AKA: Why I bailed
AKA: Discretion is the better part of not being dead

Snow conditions don't warrant a solo trip up a class 3+ route that I have no experience on. Here is a picture of the Crestones taken yesterday:

As you can see, there is still plenty of snow. Furthermore, the standard routes on both Crestone Peak (left) and Crestone Needle (right) involve ascending narrow couloirs that hold snow longer than the rest of the mountain. Also, it's rather steep. Here is a photo showing the last thousand feet or so of the route on Crestone Needle:

I don't need to be doing that when there's loose snow and I don't have solid footing.

I'm going to salvage something out of this weekend, I'm just not sure what yet. But whatever it is, I'll live to tell about it. :)

[photos courtesy of/stolen from 14ers.com]