Crestones

The Crestones are a group of four peaks (fourteeners) in the Sangre de Cristo Range above Crestone, central southern Colorado, comprising: Crestone Peak ( ) Crestone Needle ( ) Kit Carson Mountain ( ) Humboldt Peak ( )

Snow is usually mostly melted by early July. Climbers can expect afternoon rain, hail, and lightning from the seasonal monsoon in late July and August.

Climbing Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle are rock scrambles (Class 3) with some exposure. Kit Carson Mountain is a walk-up (Class 2), but only if the correct route is carefully followed; it has claimed more lives than Crestone Peak or Crestone Needle. Challenger Point ( ) and Columbia Point () are sub-peaks of Kit Carson Mountain. Humboldt Peak is the easiest of the four, with a straightforward walk-up route. Sometimes Humboldt is not included in the term "The Crestones."

Broken Hand Peak, , southeast of Crestone Needle, is included within the official name "Crestone Peaks". Mount Adams ( ) is a notable peak just to the north of the Crestones, and is quite rugged.

Note that Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle are somewhat more technical climbs than many Colorado fourteeners; caution is advised. About one person per year is killed on the Crestones; occasionally they are skilled mountaineers.

Crestones

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