Climbed in a long day+ after Princeton, Perfectly clear day great views of the dunes, ran the last couple miles to finish 26+ miles and 12k feet in the last 36 hours or so.
Route Climbed: North Face Date Climbed: September 2005
This was my third summit of challanger. I took a co-worker who has never been up a 14er but she was in good shape. Clouds were scary and big and white. We saw mulitudes of wildlife. A great day.
Route Climbed: Not Sure Date Climbed: August 20 1981
Journal says that we climbed Kit Cason mountain today 14165 ft. Its getting to be old hand climbing these peaks but it is still always a thrill. We had an orienteering course. We are cooking diiner now. It suks making sure that everyone does everyting right. We are to get resuply tomorrow.
I only remember the date because I remember the mountains were full of haze from all the fires that year. Otherwise a good climb with a partner I met on the yahoo group. My first class 4 climb.
Route Climbed: West Ridge via Challenger Point Date Climbed: 2001?
The 14ers run together after you've done a few and it's been a while. Next to the final move on Sunlight, the most challenng of the umpteen some I've done. Good views -- started to snow on the way down making the grassy slope hard to negotiate. I was beat after all that scree.
Route Climbed: west ridge Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005
Quite a long but rewarding climb of these two! We backpacked in late and started early the next day. I would recommend doing an alpine start dayhike for these as it is pretty steep to Willow Lake with a heavy pack. Some of the best scenery I have seen in CO at Willow Lake. The gully to Challenger's n.w. ridge is looser than I thought it would be and is not fun coming down!
Route Climbed: East Ridge - Colony Lakes Date Climbed: 8-21-05
Hard to believe but a very relaxing climb / hike compared to the Needle the day before. Quite a few people on Kit, majority from the Challenger point side of the mtn. Great views the whole way to the summit , very slick and wet majority of the way. Same problem here as with Needle, rock cairns everywhere, hard to follow the right ones when you have 2 or 4 to choose from at one time, but we dble. checked our route quite a bit the whole way the the summit. Didn't have enough time or good weather to make it over to Challenger, but I will definately be back to this area.
Route Climbed: North Face of Challenger Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2005
Although I did not summit Kit Carson, I did reach the summit of Challenger. Had I had another 3 hours I would have summited Kit Carson. It took me 6 hours to climb Challenger from just below Willow lake.
Route Climbed: North Ridge Date Climbed: 14 Aug 2005
The lower parts of the ridge were pretty wet from a thunderstorm the previous day which made things a little treacherous, but the upper parts were fantastic! Solid rock, lots of good holds, and an excellent position! Highly recommended route! Traversed over to Columbia Point, got lost in the clouds and summitted Kit Carson again, and then got my bearings right and returned to Willow Lake over Challenger Point.
Route Climbed: Outward Bound Couloir Date Climbed: July 2, 2005
Climbed with brother (ahansen54, see below). Late start but snow was good in the couloir. It was easy to sidestep the small cornice at the top. Summitted Kit Carson and headed over to Challenger Pt. via Kit Carson Avenue. Still a few patches of snow on the avenue. Storms held off as we hiked the west ridge back down to Willow Lake. I enjoyed the ascent much more than surfing down all the scree on the main route. Pretty area, but a little crowded due to the fact it was the 4th of July weekend.
markhyams - Mar 2, 2006 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 1999
East RidgeCame up from S Colony Lakes. This was my second-to-last 14er. The next day I climbed Crestone Needle to finish off the list.
foreverwild - Feb 21, 2006 12:53 am
End of a long day.Climbed in a long day+ after Princeton, Perfectly clear day great views of the dunes, ran the last couple miles to finish 26+ miles and 12k feet in the last 36 hours or so.
Kiefer - Jan 28, 2006 1:49 am
Route Climbed: North Face Date Climbed: September 2005This was my third summit of challanger. I took a co-worker who has never been up a 14er but she was in good shape. Clouds were scary and big and white. We saw mulitudes of wildlife. A great day.
shanahan96 - Jan 10, 2006 2:17 am
Route Climbed: Southwest Face of Kit Carson Date Climbed: January 7, 2006challenging winter climb. it was awesome! and yes, we're insane.....first two up in 2006
jamie
chicagotransplant - Jan 9, 2006 8:16 pm
Route Climbed: Southwest Face of Kit Carson Date Climbed: January 7, 2006Kit Carson in January? I must be crazy...
chicagotransplant - Jan 9, 2006 8:15 pm
Route Climbed: North Face of Challenger Date Climbed: August 28, 2005"Standard Route" a little loose, check out my image on the route section for a more solid alternate.
budsmith62 - Dec 31, 2005 12:29 am
Route Climbed: Not Sure Date Climbed: August 20 1981Journal says that we climbed Kit Cason mountain today 14165 ft. Its getting to be old hand climbing these peaks but it is still always a thrill. We had an orienteering course. We are cooking diiner now. It suks making sure that everyone does everyting right. We are to get resuply tomorrow.
jclements - Dec 22, 2005 7:16 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: June 2002I only remember the date because I remember the mountains were full of haze from all the fires that year. Otherwise a good climb with a partner I met on the yahoo group. My first class 4 climb.
SiberianSayan - Nov 6, 2005 4:10 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge via Challenger Point Date Climbed: 2001?The 14ers run together after you've done a few and it's been a while. Next to the final move on Sunlight, the most challenng of the umpteen some I've done. Good views -- started to snow on the way down making the grassy slope hard to negotiate. I was beat after all that scree.
hoopyfrood - Aug 29, 2005 4:52 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge via Challenger Point Date Climbed: August 25, 2005This was a beautiful two day trip with outstanding weather, and I was able to take my nephew on his first 14er!
shknbke - Aug 29, 2005 12:03 am
Route Climbed: west ridge Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005Quite a long but rewarding climb of these two! We backpacked in late and started early the next day. I would recommend doing an alpine start dayhike for these as it is pretty steep to Willow Lake with a heavy pack. Some of the best scenery I have seen in CO at Willow Lake. The gully to Challenger's n.w. ridge is looser than I thought it would be and is not fun coming down!
Mike Mc - Aug 28, 2005 10:32 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge ( via Challenger) Date Climbed: July 27, 2005The fog was so heavy, the visibility was maybe 100 feet.
kylerlott - Aug 27, 2005 1:52 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge - Colony Lakes Date Climbed: 8-21-05Hard to believe but a very relaxing climb / hike compared to the Needle the day before. Quite a few people on Kit, majority from the Challenger point side of the mtn. Great views the whole way to the summit , very slick and wet majority of the way. Same problem here as with Needle, rock cairns everywhere, hard to follow the right ones when you have 2 or 4 to choose from at one time, but we dble. checked our route quite a bit the whole way the the summit. Didn't have enough time or good weather to make it over to Challenger, but I will definately be back to this area.
wayneaflick - Aug 24, 2005 11:33 am
Route Climbed: North Face of Challenger Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2005Although I did not summit Kit Carson, I did reach the summit of Challenger. Had I had another 3 hours I would have summited Kit Carson. It took me 6 hours to climb Challenger from just below Willow lake.
bc44caesar - Aug 15, 2005 1:02 am
Route Climbed: North Ridge Date Climbed: 14 Aug 2005The lower parts of the ridge were pretty wet from a thunderstorm the previous day which made things a little treacherous, but the upper parts were fantastic! Solid rock, lots of good holds, and an excellent position! Highly recommended route! Traversed over to Columbia Point, got lost in the clouds and summitted Kit Carson again, and then got my bearings right and returned to Willow Lake over Challenger Point.
Ken Dammen - Aug 3, 2005 12:43 am
Route Climbed: North Ridge Date Climbed: July 27, 2005Heavy Fog on the way up. Reached summit at 0930. Was slick on the way down. Nice Hike.
alpine master - Jul 24, 2005 1:11 pm
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: July 21 2005This was a long haul from South Colony lakes. Didn't do Challenger.
jordancl - Jul 20, 2005 6:19 am
Route Climbed: West Ridge Via Challenger Point Date Climbed: July 03Great day to bag two in one day. Had to assist a fallen climber, all OK.
jhansen007 - Jul 18, 2005 5:05 pm
Route Climbed: Outward Bound Couloir Date Climbed: July 2, 2005Climbed with brother (ahansen54, see below). Late start but snow was good in the couloir. It was easy to sidestep the small cornice at the top. Summitted Kit Carson and headed over to Challenger Pt. via Kit Carson Avenue. Still a few patches of snow on the avenue. Storms held off as we hiked the west ridge back down to Willow Lake. I enjoyed the ascent much more than surfing down all the scree on the main route. Pretty area, but a little crowded due to the fact it was the 4th of July weekend.
doumall - Jul 13, 2005 3:01 pm
Route Climbed: North Slopes / West Ridge Date Climbed: July, 31 200428th and 29th 14ers!