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Kit Carson via East Ridge from S Colony Lakes
July 6, 2009
7.5 miles RT
3,800ft Vertical Gain
Class 3
Team: Sgladbach, The Dog Cooper The Bigtrout, Sstrauss, and of course Lostsheep5
Steve sent out a PM and I happened to be free these days. After searching at 2 other Loaf n Jugs in Pueblo, Bill (Bigtrout) finally found me. We drove out to South Colony Lakes TH and this was Bills first time 4 wheeling. He did a fantastic job. After We arrived to the TH Bill and I set up camp, We then hiked up to South Colony lakes to fish. I was sitting down enjoying the views and studying our route, while Bill was slacking off hauling in fish after fish.
Bill
The needle
After Bill showed off and caught his 4th fish, we hiked up to the upper lakes to preview our route.
After we took a look we were off to the TH to eat dinner and spend the night. My annoying cell phone alarm woke me up at 5am. And Steve and Sean arrived at 6am. We were on the Trail shortly after.
Sean
Taking a Break before the climb
Steve, Sean and Bill had crampons and boots. I had these...
So they went up the snow and I jumped on to class 3 grassy ledges. My approximate route shown in red. There's in blue. Steve had 6 point crampons so he jumped on the ledges as well.
Climbing the snow.
Looking down the last pitch.
Once we were on top at Bears playground we took a break and watched the fog.
Humboldt
Our route seen from bears playground.
Steve
Sean
After we were done with our ascending traverse, the class 3 fun was about to begin!
Bill coming up
Then we skirted this point.
Looking back.
After you skirt or climb Kat, you down climb class 3 to the saddle between it a Kit. Sorry I don't have any pictures looking up or down of the crux but it is fun class 3 on solid conglomerate knobs.
The last pitch on kit.
Looking down the easy gully.
Crestone Peak from the top.
Challenger and Cooper
My summit photo.
The route off of Kat.
On top of Kit we were greeted with a nice view of the crestones, and an approaching Big nasty Thunderstorm. I could See lighting shooting through the dark mass and on the ground beneath it. I do not have any pictures of the descent because I didn't want to stop. At Bear's Playground we could see flashes and hear thunder. Then we got graupeled and rained on. We glissaded down the cirque into south Colony basin and were relieved.
Looking back up one more time.
Once we were back at the car and ready to go, Bill turned the keys and his truck would not start. Lets try it again.... It still won't start. We ask a lady if she has jumper cables and thank God she does. We jump Bills car and it starts and works fine. Except for the fact that every time he takes his foot off of the gas it instantly dies and needs to be re jumped. He drove down the rode with his foot pinned to the gas. Nobody was coming the opposite way thankfully. And he made it back to westcliffe. We ate at an awesome Pizza place and Bill started his car successfully without jumpers and drove to Pueblo with no problems.????
It was a great day.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Really enjoy your trip reports, Eric. That‘s the way we did Kit Carson (back in the day). It is a fun route, isn‘t it! Thanks for posting. Happy trails!
to go this route instead of Willow Lake again. Thanks for the trip report! I am planning the same route with gladbach. Hope we are as successful as you guys were.
Nice Job! I‘ll be looking for you on the discovery channel some day!
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