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Peak(s)  Kit Carson Peak  -  14,167 feet
Challenger Point  -  14,086 feet
Date Posted  04/06/2012
Date Climbed   04/01/2012
Author  Carl
Additional Members   Gueza, rmiller, XC Snowboarder
 Skiing Kit Carson & Challenger   
Kit Carson Peak via Outward Bound Couloir, ski descent of Cole's Couloir
Challenger Point via the Avenue, ski descent of Kirk's Couloir
March 31st & April 1st
Approx 15 miles
Approx. 6,500 vert
with Marc, Rob, Eric, and Adam



After stopping for beers (for those in the group 21+) at the Fritz in Salida we got to the Willow Creek trailhead around 4pm and were starting up the sandy trail by 4:30pm.
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Photo by Rob


Took about 2 hours to hike the 2,000 vertical feet to where the snow began.
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Nearing Willow Lake as the sun neared the horizon. Nice to cross paths with Bill and Caroline before dark.
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Sat around the small fire and enjoyed the prosciutto and pear sandwich from the Fritz.
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Laid in my bivy bag and couldn't sleep so I pulled out the camera. Doesn't begin to do justice to how amazing the sky looked.
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The benefit of coming in the afternoon prior meant we didn't feel the need to get started until around 6am. Crossed Willow Lake around twilight.
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Mark pointing to the Kirk Couloir that we skied later that afternoon.
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Skinned around Kit Carson to find the Outward Bound couloir in good condition.
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Marc making progress in the OB.
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The pitch was fairly mellow until it steepened for the finish and got near vertical for the last few feet. Would have made for a fun ski with an exciting entrance.
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Made the summit a little after 10am. Rob, Marc, and Me.
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Sand dunes and the Little Bear / Blanca group.
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Adam relaxing on top of Kit Carson, with what little snow remains from another below average winter in the Sangres.
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Eric heading towards Cole's Couloir.
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Marc on his 49th 14er snowboard descent.
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Climbed up the Avenue and headed towards Challenger.
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Working my way across.
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Photo by Rob


A nice wind feature two/thirds of the way across the Avenue allowed us the opportunity to take a break with our packs still on and skis hanging off the backside.
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Neared the top of Challenger around noon.
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Me, Eric, Marc, and Rob on Challenger Point.
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Rob on the descent.
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Marc with Kit and the Crestones in the backdrop.
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Eric is up next.
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Conditions in the Kirk were better than expected. Rob headed in...
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Followed by Marc.
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The snow in the apron was hard and fast. Cautious skiing ensued to Willow Lake.
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Rob and Eric bravely navigated this bottomless crevasses as we made our way around the lake.
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Marc and Adam decided to take the high road. To avoid the crevasse danger perhaps? You can see the yellow snowboard popping through the willows above and lookers right of the waterfall.
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Put skins back on for the brief descent to camp. After enjoying a tall Red Bull Rob and I were ready to break trail downhill through the rotten snowpack.
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Exchanged the ski boots for trail shoes just below 11,000ft. An hour and a half later we were back at the car. One more left.
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Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30


Comments or Questions
mountainmicah83
User
Beautiful
4/6/2012 12:13pm
Love the video. Nicely done guys.


Kevin Baker
User
Excellent
4/6/2012 12:58pm
Very nice vid, Carl! So how was the ski of Cole's? I guess you were probably in it for just a bit. You probably saw our tracks. Nice job!


pioletski
User
Nicely done!
4/6/2012 1:26pm
And great video! Way to get after it in this scratchy season. Carl, what's your finisher going to be?


Yikes
User
The Fritz
4/6/2012 1:59pm
prosciutto and pear sandwich rocks. love that place.

Nice report. Maybe I should get off the couch....


Elliot
User
Nice Work Guys
4/6/2012 2:46pm
Hope for some more spring snow Carl!


benners
User
Good Job Fellas!
4/6/2012 2:59pm
Way to make em go in thin conditions, and nice vid Carl!


mtnfiend
User
Schweet!
4/6/2012 3:28pm
Cool video Carl. Good work getting it done dudes!!


lodgling
User
Straightline
4/6/2012 4:37pm
Love the straightline into the crevasse at the end of the video. Great stuff all around. Looks like spirits were pretty high on this one -- you guys sure make a grunt look like a good time. Here's to the next one . . .



. . . or eight (sorry Marc).


BillMiddlebrook
User
Strong team!!
4/6/2012 4:53pm
Good job guys. Where did you ditch Adam after summiting KC?? I hope you didn't make him ski into OB alone - that entrance looked spicey!


USAKeller
User
Great job guys!
4/6/2012 5:55pm
OB looks fun! Glad you didn't have the forecasted winds either. And, nice to see you again for the umpth-millionth time!


tmathews
User
Loved it!
4/6/2012 7:18pm
Man, it seems like I know every corner of that approach to Willow Lake. Awesome report and video! Congrats to all!


KansasBoarder
User
Well Played!
4/6/2012 7:19pm
Those mountains look AMAZINGLY aesthetic. Nice turns, man!


Bean
User
Looks miserable
4/7/2012 12:12am
Shame I missed it. :wink:


jam6880
User
Your the man carl!!!!
4/7/2012 12:30am
Great video. Praying for a lot of snow down south for you. What lens do you have in your I/O's?


jesse
User
Great Runs!
4/7/2012 4:02pm
Way to make use of little snow, what an exciting video as well. Thanks for writing this report I liked it alot. Did you happen to see snow conditions on Humboldt or Obstruction Peaks?


RJansen77
User
Great job guys!
4/7/2012 4:08pm
It's been fun to watch you progress towards this goal Carl, praying that the Sangres get slammed again for you!


Carl
User
Thanks for the comments...
4/8/2012 5:05pm
The lenses in those Smith goggles that I use for sunny days are the darkest ones available, Gold Sol-X Mirror, which is marketed as letting through 7% of light. Kevin, we thought we might see your group up there again going for another grid spot for Ken. Tough to see your tracks but we heard from Caroline and Bill you were in the area. Skiing more of the Cole would have been fun. Bill, unfortunately Adam didn't make the Challenger group photo because he was relaxing at the saddle. Entrance to OB would have been spicy, but doable. The ridge of Humbolt we were looking at was dry, but I can't say what kind of posthole nightmare awaits in the trees. Long range forecast is calling for storms in the Sangres! We'll see.


Dancesatmoonrise
User
Sweet
4/9/2012 2:20pm
Great trip, gents. Carl, congrats on your pre-finisher.


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