Mots010 - Aug 31, 2008 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2008
via Challenger
Couldnt find a partner for north ridge, so settled for standard route. Love Willow Lake.
GeorgeJames - Aug 25, 2008 3:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2008
North Ridge
All accounts of this route were proven true, it's amazing. I must admit that the high exposure (plus some rockfall early on) made me a little anxious, but the ridge is pretty darn solid, and all in all it was really fun. Traversed across the "avenue" and descended via the Northwest Ridge/Northwest Slopes of Challenger Point. What a great area!
msihl - Aug 20, 2008 2:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2008
Challenger Point
Climbed with Sarp and Paul, starting from trailhead at 9.30 am. Reached Challenger Point at 16.30 and turned around due to exhaustion...Paul and Sarp went on to climb Kit Carson...Paul returned at 1.10 am after getting lost in the dark around Willow Lake.
seth@LOKI - Aug 5, 2008 2:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2008
Rather than return to Challenger Point we descended Kit-Kat (Columbia Pt.) Coulior East down to upper Willow
Descended Kit-Kat (Columbia Pt. Coulior East into upper Willow Basin. What is this East facing coulior called? CMC? (I loaned out my Dawson book...This steepish descent would have been better with crampons, or skis.
A great weekend. Spent a full weekend at Willow Lake with no rain!! North Ridge is one of my favorite routes thus far.
Seth Maciejowski - Jun 24, 2008 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2008
Challenger Point
Went up challenger point in a fast run up from willow lake. The avenue look sketchy without an axe so I went back down doing the 1800' glissade in the snow gully. Sweet....
Jerry L - May 25, 2008 1:21 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2008
Challnegr Point Only
I made it up to the lake and beyond a bit (about 12,000') but decided to back off as I was solo and there's lots of snow up there right now. Snow was wasit deep in places around the lake. I climbed a smaller peak with southern exposure instead.
MountainHikerCO - Feb 18, 2008 7:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2000
Willow Creek
This was my second climb of both Kit Carson and Challenger. We approached from Willow Creek trailhead
MountainHikerCO - Feb 18, 2008 7:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 1994
Challenger
This was my first climb of Challenger. I approached from Willow Creek Trailhead. I did not get Kit Carson this trip but I did hike down to the saddle to reconnoiter the route for next time.
MountainHikerCO - Feb 18, 2008 7:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 1993
South Colony
This was my first climb of Kit Carson. I approached from South Colony Lakes and got point 13799 and Kat Carson 13890 (now called Columbia). I did not get Challenger on this trip.
mtnhiker13 - Sep 5, 2007 12:39 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2007
via Challenger
Third attempt on this mountain - finally made it. Weather looked threatening but held off until we were way off the mountain. What a great route on a great mountain - we climbed up the west couloir which was very solid and enjoyable climbing. Didn't get to enjoy the summit very long as the clouds were circling around us!
did this with challenger and humbolt from s. colony lakes. amazing rock and amazing views.
Woodie Hopper - Sep 3, 2007 8:48 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2007
South Colony Lakes
A long day from South Colony Lakes. Climbed with Kent from Grand Junction who I met at the Bear's Playground.
altitude14er - Aug 19, 2007 3:25 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2007
Route Climbed: North Slopes from Willow Lake
Climbed this peak and then did the traverse climb to Kit Carson. The "Avenue" was alot of fun and made for an interesting route. Climbed w/Mark,Dave&Debbie! Saw Bighorn Sheep near lake on descent..
Eric Holle - Aug 18, 2007 11:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2007
Amazing day
Climbed the two 14ers with Kris from Willow Creek. Great day and hike. It was great to get back to the Sangre de Cristo Range after spending two weeks there in April-May. Great views all around. Napped by the lake on the way out.
shanahan96 - Aug 12, 2007 1:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2007
north face
went back for challenger 1.5 years after knocking off kit carson in winter 2006. the north face was a steep slog, yet the hike went by fast. added the prow, kit carson and columbia point to the hike.
jamie
shanrickv - Aug 9, 2007 8:49 am Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2007
Beautiful Climb!
Absolutely beautiful area to climb and hike in. I love the Sangres, especially Willow Lake. Alan, you can bring the salmon next time!
K_G_Wright - Aug 6, 2007 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2007
Willow Lake
Started from just above Willow Lake at 0510. Ascended Challenger Pt. by 0745 and Kit Carson by 0845. Was back at the car by 1610. Absolutely beautiful peaks, route, and people. The lake and waterfalls were postcards. Wonderful company on the way down.
Standard peakbaggers' route over Challenger Pt. and Kit Carson Avenue. A cloudy day, but the rain held off, and a satisfying climb. Fourteener #31 for me.
Second time up Challenger on the way to Columbia Point. Also tagged the top of "The Prow" and "Kitty Kat Carson". Kind of a weird combination... all of Kit Carson's "sub peaks" but not Kit.
Mots010 - Aug 31, 2008 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2008
via ChallengerCouldnt find a partner for north ridge, so settled for standard route. Love Willow Lake.
GeorgeJames - Aug 25, 2008 3:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2008
North RidgeAll accounts of this route were proven true, it's amazing. I must admit that the high exposure (plus some rockfall early on) made me a little anxious, but the ridge is pretty darn solid, and all in all it was really fun. Traversed across the "avenue" and descended via the Northwest Ridge/Northwest Slopes of Challenger Point. What a great area!
msihl - Aug 20, 2008 2:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2008
Challenger PointClimbed with Sarp and Paul, starting from trailhead at 9.30 am. Reached Challenger Point at 16.30 and turned around due to exhaustion...Paul and Sarp went on to climb Kit Carson...Paul returned at 1.10 am after getting lost in the dark around Willow Lake.
seth@LOKI - Aug 5, 2008 2:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2008
Rather than return to Challenger Point we descended Kit-Kat (Columbia Pt.) Coulior East down to upper WillowDescended Kit-Kat (Columbia Pt. Coulior East into upper Willow Basin. What is this East facing coulior called? CMC? (I loaned out my Dawson book...This steepish descent would have been better with crampons, or skis.
heather14 - Jul 21, 2008 12:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2008
North RidgeA great weekend. Spent a full weekend at Willow Lake with no rain!! North Ridge is one of my favorite routes thus far.
Seth Maciejowski - Jun 24, 2008 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2008
Challenger PointWent up challenger point in a fast run up from willow lake. The avenue look sketchy without an axe so I went back down doing the 1800' glissade in the snow gully. Sweet....
Jerry L - May 25, 2008 1:21 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2008
Challnegr Point OnlyI made it up to the lake and beyond a bit (about 12,000') but decided to back off as I was solo and there's lots of snow up there right now. Snow was wasit deep in places around the lake. I climbed a smaller peak with southern exposure instead.
MountainHikerCO - Feb 18, 2008 7:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2000
Willow CreekThis was my second climb of both Kit Carson and Challenger. We approached from Willow Creek trailhead
MountainHikerCO - Feb 18, 2008 7:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 1994
ChallengerThis was my first climb of Challenger. I approached from Willow Creek Trailhead. I did not get Kit Carson this trip but I did hike down to the saddle to reconnoiter the route for next time.
MountainHikerCO - Feb 18, 2008 7:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 1993
South ColonyThis was my first climb of Kit Carson. I approached from South Colony Lakes and got point 13799 and Kat Carson 13890 (now called Columbia). I did not get Challenger on this trip.
mtnhiker13 - Sep 5, 2007 12:39 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2007
via ChallengerThird attempt on this mountain - finally made it. Weather looked threatening but held off until we were way off the mountain. What a great route on a great mountain - we climbed up the west couloir which was very solid and enjoyable climbing. Didn't get to enjoy the summit very long as the clouds were circling around us!
dr_gonz - Sep 4, 2007 4:29 pm
beautifuldid this with challenger and humbolt from s. colony lakes. amazing rock and amazing views.
Woodie Hopper - Sep 3, 2007 8:48 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2007
South Colony LakesA long day from South Colony Lakes. Climbed with Kent from Grand Junction who I met at the Bear's Playground.
altitude14er - Aug 19, 2007 3:25 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2007
Route Climbed: North Slopes from Willow LakeClimbed this peak and then did the traverse climb to Kit Carson. The "Avenue" was alot of fun and made for an interesting route. Climbed w/Mark,Dave&Debbie! Saw Bighorn Sheep near lake on descent..
Eric Holle - Aug 18, 2007 11:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2007
Amazing dayClimbed the two 14ers with Kris from Willow Creek. Great day and hike. It was great to get back to the Sangre de Cristo Range after spending two weeks there in April-May. Great views all around. Napped by the lake on the way out.
shanahan96 - Aug 12, 2007 1:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2007
north facewent back for challenger 1.5 years after knocking off kit carson in winter 2006. the north face was a steep slog, yet the hike went by fast. added the prow, kit carson and columbia point to the hike.
jamie
shanrickv - Aug 9, 2007 8:49 am Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2007
Beautiful Climb!Absolutely beautiful area to climb and hike in. I love the Sangres, especially Willow Lake. Alan, you can bring the salmon next time!
K_G_Wright - Aug 6, 2007 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2007
Willow LakeStarted from just above Willow Lake at 0510. Ascended Challenger Pt. by 0745 and Kit Carson by 0845. Was back at the car by 1610. Absolutely beautiful peaks, route, and people. The lake and waterfalls were postcards. Wonderful company on the way down.
cftbq - Jul 30, 2007 2:45 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2007
via ChallengerStandard peakbaggers' route over Challenger Pt. and Kit Carson Avenue. A cloudy day, but the rain held off, and a satisfying climb. Fourteener #31 for me.
chicagotransplant - Jul 30, 2007 9:32 am Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2007
second timeSecond time up Challenger on the way to Columbia Point. Also tagged the top of "The Prow" and "Kitty Kat Carson". Kind of a weird combination... all of Kit Carson's "sub peaks" but not Kit.