Crestone Needle (14,196), Humboldt Peak (14,068)
Route: From S. Colony Trailhead
Distance: 14.3 miles
Vertical: 8,230 feet
Date: May 6-9, 2023
Partners: Solo
Sangre de Cristo Range as seen from the town of Westcliffe
![crestones 1](crestones_small/IMG_1057.jpeg)
Skiing up towards S. Colony Lake with a view of the ski route on Humbold Peak.
![crestones 2](crestones_small/IMG_1059.jpeg)
S. Colony Lake, Broken Hand Pass and the Crestone Needle just after sunrise.
![crestones 3](crestones_small/IMG_1062.jpeg)
Half way up Broken Hand Pass.
![crestones 4](crestones_small/IMG_1064.jpeg)
View of Humboldt Peak and S. Colony Lake from the pass.
![crestones 5](crestones_small/IMG_1069.jpeg)
The ski route on Crestone Needle starting to come into view.
![crestones 6](crestones_small/IMG_1071.jpeg)
Looking back toward Broken Hand pass.
![crestones 7](crestones_small/IMG_1072.jpeg)
Looking up the S. Couloir.
![crestones 8](crestones_small/IMG_1080.jpeg)
Looking back down.
![crestones 9](crestones_small/IMG_1081.jpeg)
View from my turn around spot.
![crestones 10](crestones_small/IMG_1082.jpeg)
Looking down from the turn around.
![crestones 11](crestones_small/IMG_1083.jpeg)
Looking back at the Needle on the exit.
![crestones 12](crestones_small/IMG_1084.jpeg)
Top of the ski line back down to S. Colony Lake. A party of two had skied it the day prior.
![crestones 13](crestones_small/IMG_1087.jpeg)
Lower on the descent.
![crestones 14](crestones_small/IMG_1089.jpeg)
Back at camp.
![crestones 15](crestones_small/IMG_1090.jpeg)
My gear all loaded up the next morning.
![crestones 16](crestones_small/IMG_1091.jpeg)
Bottom of the Humboldt Peak route.
![crestones 17](crestones_small/IMG_1093.jpeg)
Ice falls just below treeline.
![crestones 18](crestones_small/IMG_1094.jpeg)
Above the ice falls at dawn the next morning.
![crestones 19](crestones_small/IMG_1095.jpeg)
Looking back down at treeline.
![crestones 20](crestones_small/IMG_1097.jpeg)
Looking up the route.
![crestones 21](crestones_small/IMG_1099.jpeg)
Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak from the Humboldt summit.
![crestones 22](crestones_small/IMG_1103.jpeg)
Broken Hand Pass and S. Colony Lake.
![crestones 23](crestones_small/IMG_1115.jpeg)
Looking down the ski route.
![crestones 24](crestones_small/IMG_1116.jpeg)
Looking back up from about half way down.
![crestones 25](crestones_small/IMG_1117.jpeg)
Lower portion of the ski run.
![crestones 26](crestones_small/IMG_1118.jpeg)
Looking up from near treeline.
![crestones 27](crestones_small/IMG_1119.jpeg)
Forested section lower down.
![crestones 28](crestones_small/IMG_1124.jpeg)
Packing up.
![crestones 29](crestones_small/IMG_1125.jpeg)