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Peak(s)  Challenger Point  -  14,086 feet
Kit Carson Peak  -  14,167 feet
Date Posted  07/14/2013
Date Climbed   07/13/2013
Author  zephyr_pelicante
 Road now open to 2WD   
Here's a few pics of Challenger / KC.

I got a Scion tC coupe up to the newly done TH so almost any car can make it. There was also a prius in the lot.

Challenger may be a Class 2, however, I'd rather take a mile long Capitol-esque knife edge over the part from the lake to Challenger Point any day. After the ridge on Challenger, the avenue over to Kit Carson is superb.

I had done KC before (from the Crestones), and remembered that there was some loose dirt and rocks after the avenue so I took a left shortly after the avenue descends and took the Class 4 variation to the summit. Again, I'd take Class 4 or even low 5 over a loose rock field any day.

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Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
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Comments or Questions
HarknessHooligans
User
Agreed
7/15/2013 4:03am
Challenger is a pretty crappy hike up and down. We pretty much rock skied down that peak. The only reason I hiked that peak was to get to my real goal - Kit Carson. Great pics and congrats on a safe hike!


slowhead
User
Challenger's challenging scree slope
7/15/2013 5:05am
Agreed on the incredibly long scree slope up Challenger Point from the lake. I'm not sure about the mile-long knife edge, but I'd take a knife edge over that mess anytime!


Gerrybear
User
Hike/drive to the lake
7/15/2013 1:47pm
Can you drive on a rough 4WD to 11,050' via the South Colony Lakes Road to the South Colony Lakes trailhead? I've read it's only a 4.5 mile hike from there to the lake.


zephyr_pelicante
User
.
7/15/2013 5:25pm
We didn't take the south colony approach this time. The lake here is willow lake from the west side of this group. The south colony trail is about 4 miles away from south colony lakes.


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