Summitted Kit Carson via Challenger roundtrip from the parking lot this morning. Makes for a very long day. On the way up Challenger there is a single snow field that must be crossed, its 6 or 7 steps. We watched a group turn around because they didn't have axes at about 6:30am. The snow was hard freeze and very difficult to kick steps in, they went further up and out along the ridge instead of crossing.
On the avenue to Kit Carson there is a small snowfield covering the avenue completely in two spots. We did not use crampons or spikes but did use axes. Early in the day the snow was hard frozen and kicking steps was challenging, coming back later the snow was a breeze. I wouldn't try this without an axe and if you are very early in the morning I would want at least spikes too (depends on freeze from night before), we crossed around 9am and snow was still firm, we passed someone who said it was very sketchy earlier..
Update: Added some pictures, we crossed to KC at 0836 (1st photo) and back at 1050 (2nd and 3rd photos), on the way across the snow was frozen solid and there were not good steps kicked in, which made it sketchy. On the way back we kicked in large steps and the crossing was simple without issues. I imagine now with steps its much easier, the snow is super cruddy and will be gone within 2 weeks.
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