Near the western end of Willow Lake, follow the trail to the left and hike out of the trees to reach a boulder field (
1). Cross a slope and arrive at the flat area above the waterfall at the eastern end of the lake, where you get a view of Challenger Point, Kit Carson Peak, and the approach to the Outward Bound (OB) couloir (
2).
Cross the stream and follow the small cairns and trail fragments through the rest of the flat area. Above 11,800', angle left through willows and bushes to reach the base of Challenger's standard north slope route near 11,900' (
3). Once above the creek, head southeast toward the cliffs at the base of Kit Carson's north ridge (
4) and continue traversing southeast until 13er Columbia Point comes back into view around 12,600' (
5). Move below the remaining rocks and cliffs at the base of the north ridge as the terrain opens into the apron beneath the OB couloir (
6,
7). The couloir ascends to a small saddle between 13er Columbia Point and Kit Carson Peak.
Turn right and begin climbing southwest toward the couloir's entrance (
8). Enter the couloir at 13,000', where the slope angle increases to about 40 degrees (
9). From here, climb approximately 700 feet to the top (
10,
11,
12,
13,
14,
15). The slope angle averages around 43 degrees but may exceed 50 degrees near the couloir's exit, where a cornice may also be present.
At the 13,700' saddle atop the couloir, descend a few feet to the south (
16) and traverse right (west) onto a small rib that blocks your view of the remaining route (
17). Climb over this rib (
18,
19) and head west onto the face (
20) to connect to the standard summer route (
21). Taken near 14,000',
22 looks back on the traverse from OB couloir. Continue to the summit ridge and follow it to the top (
23,
24,
25).
Outward Bound Couloir
GPX Track File
