak & East Crestone
After getting to the top of the Red Gully we decided to go to Crestone Peak first because from our understanding it was still the true summit. The final climb to Crestone Peak was super fun going by the notch with some great views of Challenger and Kit Carson with an easy Class 3 scramble to the summit. We decided we would wait to have our break on East Crestone because I thought there would be less people. It was an easy down climb back to the top of the Red Gully and an easier climb up to the top of East Crestone probably taking us 10 minutes or less. We were super happy to have taken our break there because the view of South Colony Lake was incredible and for the whole time we were alone. We got to the top of East Crestone at 7:20 AM.

The Traverse
After our break on East Crestone we would begin the climb down to the start of the Crestone Traverse. The down climb was not bad at all with everyone on the gully being super careful and courteous of the loose rock. We found the Karen to the traverse pretty easily and started the traverse. The Karen's the entire traverse were amazing helping us stay low and on the right track. In my opinion the traverse was easy up until the final 100 feet under the Black Gendarme and the 5.2 bulge.

5.2 Bulge
The bulge was super fun I decided to go on the left side and it had good holds so I lifted my right leg up and dragged myself over the ledge

Mini Knife Edge
The Knife Edge is just above the 5.2 bulge. I was nervous for it so, I let Jackson go ahead of me and after seeing him do it I got the confidence to do it myself. I found straddling the knife edge to be the easiest way up it.

The Head Wall
The entire day the Head Wall was on me and Jackson's mind. After the Knife Edge you have a quick scramble to the base of the Head Wall where you have the choice to stay right with less exposure but more challenging holds or left with more exposure but in my opinion better holds. Jackson and a person from the group behind us decided to go first with Jack going more left and the other person going more right. After letting them get almost to the top I decided to go for the more exposed route. The entire wall was so much fun and definitely the highlight of the day with INSANE views all around you.

The Top of the Needle
We had finally done it! At 9:43 am we had summited both peaks and completed the great traverse. This was such an amazing hike and super enjoyable with the highlight definitely being the head wall. We would spend a good 30 minutes relaxing and fueling up before we would head back down to the South Colony lakes to break camp. The down climb wasn't as bad as I thought it would be with us being super careful not to knock any rocks. We only had one instance where a trail runner knocked a huge rock down the mountain at us without warning. Luckily I heard it and yelled "ROCK" for the group below us with the rock literally going in between a guys legs. After that scary moment we would get back down to the lakes at 12:15 pm and pack up camp. The walk back to the cars was long and hot but we eventually arrived at 3 pm.

Psalm 121