Peak: Challenger Point
Dates: January 26-27, 2016
Trailhead: Willow Creek TH winter access (8,800 ft)
Distance: ~12.5 miles
Elevation Gain: ~5,400 ft.
Party: Solo
Time: 4 hours for the approach, 11 hour on summit day
After the successful trip with Dillon up Spanish Creek for Kit Carson, I was staring at the unbelievable, consecutive 4-5 day weather window, while CAIC rating for the Sangres remained green. My mind turned to Challenger Point, which we were unable to attain on our Kit Carson trip due to unconsolidated snow on the Avenue. I frantically searched for partners, but nobody I knew could take a day off midweek. I couldn't get the peak out of my mind though, and 2 days later found myself parking at the winter access point for the Willow Creek TH. Still a chicken to daytrip the peak, I decided to haul my overnight pack up one more time.
Back in the Sangres
Peaks are looking frosty
The day after we did Kit Carson, it snowed. According to CAIC, just a couple inches, however, the higher in the basin I went, the more snow I noticed. Approaching Willow lake at sunset, I was starting to worry - it was at least 6" of fresh snow on the ground and I had to re-break the trail. Making very good time up to this point on the good trail, I lost about an hour picking a route that would avoid some wind-loaded gullies to my right, arriving at 11,400 ft at sunset, for about 4 hour approach time.
It was a cold and fairly miserable night, much colder and higher than the 2 nights I spent in the Spanish Creek. My fleece got soaked from fresh snow on the approach and I had trouble warming up. I had serious doubts about continuing with that much new snow, but decided to at least go to the Willow lake in the morning and take a look.
Leaving camp the next morning at 7 am
After dozing in and out, I "woke up" around 5.30 am in the morning, and left the camp just before 7 am. After I got to the Willow lake, my spirits rose. There was considerably less snow above the treeline and snow conditions looked good. Crossing the slopes below Adams turned out to be benign and I even encountered some frozen crust on the southern aspect.
First look at Kit Carson and Challenger
Thanks to those who came before me and their exploratory efforts, I knew exactly which rib to take - and it looked fairly dry.
I ditched the skis around 12.4k and started booting up shallow snow and tundra up the wide rib. I could see old avalanche debris in the wind loaded gullies to my right and left, so the rib was an excellent choice.
Mt. Adams and friends
Looking back down at the route
Standard summer route is well hidden in the snow gully to my right
95% of the rib is a straightforward hike, but I knew there was a tricky section somewhere. Eventually, around 13,500 ft or so I reached a steeper Class 3-4 section, that required care on the upclimb and downclimb.
Approaching the crux
On the summit, looking at Kit Carson and Crestone peak
The summit is currently adorned by a giant cornice, which one can observe all the way from Route 17 in San Luis valley, so I made sure to stay a bit to the rocky side of it. I made pretty decent time from camp and was on the summit a quarter past noon, for just over 5 hour ascent time from camp.
In my hypoxic state, I didn't even realize I was just 1 day shy of the 30th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. I did, however realize, that if I hustled down, I might be able to ski back to the trailhead in daylight. So after staying for about 10 minutes and snapping a few photos, I hurried down.
Colony Baldy, Humboldt and Obstruction Point make an appearance
Downclimb went without a hitch and by 2 pm I got back to my skis.
On the ski out
Waterfall
Sunset in the Sangres
I managed to get a few corn turns above the lake and then a couple powder turns in the trees before finding my campsite at 3pm. After quickly packing up the camp and downing a cup of chicken noodle soup, I started the ski out by 3.45 pm. Ups and downs in the trees presented an immediate challenge though, so I had to throw skins back on for a bit. Finally, at 4.15 pm it was all downhill and I reached the car at 6 pm.
Splits:
Approach - start at 1.30 pm
Reach camp @11,400 ft - 5.30 pm
Summit day:
Depart camp - 7am
Get reception/check email - 8am to 8.30am
Start up the rib - 9am
Summit: 12.20pm
Start descent: 12.30pm
Reach skis @12,400k - 2pm
Campsite: 3pm
Leave camp: 3.45pm
Start skiing downhill: 4.15pm
Car: 6pm
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