Crestone traverse -  Crestone Peak - -> Crestone Needle-14ers (#1 of 4 Grand Traverses in CO)

Lost Lake hike on north/east side of Cottonwood Pass (Buena Vista side of the Pass)

Taylor Valley hike- west of Crested Butte

Mont Blanc (France)- Successful Summit (solo)-highest mountain in Western Europe

Night Hike

Garmin died on return. 16+ miles and nearly 6k vertical. Broken Hand Pass was under 1-2” of snow from earlier in the week and had to be transited twice on the way in and out. Crestone Peak-no snow- was the most sustained scramble and hike on any mountain 14er to date- bottom to top up the Red Gulley- constant scrambling with a little climbing.
The traverse was 70% mundane and 30% white knuckle. Entrance to Crestone Needle under the Black Gendarme was covered in 1-2” of fresh snow. The ramp/steep gulley from the entrance move up to the knife edge was under snow. Knife edge- under new snow 1-2”. 2-3 ledges and gulleys beyond the knife edge were under new snow. I carried no traction devices b/c recent trail reports stated summer conditions existed. It was a bit sketchy being that high up on snow ledges. Final pitch was probably about 5.4-5.5 grade- maybe 75-80 degrees angle, starting about 600’ off the ground and this was about a 100’ pitch of free climbing with no ropes to reach the belay station and then the grade eased up for about another 80-100’ to the summit. Final pitch was free of snow. Great size holds everywhere, but 3 of them pulled out of the wall on me as I ascended. 14.5 hours car to car.

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Patrick Johnson

Crestone traverse - Crestone Peak - -> Crestone Needle-14ers (#1 of 4 Grand Traverses in CO)

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Crestone traverse - Crestone Peak - -> Crestone Needle-14ers (#1 of 4 Grand Traverses in CO)

Lost Lake hike on north/east side of Cottonwood Pass (Buena Vista side of the Pass)

Taylor Valley hike- west of Crested Butte

Mont Blanc (France)- Successful Summit (solo)-highest mountain in Western Europe

Night Hike

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