ELLINGWOOD ARETE - CRESTONE NEEDLE / OCT 1980

Another interesting trip with my older brother. Still in his climbing days, Chip wanted to do the more elegant Ellingwood Arete to get to the top of Crestone Needle and it being one of the famous 50, I was keen to join him. Mary and my younger brother Tom were along though Tom was no longer climbing.

Probably the most memorable part of the whole trip was the road up to the South Colony Lakes trailhead. Walking would be faster and far less traumatic on you body. We'd borrowed the appropriate vehicle for the drive, but it just can't be described as fun any way you look at it.

The hike is short and so by early the next morning we were scrambling up the low angle approach to the route. I think we probably roped up for 3 or 4 pitches, the crux of which was the step across in the chimney. Conglomerate is weird stuff if you're not used to it. Mary didn't enjoy it at all. The day was nice and the descent, interesting and one which keeps your focus. That was 1980 and I haven't been back since.