TR: Crestone Needle 4-5 and 6-2008

[adimmen]

Ever since reading Goldenboy's Needle TR(http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=79817) I have wanted this line. Something about it spoke to me. Maybe it was the Needle's remote location. Or its steep, narrow fall line coming directly from the summit. Or the fact that it is one the few big lines that comes into condition in early March.

Regardless of the reason, I began preparing for a descent in late February. There were countless calls and emails to pin down a day that worked for 3 people and had safe, fun snow conditions. Everytime we had a day in mind something would go wrong. First there was a 2 foot storm, then endless wind, and finally a sick partner. As mid-March passed, we began to get nervous. What if the couloir melted out or iced over? Would the access turn into a slog through waist deep rotten snow?

We knew the weekend could be our last shot this year. As luck would have it, the weather looked perfect for Saturday. Mostly sunny with light winds and a high of 40. With everything apparently falling into place, I received a call from my buddy saying his snowmachine was broken. We were now looking at 18 miles and 5500 feet of gain but I was determined to take advantage of the weather window.

To make things a little easier, we decided to skin part way in Friday night and sleep a few hours before making an early morning assault. The day started off on a rough note when my nameless buddy decided his Jeep was in fact a snowcat. At least it saved us 4 feet of vertical so we were now down to a 5496 foot day.


After a few miles of skinning and a couple hours sleep, we came into the South Colony Lake basin. It was refreshing to finally see our goal but the weather was quickly deterriorating. I soon found out this was the least of my worries. My buddy was too tired to continue and nothing I said could change this fact. I continued alone up Broken Hand to get a look at the line. Unfortunately I didn't get far enough to see the entire line before my buddy radioed to say he was freezing. I skied some miserable snow down the pass and we headed out.




I originally planned on heading to the San Juans Sunday but I couldn't leave without giving the Needle another shot. This time we would have a snowmachine thanks to Dave (red). He also brought ccwaskier (dark blue) along. When chunks of the track came shooting off less than a mile in, I thought this wasn't meant to be but a little wire and a ski strap and we were off again.

When the couloir finally came into view, I knew we were in for a sporty descent. The snow was bullet proof and I saw nothing but clouds to the west.


We were clearly on the wrong end of the melt freeze cycle. At least ice doesn't slide.


The crampons and firm snow made for a quick ascent. This was probably the softest part of the climb (dave).


The sun came out for a couple minutes just before the descent. It softened things up ever so slightly. The descent was still pure survival skiing though.


When starting up Broken Hand, we saw a solo split boarder coming down. He originally intended to solo the Needle but the weather conditions made him think otherwise. He decided to tag along (dave)


Just below the entrance there was a long narrow section where you could link hop turns. ccwaskier working his way down (dave).


The walls closing in on ccwaskier.


I would not recommend the Needle right now. We had to downclimb 2 sections near the bottom and there were more sketchy chokes that I didn't show. If you wait for better conditions, it will be infinitely more enjoyable.

As fun as it is to hop down an icy chute that's a couple feet wide, we were looking for some better skiing. I had scoped a different line down Broken Hand the day before. It provided the best skiing of the day (dave).


A little pow was refreshing (dave).


I'm really that I haven't seen this couloir in other TRs.






Overall I can't complain. It was a great snow climb with lots of jump turn practice and a little pow thrown in.


Till next time.

[mantraskier]

Way to finally get it done, I admire your persistance. That climb is sketch in the summer, looks even more so right now...Broken Hand pass is not flat. Amazing views up top for sure.

[summit]

EXCELLENT TR!
Sorry I wasn't able to make it along!

[jSki]

I'll man up to being the nameless friend who sauced out in the basin. The 3 hours of "sleep" in the freezing conditions didn't really get me going for the next day. Also learned that I have to eat in the morning no matter how bad I feel. Lessons learned for sure. Good skiing with ya and way to get after it the next day!

Lots of unnamed skiers in this TR

[Squirrel99]

nice one - too bad the snow wasn't more pleasant!

I dig the angle on this pic

[PowStompper]

This must have been rough on the split boarders.

[Lone Star]

I had heard you were itchin' to hit this.... got any more pics? a peak like that doesn't get proper justice in so few pictures. good work!!

[Kya]

Way to getter done. That's cool about the shitty conditions, just makes you tougher for nailing it Nice!

[montanaskier]

wow......you are one determined dude. Nice pics.

[mtnbikerskierchick]

Nice Job!

So, does that mean that the couloir didn't go all the way? I can't tell where this picture was taken. Just curious. It did seem pretty late in the season for this line. Good work though!!!!!!!!


How far were you able to get with the snowmobile? Was the snow decent on the road, or were there big patches of dirt?

[Tap]

looks like an adventure, thanks for putting it up

[grskier]

Nice work...


Very aesthetic line!

[Rontele]

solid work!

[adimmen]

The rocky picture looking up was taken near where you enter the couloir itself from Broken Hand. There were two sections that required either a downclimb or balls of steel to huck out and down onto ice. If you really hated your skis and your body, you could probably have sidestepped down the rock itself but I took the easier and safer route.

We parked the snowmachine near the summer parking lot. The tow in was easy and thankfully it wasn't rotten on the way out. There are a few small dirt patches within a 1/2 mile where the snow begins. A couple of the stream crossings could get interesting as things melt out though.

[adimmen]

I'll man up to being the nameless friend who sauced out in the basin. The 3 hours of "sleep" in the freezing conditions didn't really get me going for the next day. Also learned that I have to eat in the morning no matter how bad I feel. Lessons learned for sure. Good skiing with ya and way to get after it the next day!

Lots of unnamed skiers in this TR

In my rush to get this out, I forgot skier and photo credits. Sorry guys.

[goldenboy]

Man, for all the talk of the Sangres having a descent year, there wasn't much snow on KC, and Needle's S couloir looks really thin compared to last year. I guess the San Juans took it all, and whatever fell in the Sangres blew away. Way to get it done, though.

Is this your Broken hand pass variation? (Taken last year from Humboldt):

[grizzle6]

Getting after it in less than ideal conditions. Yeah.

[adimmen]

Man, for all the talk of the Sangres having a descent year, there wasn't much snow on KC, and Needle's S couloir looks really thin compared to last year. I guess the San Juans took it all, and whatever fell in the Sangres blew away. Way to get it done, though.

Is this your Broken hand pass variation? (Taken last year from Humboldt):

Yep, that's the line. I didn't have a good picture of it.

[Trackhead]

Sometimes skiing lines in less than ideal conditions is oddly more rewarding than tagging them in perfect conditions.

[ccwaskier]

nice tr andy, i've got some of you i will put in here tonight

[Ireallyliketoski2]

Great TR, excellent write up, I'd like to ski that line sometime myself.

The snow definitely blew off all the high peaks it seems, similar situation down in the southern sawatch as well. Although the front range is looking pretty solid right now, I feel several nice sticky spring storms totaling around 60" would serve us well.

I love this time of year, the skiing, the TR's, and the blooming flowers.

[Dside11-11]

Excellent work. Persistence through adversity all the way. Hope the pow section was reward enough.

[Doughnuts01]

nice work

[leroy jenkins]

Nicely done Andy.

[Kski]

Congrats on getting that done!

We got our Summit Ski Descent on Sacred Buffalo done on Saturday, was fun with good snow at the top... but nasty breakable crap down lower.