August 17, 1981
A 68-year-old male was struck with rockfall from a group above him, cuasing him to fall 300' to his death.Source: Wet Mountain Tribune
Unknown Date 1987
Two unknown experienced climbers became wary of the descent and were later rescued.Source: Accidents in North American Mountaineering, 1988
September 16, 2000
Don Hard was planning on completing the Needle to Peak traverse. Rescuers did not find him, and the mission changed to body recovery status.Source: Rocky Mountain News
September 11, 2001
An unknown climber was rescued after he had broken his ankle, being lowered 250 feet down a sheer face.Source: El Paso County Search and Rescue
September 15, 2001
An unknown 46 year old female refused medical treatment after a fall that occured after climbing the Needle to Peak traverse.Source: El Paso County Search and Rescue
September 6, 2002
An unknown foreign climber was found dead in his tent near the Cottonwood Trail of unknown causes.Source: www.zwire.com/news
July 25, 2004
Jason Pettigrew's body was found between Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak after several days of searching. He was attempting to traverse to Crestone Needle from Crestone Peak when he fell.Source: Rockymountainnews.com
August 19, 2006
Two 60-year-old men cliffed out 300' above Cottonwood Lake and called for help on a cell phone. They were later rescued.Source: Wet Mountain Tribune
August 24, 2006
John Rataj fell to his death above Cottonwood Lake attempting to traverse from Crestone Needle.Source: Wet Mountain Tribune
Crestone Peak as seen from Challenger Point