Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
Forum rules
- This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
- Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
- Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
- Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
- _jderbique
- Posts: 22
- Joined: 10/16/2015
- 14ers: 18
- Trip Reports (0)
Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
Hello all,
I was looking at taking one of my long weekends in October and making a backpack up to either Lake Como and Blanca or to Willow Lake and Kit Carson. What are your opinions on both trips- from difficulty to camping to level of enjoyment? I would appreciate any information you have on your experiences. Thanks!
I was looking at taking one of my long weekends in October and making a backpack up to either Lake Como and Blanca or to Willow Lake and Kit Carson. What are your opinions on both trips- from difficulty to camping to level of enjoyment? I would appreciate any information you have on your experiences. Thanks!
Jack Derbique
-
- Posts: 239
- Joined: 9/23/2010
- 14ers: 58 1
- 13ers: 13
- Trip Reports (4)
- Contact:
Re: Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
Went up on successive weekends as day hikes. They are very long day hikes, especially Blanca from the bottom.
Willow Lake is a magical spot, one of CO's best places.
Challenger is downright awful going up and down. But the views of Willow Lake and Kit Carson and the Crestones are impressive.
Blanca is much less chossy, but somewhat less scenic in my opinion. The view of Ellingwood is impressive, though. I prefer Italy's Lake Como to Colorado's version.
Pick your poison!
Willow Lake is a magical spot, one of CO's best places.
Challenger is downright awful going up and down. But the views of Willow Lake and Kit Carson and the Crestones are impressive.
Blanca is much less chossy, but somewhat less scenic in my opinion. The view of Ellingwood is impressive, though. I prefer Italy's Lake Como to Colorado's version.
Pick your poison!
IG: jc_solitude
- highpilgrim
- Posts: 3186
- Joined: 3/14/2008
- 14ers: 58
- 13ers: 84 1
- Trip Reports (1)
Re: Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
I don't agree. If you take the standard route up and down, yes. But there is another route on the right side that is far more scenic and solid, as long as you can manage a little more exposure. I wouldn't do it wet but dry it was a blast and a big improvement on the alternative.dr_j wrote:Challenger is downright awful going up and down.
http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26355" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 9&p=437481" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
- Wentzl
- Posts: 1030
- Joined: 7/29/2008
- 14ers: 58 20
- 13ers: 55
- Trip Reports (49)
Re: Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
If you are comfortable with 4th class scrambling the North Ridge of Kit Carson is one of my favorite 14er climbs. I also think the hike in to Willow Lake is much nicer than hiking up the road to Lake Como. By the by, does anyone know if there is still a canoe at Willow Lake? Remember the controversy when someone took it out and managed to drown? I didn't follow what happened after that. But if the boat is still there, Willow Lake wins hands down!!
http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepor ... m=tripmine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepor ... m=tripmine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Shorter of Breath and One Day Closer . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZXKgl8turY
"Social Justice" = Injustice
Progressives are Oxy-morons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZXKgl8turY
"Social Justice" = Injustice
Progressives are Oxy-morons
- highpilgrim
- Posts: 3186
- Joined: 3/14/2008
- 14ers: 58
- 13ers: 84 1
- Trip Reports (1)
Re: Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
No comparison. Willow Lake is a much more fun hike in. It's sort of surprising how it looks inaccessible but is not.Wentzl wrote:I also think the hike in to Willow Lake is much nicer than hiking up the road to Lake Como.
One of the nicest places in the state.
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
Hunter S Thompson
Walk away from the droning and leave the hive behind.
Dick Derkase
- bdloftin77
- Posts: 1094
- Joined: 9/23/2013
- 14ers: 58 1
- 13ers: 58
- Trip Reports (2)
Re: Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
+1dr_j wrote:Went up on successive weekends as day hikes. They are very long day hikes, especially Blanca from the bottom.
Willow Lake is a magical spot, one of CO's best places.
Challenger is downright awful going up and down. But the views of Willow Lake and Kit Carson and the Crestones are impressive.
Blanca is much less chossy, but somewhat less scenic in my opinion. The view of Ellingwood is impressive, though. I prefer Italy's Lake Como to Colorado's version.
Pick your poison!
Haven't done the right side route up Challenger though
- stoopdude
- Posts: 118
- Joined: 6/26/2013
- 14ers: 57 3
- 13ers: 72
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
Was at Willow Lake on Saturday, can confirm the canoe is still there, and there are two life jackets in it.
- Wentzl
- Posts: 1030
- Joined: 7/29/2008
- 14ers: 58 20
- 13ers: 55
- Trip Reports (49)
Re: Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
Paddles?stoopdude wrote:Was at Willow Lake on Saturday, can confirm the canoe is still there, and there are two life jackets in it.
Shorter of Breath and One Day Closer . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZXKgl8turY
"Social Justice" = Injustice
Progressives are Oxy-morons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZXKgl8turY
"Social Justice" = Injustice
Progressives are Oxy-morons
- Wish I lived in CO
- Posts: 1088
- Joined: 2/8/2008
- 14ers: 58
- Trip Reports (11)
Re: Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
Was there in June, yes two paddles. Really enjoyed a lap around the lake in the canoe on each of two evenings. Was also useful for stashing the beer.Wentzl wrote:Paddles?stoopdude wrote:Was at Willow Lake on Saturday, can confirm the canoe is still there, and there are two life jackets in it.
I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! Psalm 121:1-2
- stoopdude
- Posts: 118
- Joined: 6/26/2013
- 14ers: 57 3
- 13ers: 72
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
Sorry, I guess I assumed the paddles were a given, my bad. Yes, they're there. I also stashed a beer right by the canoe. Was definitely appreciated before the hike back out to the TH.
- _jderbique
- Posts: 22
- Joined: 10/16/2015
- 14ers: 18
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: Blanca vrs. Kit Carson
Looks like an interesting route. Do you have any more info or pictures? I saw the two you had posted in the other forums. If you prefer you could PM or email me. Looks like a fun alternative to the standard route and I think I will try it. So far my only class 3 experience has been Wetterhorn and the Sawtooth (if you can even consider the Sawtooth class 3). How does it compare? My dad and I are, in my opinion, relatively comfortable with class 3 but inexperienced and exposure doesn't bother us too much Thanks! Jackhighpilgrim wrote:I don't agree. If you take the standard route up and down, yes. But there is another route on the right side that is far more scenic and solid, as long as you can manage a little more exposure. I wouldn't do it wet but dry it was a blast and a big improvement on the alternative.dr_j wrote:Challenger is downright awful going up and down.
http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26355" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 9&p=437481" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Jack Derbique