August 13, 2021
On Thursday 8/12/21 at approximately 1600, Saguache County SAR requested Custer County SAR’s assistance in providing help to a stranded climber in the East Gully of Crestone Needle. Two men were climbing Crestone Needle on the East Gully route and became separated. One man summited the peak and on his descent found that his climbing partner had climbed into an area where he was unable to ascend or descend. After assessing the situation, they realized that the stranded climber would need assistance from SAR to safely descend. Flight For Life provided helicopter assistance and inserted CCSAR technical team members into the field. At approximately 2030, the team made contact with the subject and set up a rope to lower him to a safer location. The group was able to continue the descent through the East Gully and over Broken Hand Pass where the climber was then able to return to his campsite. All team members were out of the field by 0400 8/13/21. It is worth repeating that climbing Crestone Needle presents several challenges. The standard route is a Class 3 climb which means that skillful navigation/route finding is required for this area. We advise having an honest discussion about your skill level and degree of comfort climbing in difficult terrain with your climbing partner(s). Make a plan in case something changes mid-climb and stay together. We sincerely appreciate our mutual aid partners Flight for Life and Saguache County SAR. Stay safe out there!
