'Bag O Stones'

Link up of all 5 Crestone summits via the technical routes (

Ellingwood Arete

and

Prow

). I did this as a solo venture, which I think is the best way to get it done in a day. If rolling with a partner, I would suggest a very light rack - maybe set of C3's, 4 link cams, a couple tiblocs, and a thin 60m rope. The real crux of the linkup is the lack of runable terrain. Expect a lot of downclimbing, scrambling, scree sliding, and boulder hopping. I got pretty turned around on the traverse and probably wasted a half hour. I finished in 12h 2m TH to TH.

1. Crestone Needle. Climb

Ellingwood Arete

to the summit, then traverse north to Crestone Peak.

2. Crestone Peak. Summit West Peak, and descend North Couloir as far down as you can. Then traverse skier's right on 4th class terrain to a scree gully to the East. Then aim W/NW to the base of the

Prow

.

3.Kit Carson/Challenger. Climb the

Prow

, the technical climbing crux of the day, 5.8. Stash your pack/gear at the saddle between Challenger and KC, tag Challenger, then continue to KC summit. You can climb the West face above the saddle (unprotectable 5.6), or skirt around the south face until you find a lower angle to scramble to the summit.

4. Humboldt Peak. Summon all your reserves, and slog up the Bear's Playground to the Humboldt Trail to the summit, then roll hard back to the car!

Start and end at South Colony Trailhead.

Rock shoes, chalk bag....