Crestone Peak Winter

January 14, 2023

Laura and I attempted Crestone Peak from the Cottonwood Creek trailhead. The trail was fully snow covered and we snowshoed most of the steep trail. We reached the red gulley on Crestone Peak filled with unconsolidated snow and decided that rather than turning back at 8 am, we would see how far we could get. I made the decision to turn back around 13,000 feet and Laura reluctantly agreed. We started walking from the car at 3:15 am and returned at 3:00 pm.

Justin breaking trail through the dark on the Cottonwood Creek Trail

Justin trying to decide which route to take

Laura working up the Cottonwood Creek Trail

Justin getting us lost below the falls

Justin working up Crestone Peak below the red gully

Laura trying to avoid the deep snow by traversing high on the west ridge of Crestone Peak

Justin and Laura in the red gully on Crestone Peak

Justin calling it quits due to the wind loaded snow in the red gully

Justin and Laura back in the basin, defeated by the snow in the red gully