Kit Carson Peak

Route: (any)
Posted On: 9/4/2013, By: jdorje
Info: 10/10 : All non-gully snow had melted. However there was a ton today. Snow line down to 8000‘. 9/22-9/23 : Much snow 9/19 : Snow last night (not much, melted off fast). 9/17 : No more snow, conditions look good. 9/15 : Some snow today. I only saw Challenger west face but it looked like a dusting. Peaks have only been visible briefly each day so it's hard to be certain but there was nothing (except the hail, still visible) on the 14th. 9/2 : There was an absolute ton of hail on Challenger and Kit Carson on the 2nd or 3rd. This stuff doesn't appear to have melted yet. 

Route: Via Challenger Point
Posted On: 9/22/2013, By: --bb--
Info: Small patch of snow on Avenue between Challenger-Kit Carson saddle and Prow (see photo). 

Route: Willow Creek Approach
Posted On: 8/19/2013, By: Unknown
Info: The standard route to Challenger and Kit Carson is dry and completely free of snow and ice. The Avenue was fun! 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 8/12/2013, By: Brian Thomas
Info: The heavy rain and cold temps on Saturday night iced up much of the upper route. Pic 1 taken about 9:30 looking up the North Ridge shows the east (left) side dry and the right (west) shaded side holding a lot of snow and ice. Ascending the crest of the ridge I had to clean snow and ice out of the holds for my right hand and foot. Pic 2 taken about 9:45 is topping out a tower along the ridge with snow and ice visible at left (west). This was some of the scariest conditions I have ever encountered, it would have been impossible to downclimb. Pics 3 and 4, taken at 11:00 and 11:15 respectively, show snow and ice on the route between Kit Carson and Challenger. 

Route: Via Challenger Point
Posted On: 6/30/2013, By: Zambo
Info: We were able to make it up KC via The Prow and got some great beta shots. Most of the snow has melted out. While there is still a bit of snow for stretches on the avenue, it is easily passable with essentially zero challenge from Challenger over to the top of the prow. Beyond that, there are one or two very small stretches which may give some pause, but they were pretty easily bypassed. The avenue aside, the final pitches up KC were clear as was the summit and the upper North faces of Challenger. Several pics attached - feel free to PM if you're curious for more info. 

Route: Via Challenger Point
Posted On: 6/12/2013, By: jdorje
Info: Kit Carson avenue is still visibly snow-covered from the valley. 

Route: Outward Bound Couloir
Posted On: 5/25/2013, By: ledhead69
Info: Approach from Willow Creek is dry until about 1.5 miles from the lake. After that, there is 100 ft on, 100 ft off of character building post-holing. The OB couloir was in fantastic shape when I topped out at 7 am this morning. Travelling the avenue required some exciting steep-snow traversing but was rock solid. Descending via Challenger Peak standard route is not recommended. By 9-10, I was regretting my decision due to soft, unstable, or otherwise icy conditions all around. 

Route: Outward Bound Couloir
Posted On: 5/18/2013, By: BillMiddlebrook
Info: OB Couloir is full right now. Snow layers were bonding well but beware of upcoming wet slides if the current heating continues. Lots of snow. The confines of the couloir get a limited amount of sunhit and we found stable conditions to the top. Again, with lots of snow. There's snow coverage from the top of OB to the summit of Kit Carson and we used crampons to the top. Pic #1: Entering OB Couloir Pic #2: Upper couloir Pic #3: Snow below the summit Pic #4: Back in the couloir 

Route: from the Needle
Posted On: 5/4/2013, By: Carl
Info: Pic of the snow coverage on Kit Carson and Challenger. Taken from the Needle 5.3.2013. 

Route: South Coolie from Spanish Creek
Posted On: 2/4/2013, By: I Man
Info: We used the Spanish Creek approach to go for Kit Carson and Challenger yesterday. The "TH" is non existent, difficult to find and on private property...but the local Sheriff says the owner's don't mind a few travelers in winter. There was very little snow at first, and getting into the canyon and past the National Forest boundary is the route finding crux. Luckily 2 teams had been in the day before and we were able to follow tracks. We did not start until after 6am due to the route finding difficulties. Snowshoes are needed once you enter the burn area but the trench was excellent. The upper basin is as beautiful as any I have seen. The South Colouir on Kit is fairly mellow and was filled in with snow. The climbing was easy. Some used snowshoes, others used crampons. The gully up to kit is completely filled in with snow. All 4 climbers made the summit. The weather was beautiful until the afternoon when the winds picked up and clouds rolled in. The avenue is in spring condition now. Some parties might want a rope. 2 of us crossed the avenue and bagged Challenger. I thought this was the crux of the day. 

Route: (any)
Posted On: 12/15/2012, By: jdorje
Info: 3-4 inches of snow fell around 8400' on the 14th - real wet, sticky stuff on top of the dry powder from the previous week. There's a lot less snow visible up high than I'd expect, but clouds never fully cleared. Photo 1 shows 13546 on the left and unranked 13151 on the right, from the 15th. Ceiling is around 13k. Just a quick update - it snowed about as much again overnight on the 15th->16th. Everything is quite snowcovered now. 

Route: (any)
Posted On: 12/6/2012, By: jdorje
Info: The Crestone group got some (completely unforecasted) snow today. Edit: possibly a lot even. 

Route: (any)
Posted On: 11/27/2012, By: jdorje
Info: Another partial-report-by-request. Since the snow on the ~10th there has been no additional weather. Rare tiny packets of snow remain on the ground around 8400'; I doubt there are any trailhead access issues on the west side. A reasonable amount of snow is still visible up higher, but much has melted. North-facing slopes and gullies probably hold a fair amount; Challenger N slopes and Kit Carson avenue would likely be among those. Snow on south-facing ridges and slopes should be avoidable. I would guess. No clue about the eastern approaches, though the wet valley side gets plenty of sun too. Photo 1: 13546, 13580, 13151, Challenger, Kit Carson. 13580's lack of any visible snow is pretty striking. 

Route: (any)
Posted On: 11/11/2012, By: jdorje
Info: A partial conditions report, by request. There was 1-2" of snow at 8400'. There was certainly snow higher up but probably less than elsewhere. Image 1 shows Pt13546; image 2 shows Pt12740. Image 3: Pt13546, Pt13580, 13151, Challenger, Kit Carson. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 10/15/2012, By: Neil
Info: Photo taken during a 10/14 hike of Humboldt's East Ridge. If the snow on Humboldt was any indication, the north aspects will hold the snow for some time, but the southern and southeastern aspects were already melting quickly. The deepest drifts we experienced on Humboldt were regularly spaced above 13,500, powdery, and averaged 3"-6" deep, maxing out at 12" in a few places.