Colorado 14ers: Crestone Needle Hike Guide

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Read a full guide on this hike here: www.thevirtualsherpa.com/crestone-needle-hike-guide/

[@darin6]

Great job as always. Your line "notorious for being very.....good" gave me a chuckle. Usually notorious means "bad" in these climbs.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Learned something new today, I have been throwing that word around incorrectly for years!

[@hainesftw90]

I've only hiked Humboldt as a day trip, not camped or done either Crestone summit just yet, but pound for pound South Colony is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in person. The Sangres are just utterly gorgeous, raw, and rugged, and the place is just so vibrant. I'm planning on doing the Crestone Traverse next summer, and I honestly can't wait to get back out there.

[@jamesolson7577]

This is my favorite 14er no question. Camping and fly fishing at the lakes is euphoric

[@alpineendeavor9908]

Definitely one of my favorite hikes, broken hand pass is no joke slippy!

[@ervinslens]

What a great episode man, this whole mountain range looks amazing! Fantastic presentation 👏👏

[@higler.]

The Sangres are awesome! Some amazing 13ers and ridge traverses and the rock is solid.

[@coloradoendurance4608]

That looks awesome, but a lot of fun too! Keep up the great work!

[@amandagarcia8049]

Needle is an all time favorite hike and climb. We were not prepared for the east gully to end basically at the summit. Definitely a pleasant surprise!

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

I think I blacked out the last time I was here, couldn’t agree more on how much pleasant climbing is in that gully.

[@stephensmith6599]

Nice work. Confirms I will NOT being doing that one. Love your videos ... top notch.

[@christhomson7669]

God willing, I can't wait to climb that mountain.

[@mwmilling]

Nice! Great tutorial on the two gullies and the dihedral. I camped at Lower So Colony in August then got rained out on Needle summit day. I'll be checking this video out again before I return.

[@andrewstephens9843]

Man thanks for doing this one! Iv been wanting to do all three in that area but have felt unsure about the needle. You have the video of the traverse, but it didn’t give much info about the needle standard route. Thanks for all your guidance and inspiration!

[@mountaintrailventures]

Thanks for the great video! I can't wait to do this one.

[@buckeatingbread]

The class 4 section with the selfie stick is crazy

[@BertoRoolz]

Great video. I was going up Broken Hand pass just a few days ago. But it had snowed recently and, without spikes, it was too icy for my risk tolerance. Turned back. But I had a beautiful day at the upper lake and Humboldt saddle. My goal was actually Crestone Peak, not Needle. Question: Would you climb Crestone Peak from the east or west approach? Pros/cons of each?

[@HarryWeatherman]

Thank you for this dude. Just got done with Kit Carson’s N ridge a few weeks ago - I felt comfortable with the rock and exposure so the crestones seem like a good next step. Planning to descend this one after the traverse. Big appreciation for the beta - I’m most concerned about descending via this route, so this puts my mind at ease!

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Def be more concerned with that Class 4 headwall on the traverse the exposure there is no joke.

[@26hurban]

Dang, that class 4 section looked spooky

[@jakollee]

To compare, I’d have to see Crestone Needle with some snow. The Maroon Bells in winter raiment are spectacular. Excellent video, you had a beautiful day, with amazing, otherworldly views! (By the way, Crestone Conglomerate is sedimentary, not volcanic.)

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Touche - hard to beat those iconic lines of red stone with snow dusted on them.

[@grantskidmore6921]

No the bells and needles are beautiful but the needle takes the cake for me since less crowds. But views from the bells are better imo. Thanks for the vid! Also never been on either just living curiously via your vids 😊

[@grantskidmore6921]

That gully looks like a lot of fun!

[@PaulChevalier-f2x]

you are the man!!

[@oliverroo59]

This looks doable for me but I have a physical reaction to exposure that I can't do anything about. How does the exposure here compare to, say, the Wetterhorn steps?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Very very similar just A LOT longer and more exposure the higher you get (obv).

[@Octotaco]

One of the coolest views of a mountain ever. Would you recommend this as a first class four?

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

If you are good with Class 3, 100% - not a SUPER high amount of exposure and like we talked about in the vid, the rock quality is 🤌

[@PastirellaGuitar]

The holds being okay is actually surprising considering the combined weight of your guys' cajones and Jared's leg muscles.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

😂

[@brad5349]

Is this one of the easier class 4 to start with ? The rock looked stable for the most part.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Rock quality is excellent - its pretty sustained Class 3/4 in the gully though so I would know how you feel on that kind of terrain before sending.

[@brianlund7862]

Would you say this is one of the better options for a first class 4 14er?

[@brianlund7862]

Realize like 7 people already asked that lol nevermind. Appreciate you 🙏

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

All good!