Kit Carson Peak Trip Report 09/21/2009

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Kit Carson Peak - 14,167 feet Challenger Point - 14,086 feet
Date Posted	09/21/2009
Date Climbed	09/20/2009
Author	colorado yooper

Kit Carson via Willow Creek
Ever since Kurt and I failed to even see Kit Carson peak about a month ago not summiting it has been bugging me. So when the OBGYN (and Heather) said that I should remain close to home for the month of October I knew I had to act quickly. Plans to climb and do some service work on Little Bear Peak with some Search and Rescue folks fell thru so I took the opportunity to finish Kit Carson. Last attempt Kurt, Heather, and I bounced our way up the 4 wheel drive road to South Colony Lakes trailhead and started hiking from there. This is the shortest route up Kit Carson but not the easiest (technically). This time without the benefit of an X-Terra I decided to go from the West side of the range and use the Willow Lake trail as my approach. We kissed Heather goodbye about 3:30pm on Saturday and left for the tiny town of Crestone. It was smooth sailing and we arrived about 6:00 to rain and thunder on the mountain. It's good thing to be at the trailhead when it's storming up top. By the time we were done packing the rain had stopped and we started up the trail at 6:20. It was 5 miles to the Lake and hopefully a flat spot to lay a bivy sack down for a short nights sleep. We passed a few groups of wet weary hikers on their way out but soon had the trail to ourselves. The trail to the lake is about 5 miles long climbing steeply up to and thru two hanging valleys. Hanging valleys mean waterfalls and I highly recommend this as a long waterfall hike. I held off on using my headlamp as long as possible. But, when the trees closed in and the sun was gone completely I gave in and soon discovered that deer and mountain goat eyes reflect green and are nothing to worry about. We made the lake and a great, nearly flat sleeping area about 8:45. I quickly set up, fed Rocky and myself and went to bed about 9:30. The alarm was set for 3:30. I woke about 3:40 not having heard the alarm due to the jacket I was using as a pillow muffling it. We picked up quickly and headed out by headlamp light. The area around the lake had many user defined trails and this made finding the right one a pain. Finally on the right trail we made good time to the start of the difficulties. The first major obstacle was about 2000 ft of climbing on loose rock, slick dirt and towards the top snow and ice. It was tedious at best. The sunrise hit us just beneath the ridge to Challenger Point. From the Willow Lake approach you must first climb the unofficial 14er Challenger Point before heading down to the saddle between Kit Carson and Challenger. We were lucky enough to see the sun rise three times that morning. Once from just below Challenger's summit, once from the summit of Challenger rising over Kit Carson then from Kit Carson "Avenue" over "Columbia Point". Challenger and Columbia are both named after the Space Shuttles of the same names. The mental and physical crux for this climb is a ledge system called Kit Carson Avenue. This is a weakness in a very steep cliff that allows access around the south side of Kit Carson. There was snow and ice on it today which made the 6 foot wide ledge seem a whole lot smaller. But, with careful steps it was passed easily. The summit of Kit Carson is guarded on all sides by steep cliffs except on the east and southeast sides which have a couple of couloirs splitting it. The eastern most couloir is rated class 3 but in my opinion is ugly and loose. I opted for a much more solid and appealing couloir on the S.E. side. This proved easy but lots of fun moving up the couloir and eventually to the ridge between the two couloirs. I had to leave Rocky tied up below. I was on terrain just steep enough that I would have worried about him not being able to stop himself going downward. I took about 15-20 minutes to summit Kit Carson and about 15 back down. Rocky had barely finished his Chex Mix by the time I returned. We then hiked back up and down Kit Carson Avenue in conditions much different that we had had on our way over. On the way over from Challenger there was about a 30 mile an hour wind and it was about 20 degrees. Now it was very mild even in the shade of the mountain. Also, just like last time I was in this position the clouds moved in and hid the summit of Challenger. We passed briefly over Challenger on the way back down. I'd now summited it 3 times in one month! The trail down was much easier to see from above and although very slick with snow and melting ice we made good time. I had to help Rocky down a few ledges where we still managed to get off the normal path. We didn't meet our first group of fellow climbers until we were about 2/3 of the way down. It's amazing the difference in styles and comfort levels in the mountains. I was going downhill wearing running shoes, light weight gaitors, hiking pants and at that time a t-shirt over long johns. This first couple I met were wearing heavy boots, waterproof/breathable heavy weight pants and jackets, helmets, gloves and insulated helmet liners, GOING UP! I would have spontaneously combusted wearing that! But, to each their own. Rocky and I raced down just wanting to be off of the steep stuff. We rehydrated at the waterfall and repacked our bags. I had taken Rocky's pack because it throws off his balance going downhill. We grabbed our sleeping gear and were on our way back to the trailhead at about 11:00. We had only 5 miles and 2800 vertical feet to go! The trail from the lake to the trailhead is great! 11 We were able to really move and even with much socialization with other hikers on their way up we made the car by 1:00. Not bad! We made a hasty retreat to Crestone and found that NOTHING is open on Sundays in Crestone, or Moffat! I did manage to score organic apples from a roadside stand on our way out of town. Real apples! Yum! I had to stop at one for fear of what two would do to my nearly empty stomach. We made it home by 3:30. In 24 hours 6 were spent driving, 6 sleeping, and 12 climbing 6250 vertical feet over 14 miles. Rocky is now nearly comatose and I'm wondering if 8:00 is too early for bed. Probably. It was interesting hiking/climbing with no human companions. The summits were a bit less happy and overall the trip took a let's just finish it attitude which I suffer from even with human companions. I kept thinking how much Heather likes the smell of aspens in the fall and how much Kurt would have liked the ridge out of the couloir to the summit. So, I'm sure I'll do a few more alone but I can't wait until I can share summits and trails with Heather and our little one someday. I did check a few things off my list, I saw a sunrise from a summit, I had two summits to myself, Kit Carson was climbed, and I proved to myself that I could work all day and still have adventure. Something tells me though that the biggest adventure is about to start and climbing mountains is only a small part of preparation for it! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Kit Carson via Willow Creek

Ever since Kurt and I failed to even see Kit Carson peak about a month ago not summiting it has been bugging me. So when the OBGYN (and Heather) said that I should remain close to home for the month of October I knew I had to act quickly.

Plans to climb and do some service work on Little Bear Peak with some Search and Rescue folks fell thru so I took the opportunity to finish Kit Carson. Last attempt Kurt, Heather, and I bounced our way up the 4 wheel drive road to South Colony Lakes trailhead and started hiking from there. This is the shortest route up Kit Carson but not the easiest (technically). This time without the benefit of an X-Terra I decided to go from the West side of the range and use the Willow Lake trail as my approach.

We kissed Heather goodbye about 3:30pm on Saturday and left for the tiny town of Crestone. It was smooth sailing and we arrived about 6:00 to rain and thunder on the mountain. It's good thing to be at the trailhead when it's storming up top. By the time we were done packing the rain had stopped and we started up the trail at 6:20.

It was 5 miles to the Lake and hopefully a flat spot to lay a bivy sack down for a short nights sleep. We passed a few groups of wet weary hikers on their way out but soon had the trail to ourselves. The trail to the lake is about 5 miles long climbing steeply up to and thru two hanging valleys. Hanging valleys mean waterfalls and I highly recommend this as a long waterfall hike. I held off on using my headlamp as long as possible. But, when the trees closed in and the sun was gone completely I gave in and soon discovered that deer and mountain goat eyes reflect green and are nothing to worry about.

We made the lake and a great, nearly flat sleeping area about 8:45. I quickly set up, fed Rocky and myself and went to bed about 9:30. The alarm was set for 3:30.

I woke about 3:40 not having heard the alarm due to the jacket I was using as a pillow muffling it. We picked up quickly and headed out by headlamp light. The area around the lake had many user defined trails and this made finding the right one a pain. Finally on the right trail we made good time to the start of the difficulties. The first major obstacle was about 2000 ft of climbing on loose rock, slick dirt and towards the top snow and ice. It was tedious at best. The sunrise hit us just beneath the ridge to Challenger Point.

From the Willow Lake approach you must first climb the unofficial 14er Challenger Point before heading down to the saddle between Kit Carson and Challenger. We were lucky enough to see the sun rise three times that morning. Once from just below Challenger's summit, once from the summit of Challenger rising over Kit Carson then from Kit Carson "Avenue" over "Columbia Point". Challenger and Columbia are both named after the Space Shuttles of the same names.

The mental and physical crux for this climb is a ledge system called Kit Carson Avenue. This is a weakness in a very steep cliff that allows access around the south side of Kit Carson. There was snow and ice on it today which made the 6 foot wide ledge seem a whole lot smaller. But, with careful steps it was passed easily.

The summit of Kit Carson is guarded on all sides by steep cliffs except on the east and southeast sides which have a couple of couloirs splitting it. The eastern most couloir is rated class 3 but in my opinion is ugly and loose. I opted for a much more solid and appealing couloir on the S.E. side. This proved easy but lots of fun moving up the couloir and eventually to the ridge between the two couloirs. I had to leave Rocky tied up below. I was on terrain just steep enough that I would have worried about him not being able to stop himself going downward. I took about 15-20 minutes to summit Kit Carson and about 15 back down. Rocky had barely finished his Chex Mix by the time I returned.
We then hiked back up and down Kit Carson Avenue in conditions much different that we had had on our way over. On the way over from Challenger there was about a 30 mile an hour wind and it was about 20 degrees. Now it was very mild even in the shade of the mountain. Also, just like last time I was in this position the clouds moved in and hid the summit of Challenger. We passed briefly over Challenger on the way back down. I'd now summited it 3 times in one month! The trail down was much easier to see from above and although very slick with snow and melting ice we made good time. I had to help Rocky down a few ledges where we still managed to get off the normal path. We didn't meet our first group of fellow climbers until we were about 2/3 of the way down. It's amazing the difference in styles and comfort levels in the mountains. I was going downhill wearing running shoes, light weight gaitors, hiking pants and at that time a t-shirt over long johns. This first couple I met were wearing heavy boots, waterproof/breathable heavy weight pants and jackets, helmets, gloves and insulated helmet liners, GOING UP! I would have spontaneously combusted wearing that! But, to each their own.

Rocky and I raced down just wanting to be off of the steep stuff. We rehydrated at the waterfall and repacked our bags. I had taken Rocky's pack because it throws off his balance going downhill. We grabbed our sleeping gear and were on our way back to the trailhead at about 11:00. We had only 5 miles and 2800 vertical feet to go! The trail from the lake to the trailhead is great! 11
We were able to really move and even with much socialization with other hikers on their way up we made the car by 1:00. Not bad! We made a hasty retreat to Crestone and found that NOTHING is open on Sundays in Crestone, or Moffat! I did manage to score organic apples from a roadside stand on our way out of town. Real apples! Yum! I had to stop at one for fear of what two would do to my nearly empty stomach. We made it home by 3:30. In 24 hours 6 were spent driving, 6 sleeping, and 12 climbing 6250 vertical feet over 14 miles. Rocky is now nearly comatose and I'm wondering if 8:00 is too early for bed. Probably.
It was interesting hiking/climbing with no human companions. The summits were a bit less happy and overall the trip took a let's just finish it attitude which I suffer from even with human companions. I kept thinking how much Heather likes the smell of aspens in the fall and how much Kurt would have liked the ridge out of the couloir to the summit. So, I'm sure I'll do a few more alone but I can't wait until I can share summits and trails with Heather and our little one someday. I did check a few things off my list, I saw a sunrise from a summit, I had two summits to myself, Kit Carson was climbed, and I proved to myself that I could work all day and still have adventure. Something tells me though that the biggest adventure is about to start and climbing mountains is only a small part of preparation for it!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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