Crestones
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Crestone_peaks_fall.jpg
The Crestones are three 14,000 foot (ca. 4200 m) peaks in the northern part of the Sangre de Cristo Range above Crestone, Colorado. Kit Carson Mountain (14,165 ft, 4317 m), is a walkup if one follows the correct route, but has claimed more lives than Crestone Peak (14,294 ft, 4357 m) or Crestone Needle (14,197 ft, 4374 m), which are simple technical climbs. Generally climbers to the latter two start from a base camp at South Colony Lake on the east side of the range, having ascended from the Wet Mountain Valley. First they walk from the lake to the top of the ridge above them to a large relatively flat area at the top called "The Pool Table" (a few large rocks lie on the tundra); then ascend a long gully on the south side of Crestone Peak (hardhats for this); then after a short climb to Crestone Peak, it is a short clamber across a saddle to the top of Crestone Needle. Some climbers get in a bad spot on the Needle and require rescue. About one person per year is killed on the Crestones.
Kit Carson Mountain lies to the north of The Pool Table. Humbolt Peak, (14,064 ft, 4287 m) to the northeast is an easy walkup. Mount Adams (13,931 ft, 4246 m) to the north is quite rugged. Snow is usually mostly melted by early July. Expect afternoon rain, hail, and lightning from the seasonal monsoon in late July and August.
See also: climbing
External links
- USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) (http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnis/web_query.gnis_web_query_form)