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As I climb this peak in the back of my head I keep thinking when I was little first time I try to ride a bicycle I fell and cry but at the end of the evening I know how to ride without helmet. We didn't summit last Saturday (9/24) due to altitude sickness, but here we are try again - Great weather is extending the season. We left Denver pull in at the TH 8:30 pm slept in the truck woke up head out 6 a.m. The first 2.6 mile you hike along the road, my husband kept saying why did they close the road it make no sense he going to find out why when he get back home.
We stop pump some water at South Colony Lake and enjoy the view before we head up to BHP the snow almost gone but some spot a little pack down and can be icy early morning so we at the pass. View of Humboldt While Ascending BHP
We scrambled down to reach base of E gulley at ~13,300' and started climbing. Looking Back at Trail After Descending Into Bottom of E Gulley (13,300'). Route description/pictures helped us find the crossover pt to W gulley. Upon entering W gulley, we took altimeter (watch) reading to help find this pt on the descent. My old (7 yrs!!) GPS did not work in this gulley, but others tell me theirs worked fine. W gulley lead straight to summit ridge. Looking Down Near Top of W Gulley
My Cool Wife with Humboldt in Back We make it to Summit 12 p.m. take some pictures and talk to another group from Bailey (they did the Traverse from Crestone Peak to Needle). We get back the truck at 6pm long day but we are glad make it back safe and WE MADE IT !!
Me, Partially Blocking Crestone Peak and Kit Carson
Needle from S. Colony Lk
BHP and Needle
Random thoughts:
1. Conglomerate rock was very stable and fun to climb - we were blessed with good weather. Wouldn't want to be here when wet/icy.
2. IMO, road to new TH is very easy 4WD, can be done with just about any 2WD/4WD vehicle with good clearance when ~dry.
3. Small amount of snow on ascent to BHP, microspikes helped on snow/ice/loose scree.
4. Route description photo 13 is most helpful is finding E gulley exit pt on ascent.
5. W gulley exit pt upon descent is not obvious - as route description says, it is good idea to study this area on ascent. It gets quite steep below this pt.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
It's always disheartening when you don't make a summit, but better to not push yourself or your safety. It took me three tries to get up Crestone Peak earlier this year (April, May, June)!
I made it up on my first attempt, but in hind sight it was very foolish. It was foggy and drizzling; downright raining on the descent. We missed the gully and tried 2 wrong ones before we backtracked and saw it; the cloud/fog had completely hidden it earlier. On top we could see nothing. Another party ended up taking the wrong gully on the descent and spent the night in the gully!
Seeing the pics I wish I had gone on a better day....and had not risked my son and my lives.
Perhaps I can console myself with the excuse that the pain of BHP was a contributing factor...who wants to go up that an extra time!
I cant believe you went back so soon. Thanks again for waiting on me to summit when you were sick. I cant wait to do Chicago Basin next year with you guys.
We had so much fun on this climb and we're looking forward next year to get in some harder one. Ours hope can hike with you & the group next Saturday and meet some folks..
Nice TR on a beautiful area. Glad you made it the second time. It also took me 2 tries to climb this one. The first time we had already gone up Crestone Peak and were not sure about the cross-over point and turned around at our agreed upon time (so we could descend BHP in the light). I thought about it all winter and went back the next summer and had no problem with the cross-over. I really enjoyed the good rock there.
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