A cup of coffee, a Needle and Some Fog

After months of planning, a small group of us traveled to Telluride on Wednesday of last week with plans of climbing the Wilsons. Flash flood warnings be damned, we made the trip as scheduled and arrived in time to set up camp in Town Park in driving rain. Maybe the snowplow clearing a mudslide could have given us a clue? It poured all night and the forecast called for much more of the same. We don't mind a little rain, but we've faced San Juan monsoons with a glass half full attitude in the past and this looked like the real deal. Over a cup of coffee after packing soaked tents, we decided to get out of dodge. I texted, then called Jack Brauer, who said (from his toasty home in Ouray) "at least you got to have a cup of coffee in Telluride on your way to the Crestones." Thanks Jack!

So we drove the 5 hours to Westcliffe, hiked in to S. Colony Lakes and committed to climbing Crestone Needle the next morning.

The road is like the Valley Highway compared to the old road and the gate is in place at ~ 2.7 miles. The hike to the lower lake is a little under 4 miles.

Here's Marla considering her next move in the East Gulley on The Needle climb.

The view to the Blanca Group, with a slice of the Dunes from Crestone Needle.

We were pretty trashed from the day on The Needle, so we planned to leave camp at 3:30 on Friday to reach the summit of Humboldt (rather than climb The Peak) by sunrise. The sunrise was delayed by low clouds, but things improved a bit later.

Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak and Kit Carson Mountain from Humboldt's summit.

Kit Carson and building clouds.

Summit pano.

Fog moved in from both valleys and started to obscure The Crestones.

A hiker reaches the ridge below and adds scale to the scene unfolding before us.

Crestone Needle just before total envelopment.

The end, thanks for comments, etc.

And here we have future candidates for Crestone shots in the Colorado Fourteeners calendar! Man, these are to die for, Dave! And that first one -- go, Marla, GO! Great stuff.

That is some excellent stuff! Fantastic clouds and a fourteener. It doesn't get much better than that.

I just love those peaks shrouded in clouds!
Your efforts were well rewarded. And I just loved Jack B.'s quip!

Awesome set that you have here . Liked all of them but the last three and the first shot are simply wonderful.

I really like the feeling of depth in the Kit Carson/building clouds shot, the last one of the Needle is really cool as well.

Great shots Dave! Thanks for the story too! Those shots from Humbolt are great!

What Don said. Really nice set!

Great set of images, Dave. A quick change of plans paid big rewards.

Great images from one of my favorite mountain areas! Love 'em!!!

Some great shots Dave, but I really like that man & nature first shot!

Awesome shots, Dave! Love the fog ones especially. The needle is an awesome climb, would like to do it again some time...

Hey Dave, glad your spontaneous backup plan worked so well! I must be honest I was relieved when you said you were bailing on the Wilsons, as I was laying in bed listening to the torrential rain pouring down outside.

The Needle is a fun climb, eh? One of my favorite 14ers I've done. All your shots are awesome, but the last one is phenomenal! Looks like the Needle is putting on its fog coat. One of the best Needle shots I've seen!