Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A recent measurement put East Crestone 0.3ft higher than Crestone Peak (14,299.3ft vs 14,299ft), which would make East Crestone a ranked 14er while the current Crestone Peak relegated a sub summit status (similar to N/S Massive etc). On this trip, we summited E Crestone first, and then traversed to Crestone Needle. There are a number of challenges along the traverse, such as a 5.2 bulge, a mini knife edge, and finally the highly exposed class 4 headwall before Crestone Needle summit. We found these challenges to be quite enjoyable compared to the rest of the route. On the descent we followed the class 4 East Gully down to Broken Hand Pass. Total stats from upper trailhead: 14.5 miles with 5900’ elevation gain
Music:
Ethereal/Standing in the Sun, by Punch Deck
Half-Life 2 - Triage by Dawn, Remix by Path of Borealis
#14ers
0:00 Approach to S Colony Lake
05:08 Climbing E Crestone
10:00 Traverse to Needle
15:56 Descent
A recent measurement put East Crestone 0.3ft higher than Crestone Peak (14,299.3ft vs 14,299ft), which would make East Crestone a ranked 14er while the current Crestone Peak relegated a sub summit status (similar to N/S Massive etc). On this trip, we summited E Crestone first, and then traversed to Crestone Needle. There are a number of challenges along the traverse, such as a 5.2 bulge, a mini knife edge, and finally the highly exposed class 4 headwall before Crestone Needle summit. We found these challenges to be quite enjoyable compared to the rest of the route. On the descent we followed the class 4 East Gully down to Broken Hand Pass. Total stats from upper trailhead: 14.5 miles with 5900’ elevation gain
Music:
Ethereal/Standing in the Sun, by Punch Deck
Half-Life 2 - Triage by Dawn, Remix by Path of Borealis
#14ers
0:00 Approach to S Colony Lake
05:08 Climbing E Crestone
10:00 Traverse to Needle
15:56 Descent
