Kit Carson Peak Trip Report 08/02/2007

Peak(s):	Kit Carson Peak - 14,167 feet Challenger Point - 14,086 feet
Date Posted:	08/02/2007
Date Climbed:	07/31/2007
Author:	Matt

Even More Kit Carson & Challenger
With the glut of excellent TRs on KC/Challenger in the last few days, I thought I'd throw one more on the pile, but from Tuesday, not Sunday. I'd been away from the mountains for four solid weeks (last peak July 4th) and needed some mountain time"stat! I decided to make it a solo trip"four weeks with long stints in big cities left me cluttered and stressed"to remember how much I love the simplicity of the mountains. I'd been to Crestone before, but had forgotten about why people move there, aside from the view coming into town. Crestone definitely feels different than anywhere else. Fittingly, my iPod shuffled to "Terrapin Station" as I rolled into town. The vibe reminds me of Taos (also in the Sangres), but is hard to classify. Something's different there, for sure. There are signs all over town hinting at this: Heavy rain and hail started just as I pulled into the parking lot at 4 p.m., so I waited. I got out of the truck to find Mark (Oman) in his Tacoma. This was a great surprise, since we'd discussed this hike earlier this summer, but never made any plans to meet up here. The hike up to Willow Lake was a mud bog with a few creek crossings that consisted of wet, slick logs. The rain didn't let up one bit. I found the driest campsite left, put up the tent, drank an IPA, and hit the sack by 9:30. At 4:50, the alarm went off, and I heard Oman and his friend go by my tent. I slowly got moving around 5:45 and hit the trail, reaching the waterfall at 6:05. As I ascended the gully, the views got better and better: I caught up to Tracey, who had a 14ers.com route description, looked to be in marvelous shape, but seemed resigned to getting Challenger only. I hear she did make that, her first 14er. Congrats, Tracey. After a nice little jog along the summit ridge, I met Oman and his friend on the summit of Challenger. Hiking the ridge, you don't have to stay near the top, but your reward for doing that is great views with huge (but safe) exposure. We took some pics and headed over toward the legendary Kit Carson Avenue. I'm really glad it's there, but the exposure and risk are next to norhing if you're not drunk or really clumsy. It's wide as two sidewalks put together, and most of that is grass. It's not steep at all. I wonder if people who get nervous there get nervous when they step too close to the curb... Check out how much room Oman has to clown around without falling to his death. The gully up to the summit ridge is mostly class 2/2+, IMO, but you can save time and reduce rockfall by taking some class 3 shortcuts. I climbed the same rock rib that Jaime and Aubrey reported going up, because I'll take steep over loose any day. Once on the summit, the Crestone views were just awesome, even the shots with people in them. Along the way back, one party missed the turn for the avenue and started heading the wrong (down) way. I scampered down to warn them, and got back on the trail. Going back, it's hard to believe how much elevation you lost on the way over: The descent was annoying d/t to scree, but nothing too exciting. When I got back down, I found a spot on the shore where the water dropped off deep right from the edge, and dove in. Nothing like an alpine lake swim post two 14ers! The waterfall is amazing, and demands that you take pictures: When I got to my tent, I found it surrounded by two very different species"a herd of at least 18 bighorn sheep and a smaller group of loud, obnoxious rednecks. I was lining up a perfect shot of the lone ram, and some fool bleats out, "he got yer sock. He done got yer sock," sending the ram off, munching all the while on a long, dirty knee sock. I managed to get some shots in before my neighbors annoyed the sheep enough for them to leave. The hike back to the TH seemed interminable, but there's plenty to look at along the way. I got back in the truck and the shuffle pulled up an old "He's Gone," for the third time post-14er this summer, and it sounded even better than the last time (Blanca). The only thing left was beer and food. I stopped in at the San Luis Brewing Co in Alamosa, not knowing what to expect. I found a good IPA and Barleywine and the best 16oz ribeye I can remember having for less than $20. If you're in Alamosa, this place is worth stopping for. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Even More Kit Carson & Challenger

With the glut of excellent TRs on KC/Challenger in the last few days, I thought I'd throw one more on the pile, but from Tuesday, not Sunday.
I'd been away from the mountains for four solid weeks (last peak July 4th) and needed some mountain time"stat! I decided to make it a solo trip"four weeks with long stints in big cities left me cluttered and stressed"to remember how much I love the simplicity of the mountains.
I'd been to Crestone before, but had forgotten about why people move there, aside from the view coming into town.

Crestone definitely feels different than anywhere else. Fittingly, my iPod shuffled to "Terrapin Station" as I rolled into town. The vibe reminds me of Taos (also in the Sangres), but is hard to classify. Something's different there, for sure. There are signs all over town hinting at this:

Heavy rain and hail started just as I pulled into the parking lot at 4 p.m., so I waited.
I got out of the truck to find Mark (Oman) in his Tacoma. This was a great surprise, since we'd discussed this hike earlier this summer, but never made any plans to meet up here.
The hike up to Willow Lake was a mud bog with a few creek crossings that consisted of wet, slick logs. The rain didn't let up one bit.

I found the driest campsite left, put up the tent, drank an IPA, and hit the sack by 9:30.
At 4:50, the alarm went off, and I heard Oman and his friend go by my tent. I slowly got moving around 5:45 and hit the trail, reaching the waterfall at 6:05.

As I ascended the gully, the views got better and better:

I caught up to Tracey, who had a 14ers.com route description, looked to be in marvelous shape, but seemed resigned to getting Challenger only. I hear she did make that, her first 14er. Congrats, Tracey.
After a nice little jog along the summit ridge, I met Oman and his friend on the summit of Challenger. Hiking the ridge, you don't have to stay near the top, but your reward for doing that is great views with huge (but safe) exposure.

We took some pics and headed over toward the legendary Kit Carson Avenue. I'm really glad it's there, but the exposure and risk are next to norhing if you're not drunk or really clumsy. It's wide as two sidewalks put together, and most of that is grass. It's not steep at all. I wonder if people who get nervous there get nervous when they step too close to the curb...

Check out how much room Oman has to clown around without falling to his death.

The gully up to the summit ridge is mostly class 2/2+, IMO, but you can save time and reduce rockfall by taking some class 3 shortcuts. I climbed the same rock rib that Jaime and Aubrey reported going up, because I'll take steep over loose any day.

Once on the summit, the Crestone views were just awesome, even the shots with people in them.

Along the way back, one party missed the turn for the avenue and started heading the wrong (down) way. I scampered down to warn them, and got back on the trail. Going back, it's hard to believe how much elevation you lost on the way over:

The descent was annoying d/t to scree, but nothing too exciting.
When I got back down, I found a spot on the shore where the water dropped off deep right from the edge, and dove in. Nothing like an alpine lake swim post two 14ers!
The waterfall is amazing, and demands that you take pictures:

When I got to my tent, I found it surrounded by two very different species"a herd of at least 18 bighorn sheep and a smaller group of loud, obnoxious rednecks. I was lining up a perfect shot of the lone ram, and some fool bleats out, "he got yer sock. He done got yer sock," sending the ram off, munching all the while on a long, dirty knee sock.
I managed to get some shots in before my neighbors annoyed the sheep enough for them to leave.

The hike back to the TH seemed interminable, but there's plenty to look at along the way.
I got back in the truck and the shuffle pulled up an old "He's Gone," for the third time post-14er this summer, and it sounded even better than the last time (Blanca).
The only thing left was beer and food. I stopped in at the San Luis Brewing Co in Alamosa, not knowing what to expect. I found a good IPA and Barleywine and the best 16oz ribeye I can remember having for less than $20. If you're in Alamosa, this place is worth stopping for.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

jamienellis	Very nice! 8/3/2007 6:27pm I wish you could have joined us a couple days earlier for these peaks. Very impressive that you persevered through those conditions without the moral support of 20 other crazy people. Just ask shanahan96 about my rendition of JohnJacobJingleheimerSchmidt (and others!) during the 4 hours spent in the tent Sat afternoon!
maverick_manley	you write some... 8/7/2007 4:48am pretty sweet reports... Good job on a long hike... We should hike together some time before the end of this summer.
cftbq	Very Cool... 11/30/2010 5:28pm Now, let me get this right, Matt...you actually dived off that cliff for a swim in that lake? Bravo! And even though it sounds like you had a worse hike in than we did, it looks like your climb was blessed with more sunshine. I don't know whether to be envious or not!
jeffro	Awesome job Matt!! 11/30/2010 5:28pm That's a special area, indeed! Way to get it done! You're looking lean and mean, dude...and with a Silverton Mountain shirt to boot. Nice pics also...love the one of the Crestones and the clouds. Looking forward to Chicago Basin, Jeff
benners	Congrads 11/30/2010 5:28pm on getting both peaks! In my opinion Willow Lake is the most beautiful place in Colorado. Also nice swim, you and lordhelmut have inspired me to jump in a high altitude lake next time I'm up there, I have been too pansy to do it thus far but I've always wanted to! Anyway great climb del_sur, thanks for the TR.
lordhelmut	good stuff 11/30/2010 5:28pm dead and the crestones, Ipa's, willow lake and the swim, sounds like a pretty priceless day, I wouldn't have done it any differently.
Matt	Thanks, guys 1/19/2011 3:38am Kiefer-- I can't take credit for the timing of the songs--the iPod was on shuffle both times. Terrapin just fits Crestone perfectly. This was, however, the second solo 14er this year for me, but 20th overall. And, yes, the lake was cold, but I couldn't resist. Jaime, it scares me to think about being in that tent without earplugs...
Kiefer	Swam the Lake, eh? 2/5/2011 12:22am Terrapin Station....Ah, DEFINATELY one of the Dead's finest accomplishments. I'll say this, Matt, you know how to pick em to set up a mood! Liked the 'ephmeral' descrip. of Crestone. I gotta give you props for hiking that mileage in the rain. That must have been a real drag. Correct me if I'm wrong but was this your second solo outing? Congratulations on both summits! This time of the season, the weather seems to demand earlier starts but you timed it all just right. Nice!

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