Mountaineering · YDS Class 3

South Face to Saddle, East Ridge Scramble

Distance RT
14.0 mi
Gain
6,201 ft
High Point
14,301 ft
Route Description

A short, easy Class 3 extension from the Crestone Peak saddle to the separate sub-summit of East Crestone, typically combined with or done instead of the main Crestone Peak summit.

Approach

Follow the standard Crestone Peak South Face route from the South Colony Lakes trailhead up through Broken Hand Pass and Cottonwood Lake to the base of the Red Couloir. Rather than climbing the couloir to Crestone Peak's main summit, break off toward the saddle below the peak and continue in a free-form scramble along the ridge toward East Crestone's summit, staying on Class 2–3 terrain depending on the exact line chosen.

Descent

Reverse the ridge scramble back to the saddle and descend the standard South Face approach.

Weather Forecast
7-Day Forecast
Today
☁️
Overcast
41° / 27°
5%
💨14
Tomorrow
❄️
Snow
32° / 27°
89%
❄ 6.5"
💨38
Tue, Sep 29
🌧️
Showers
34° / 27°
84%
❄ 4.0"
💨27
Wed, Sep 30
🌧️
Drizzle
40° / 26°
78%
💧0.04"
💨8
Thu, Oct 1
🌤️
Partly Cloudy
40° / 22°
37%
💨6
Fri, Oct 2
☀️
Clear
45° / 22°
2%
💨6
Sat, Oct 3
☁️
Overcast
45° / 23°
5%
💨7
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