Challenger Point Trip Report 07/04/2011

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Challenger Point - 14,086 feet Kit Carson Peak - 14,167 feet
Date Posted	07/04/2011
Date Climbed	07/03/2011
Author	Broderick22

Revenge on Kit Carson and Challenger
Well first off, this is my first trip report! Myself and a few friends attempted KC and Challenger in September of 09 but because of dangerous snow conditions and taking the wrong route, ended up turning around. This time there would be no turning around! We left Denver pretty late and arrived in Crestone around 3:30 PM. After a short drive to the trail and climbing to the trailhead (my car couldn't make it all the way), we arrived at the trailhead around 4:00 PM. Because we got caught in a rainstorm the first time we attempted KC and Challenger, we were nervous about starting so late, especially due to the fact that we had seen a storm on 285 a little ways away. Fortune was with us as the temperature was perfect and no storm came. The first part of the climb was a wakeup call as to the amount of elevation gain you get on these mountains. Switchbacks right out of the gates make for a hard break in haha. After awhile though we got out of the switchbacks and reached a meadow that offers some great views. We continued up the mountain towards the waterfall at a pretty good pace. Our backpacks felt pretty heavy with all of our gear and about 15 lbs of liquids but we wanted to beat any oncoming storms so we hoofed it at a pretty good rate. After reaching the waterfall, you begin more switchback until you reach the entrance to the dell that contains KC and Challenger. At this point most of the elevation gain for the day is done. We cruised into camp around 7:00 PM and set up our tents. After a short meal I got a wild hair and decided it would be fun to go swimming at 12,000 ft. I used to race competitvely and wasn't afraid of drowning. I just figured if I swam fast enough and dried of quick, I would be OK. I picked a spot that would allow me about 50 yards of swimming and dived in. WOW it was so cold! Duh right? Anyways, I made it to shore as quick as possible and jumped out to dry off. My heart felt like it was slowing down the water was so cold. After a few minutes though, I was okay. Willow Lake Went to bed around 9:30 with thoughts of revenge for tomorrow. We woke up around 4:30 and hit the trailhead at 5:00. We climbed up and around the lake and started up Challenger. The face of Challenger is only .8 miles but I believe it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 + ft of elevation gain. This was a daunting challenge but that is why they call it Challenger right? Anyways we made good time and ascended relatively fast. The first time we attempted this mountain we took the wrong route due to snow on the ground and no visible path. The going was slow and slippery with loose rock everywhere. Back in september of 09. About 3/4 of the way up the mountain we met up with another 14ers member and ended up hiking with him the rest of the day. After what seemed like forever, the hiking got a little easier towards the saddle and then we were staring at the summit of Challenger! Almost to the summit! We summited Challenger at 7:20 AM, 2 hours and 20 minutes after leaving camp. We were the only ones on the summit and the 2nd to do it that morning I believe. On top of Challenger After a short snack and a few photos on top of Challenger, we headed out for Kit Carson. Wow this mountain looked daunting from Challenger. Also we were not too thrilled about losing elevation after we worked so hard to gain it! We dropped down the side of Challenger and started up the Kit Carson avenue which wraps around the mountain. KC avenue. Once you reach the top of the avenue, you can't possibly imagine that you would have to lose more elevation. You would be wrong. At this point you must lose about 300 ft or so of elevation climbing around the backside of Kit Carson. This was not the greatest thing but we were determined to summit KC so we kept going. Once all of the elevation loss was completed, we stared up the side of KC that was just as steep as climbing up Challenger's face. About 30 minutes later we stood victorious atop Kit Carson. I believe we summited KC at 8:30, 1 hour after we left Challenger. Victory atop Kit Carson The views from the top of the Sangres are absolutely awesome and we enjoyed it for about 45 minutes. The 14ers member that we met on the way up, Rodney, enjoyed a victory Coors Light and even shared a few sips with us. This was extremely satisfying after the 6,000 ft + of elevation gain that we had done in the last few days. After relaxing on the summit we left KC to re-summit Challenger, as you must do to return to the trail. We re-summitted Challenger around 10:30 and headed down. Going down this steep slope was not much better than going up. It was quite slippery at points and was a strain on the knees. We reached the lake at about 1:00 pm and started packing up. We headed out and were back at the car around 3:30, completely exhausted and ready to get home. This was a great trip and it was satisfying to succeed where we had failed before. Hurray for 14ers no 6 and 7 for me and 19 and 20 for my friend! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Revenge on Kit Carson and Challenger

Well first off, this is my first trip report! Myself and a few friends attempted KC and Challenger in September of 09 but because of dangerous snow conditions and taking the wrong route, ended up turning around. This time there would be no turning around!

We left Denver pretty late and arrived in Crestone around 3:30 PM. After a short drive to the trail and climbing to the trailhead (my car couldn't make it all the way), we arrived at the trailhead around 4:00 PM. Because we got caught in a rainstorm the first time we attempted KC and Challenger, we were nervous about starting so late, especially due to the fact that we had seen a storm on 285 a little ways away.

Fortune was with us as the temperature was perfect and no storm came. The first part of the climb was a wakeup call as to the amount of elevation gain you get on these mountains. Switchbacks right out of the gates make for a hard break in haha. After awhile though we got out of the switchbacks and reached a meadow that offers some great views. We continued up the mountain towards the waterfall at a pretty good pace. Our backpacks felt pretty heavy with all of our gear and about 15 lbs of liquids but we wanted to beat any oncoming storms so we hoofed it at a pretty good rate.

After reaching the waterfall, you begin more switchback until you reach the entrance to the dell that contains KC and Challenger.

At this point most of the elevation gain for the day is done. We cruised into camp around 7:00 PM and set up our tents. After a short meal I got a wild hair and decided it would be fun to go swimming at 12,000 ft. I used to race competitvely and wasn't afraid of drowning. I just figured if I swam fast enough and dried of quick, I would be OK. I picked a spot that would allow me about 50 yards of swimming and dived in. WOW it was so cold! Duh right? Anyways, I made it to shore as quick as possible and jumped out to dry off. My heart felt like it was slowing down the water was so cold. After a few minutes though, I was okay.

Went to bed around 9:30 with thoughts of revenge for tomorrow. We woke up around 4:30 and hit the trailhead at 5:00. We climbed up and around the lake and started up Challenger. The face of Challenger is only .8 miles but I believe it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 + ft of elevation gain. This was a daunting challenge but that is why they call it Challenger right? Anyways we made good time and ascended relatively fast.

The first time we attempted this mountain we took the wrong route due to snow on the ground and no visible path. The going was slow and slippery with loose rock everywhere.

About 3/4 of the way up the mountain we met up with another 14ers member and ended up hiking with him the rest of the day. After what seemed like forever, the hiking got a little easier towards the saddle and then we were staring at the summit of Challenger!

We summited Challenger at 7:20 AM, 2 hours and 20 minutes after leaving camp. We were the only ones on the summit and the 2nd to do it that morning I believe.

After a short snack and a few photos on top of Challenger, we headed out for Kit Carson. Wow this mountain looked daunting from Challenger. Also we were not too thrilled about losing elevation after we worked so hard to gain it! We dropped down the side of Challenger and started up the Kit Carson avenue which wraps around the mountain.

Once you reach the top of the avenue, you can't possibly imagine that you would have to lose more elevation. You would be wrong. At this point you must lose about 300 ft or so of elevation climbing around the backside of Kit Carson. This was not the greatest thing but we were determined to summit KC so we kept going. Once all of the elevation loss was completed, we stared up the side of KC that was just as steep as climbing up Challenger's face. About 30 minutes later we stood victorious atop Kit Carson. I believe we summited KC at 8:30, 1 hour after we left Challenger.

The views from the top of the Sangres are absolutely awesome and we enjoyed it for about 45 minutes. The 14ers member that we met on the way up, Rodney, enjoyed a victory Coors Light and even shared a few sips with us. This was extremely satisfying after the 6,000 ft + of elevation gain that we had done in the last few days.

After relaxing on the summit we left KC to re-summit Challenger, as you must do to return to the trail. We re-summitted Challenger around 10:30 and headed down. Going down this steep slope was not much better than going up. It was quite slippery at points and was a strain on the knees. We reached the lake at about 1:00 pm and started packing up. We headed out and were back at the car around 3:30, completely exhausted and ready to get home.

This was a great trip and it was satisfying to succeed where we had failed before. Hurray for 14ers no 6 and 7 for me and 19 and 20 for my friend!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Cleatelite	Still sore 7/4/2011 5:46pm What a great climb. Glad to be done with those two mountains. On to the next ones!
Torch13	Well done! 7/4/2011 5:48pm Fantastic hike! I'm hoping to bag these 2 next year. I don't have the vacation time to get them this year. I'm betting the water was barely above 40. That's a brisk dip in the water :) Congrats on gaining 2 more 14ers!
Broderick22	What a trip! 7/4/2011 6:03pm Thanks! This is a high exertion, high reward sort of hike. Great views but you have to work for them! I am sure that you will enjoy it next year.
altidude	Still feeling it... 7/5/2011 3:15pm Great hiking with you guys! You two must have hauled back down to the TH! I waited at my car until 5:00, sounds like you were WAY ahead of me haha!
Broderick22	Cue the lactic acid! 7/5/2011 4:12pm Dang! Yea we didn't see you on the way out and thought you were ahead of us. Was really looking forward to a beer at the bottom but saw your car and figured we must have missed you!
obertlong	Kit Carson/Challenger 7/5/2011 6:13pm Thanks for the trip report. Headed into town to do this trip on Thursday & Friday (7/7/11). Any snow to worry about? I assume since you didn't mention it then no. Also, have read that mosquitos can be bad. What say you?
Broderick22	Kit Carson/Challenger 7/5/2011 8:28pm You would be correct on both counts. No crampons/microspikes/ice axe is needed. There is one place where you cross about 20 feet of snow but it is pretty easy and there is boot marks in it. Also there may be none at all by the time you climb it. It was very hot. Don't forget sunscreen either. The mosquitoes were terrible all the way up to the lake. My friend wore shorts and got annihilated on the first day. Other than that, beautiful climb and great weather!
Ramsey Boys	On our way! 7/7/2011 5:33pm We are headed up to climb KC and Challenger. Thanks for the info, it helped us plan out our trip.

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