Fatality on Crestone Needle

[bjkent76]

Those are GREAT pics. Thank you!!

[Roald]

Sad to hear and must have been horrible to watch. My condolences.

[highpilgrim]

For those interested in considering the east gully, this thread has some documentation of that route:

http://14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f= ... 8&start=24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TallGrass]

There was just a recovery, and now a rescue underway. Rain with hail just hit here in Westcliffe. Saw a Blackhawk fly through Bears Playground yesterday while atop Columbia Point. It was well below and between me and Crestone Peak and flew through the clouds coming and forming there, either by instruments or damn good knowledge of terrain. Sidenote: GPS might not help you find the correct gully at night.

[Phill the Thrill]

That's just awful news. Does anyone know where the accidents occurred? Sounds like on the Needle descent?

My condolences to the family of the deceased climber, and my prayers for all involved in the rescue this morning.

[justiner]

SAR posted a pretty dramatic photo recently,

https://www.facebook.com/CusterSAR/phot ... =1&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Tornadoman]

On their facebook page, Custer County SAR is reporting that the subject has been transferred to the hospital and is in stable condition. It looks like they were in the west gully, near the crossover. Another great job SAR!

[Phill the Thrill]

This is great news! Outstanding job again by Custer County SAR.

Also, this note on CCSAR's Facebook page:

"The climber's helmet is being credited with saving his life! "

A good reminder for everyone - wear a helmet on anything class 3+.

[onebyone]

This is great news! Outstanding job again by Custer County SAR.

Also, this note on CCSAR's Facebook page:

"The climber's helmet is being credited with saving his life! "

A good reminder for everyone - wear a helmet on anything class 3+.

I've posted this before, but while descending the Needle, a softball size rock whizzed by my head and skinned my hand. I jerked my head at the last second, when my partner yelled, "rock." It skinned my hand b/c reflexively raised my hand to block the rock from hitting my head. This was totally instinctive- the rock was moving to fast to make any decision. NO ONE was above us at the time. I was wearing a helmet and if that rock hit me, I might have lived and without a helmet, probably killed.

I've only worn my helmet on Little Bear, the Maroon Bells and the Needle.

[XterraRob]

Bill,

Since so many people frequent this site, do you think it'd be a good idea to put a warning (similar to Quandary in the winter) on the Needle route page that highlights the dangers of climbing this peak? It lists class 3 but I'm not sure if people really know what they are getting themselves into when they plan to climb it.

Also, that SAR photo is intense!

[justiner]

Bill,
Since so many people frequent this site, do you think it'd be a good idea to put a warning (similar to Quandary in the winter) on the Needle route page that highlights the dangers of climbing this peak? It lists class 3 but I'm not sure if people really know what they are getting themselves into when they plan to climb it.

Great idea.

[Sean Nunn]

Bill,

Since so many people frequent this site, do you think it'd be a good idea to put a warning (similar to Quandary in the winter) on the Needle route page that highlights the dangers of climbing this peak? It lists class 3 but I'm not sure if people really know what they are getting themselves into when they plan to climb it.

Also, that SAR photo is intense!

+1. I certainly didn't know what I was getting into when I climbed it, and my partner and I were lucky to escape with only minor scrapes from a short fall that we took while descending. I shudder to think what could have happened to us had we started climbing from the trailhead that day, or had we had bad weather.