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Sangre De Cristo Mountains Ice Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Areas in Sangre De Cristo Mountains Ice

Crestones Alpine Ice 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 2 / 2

Mount Blanca 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 2 / 2

Mt. Lindsey Ice 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 5

Willow Lake 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Zapata Falls 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 5

Elevation:	12,222 ft
GPS:	37.98142, -105.57608 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	14,978 total · 472/month
Shared By:	Ben Bruestle on Aug 4, 2020
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

Access Issue: Much of this area is part of the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness so expect longer approaches and no power bolting Details

Description

The Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) Range runs from Salida, Colorado all the way down into northern New Mexico. Its mountains are known for steep approaches, solitude, fantastic scenery, and the conglomerate in the Crestones. All the recorded ice climbs are in the southern part of the range in the Crestones or Mount Blanca Massif. The ice season stretches from October to April.

Two major events in American climbing history occurred in the Crestone section of the Sangres. The first was the original use of a rope on an alpine route in North America by Albert Ellingwood in 1916 on Kit Carson. The second was the birthplace of camming devices by Greg Lowe at Bear Basin Ranch in 1970.

Getting There

The biggest towns in the area with airports and hospitals are Pueblo or Alamosa. It all depends if you are climbing on the east or west side of the range. Westside approaches start around the town of Crestone, with eastside approaches beginning near Westcliffe or Gardner.