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Hike Challenger Point and Kit Carson Mountain in Rio Grande National Forest, Colorado - Stav is Lost

Hike Challenger Point and Kit Carson Mountain Rio Grande National Forest, CO

Class 3 14.6 miles 6300 gain 8-11 hrs Out and Back
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DirectionsRoute MapDownload GPX

Sep 28, 2018 — I feel I've neglected the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, despite really enjoying my trip to Blanca Peak a few years ago, so I decided to hit Challenger Point and Kit Carson Mountain, two 14ers right next to each other, on my way up from New Mexico.

From the Willow Lake Trailhead, follow a very well maintained trail to Willow Lake, surrounded by cliffs and complete with a waterfall on the east side, obviously super pretty. A sign for Challenger Point and Kit Carson Mountain points you to the northern side of Willow Lake, and easy route-finding on a steep, sometimes dirty, slope takes you up to the northwest ridge of Challener Point, nothing more than Class 2. Challenger Point is really more of a bump on the way to Kit Carson Mountain, but I suppose its 302 feet of prominence makes it an official 14er. You'll have to re-ascend this on the way back, making it slightly more work.

From the summit of Challenger Point, check out the really cool diagonal feature on the west face of Kit Carson Mountain, where an obvious trail takes you around the peak and down, avoiding Class 5 terrain. A very wide Class 2+/3 gully takes you to the summit of Kit Carson Mountain. I went up one way and down a totally different one - it seems most lines lead to the summit. Most resources call this low Class 3, but there really aren't any moments where you're in any sort of danger. Enjoy the extremely photogenic Crestone Peak/Needle from the summit before heading back.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Challenger Point
14081 ft
281 rise
2
Kit Carson Mountain
14165 ft
1005 rise

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photo protector Starting along the Willow Lake Trail.
Starting along the Willow Lake Trail.
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photo protector You can see the end of the ridge leading down from Challenger Point. There's a pretty, grassy field on the right.
You can see the end of the ridge leading down from Challenger Point. There's a pretty, grassy field on the right.
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photo protector Looking back along the Willow Lake Trail - you can see that pretty, grassy field way down there.
Looking back along the Willow Lake Trail - you can see that pretty, grassy field way down there.
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photo protector The trail does a bunch of small switchbacks.
The trail does a bunch of small switchbacks.
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photo protector Almost at Willow Lake.
Almost at Willow Lake.
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photo protector Willow Lake.
Willow Lake.
photo protector Along the trail around Willow Lake - you can see Kit Carson Mountain peeking out on the right.
Along the trail around Willow Lake - you can see Kit Carson Mountain peeking out on the right.
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photo protector Looking back toward Willow Lake.
Looking back toward Willow Lake.
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photo protector A nice trail leads up the steep slopes, Kit Carson Mountain looming over there.
A nice trail leads up the steep slopes, Kit Carson Mountain looming over there.
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photo protector Looking back down some Class 2 stuff.
Looking back down some Class 2 stuff.
photo protector Class 2 stuff to get to the ridge.
Class 2 stuff to get to the ridge.
photo protector At the ridge, looking back the way I came. Mt. Adams is that pointy guy out there.
At the ridge, looking back the way I came. Mt. Adams is that pointy guy out there.
photo protector Starting along the ridge to Challenger Point.
Starting along the ridge to Challenger Point.
photo protector Challenger Point just ahead, Kit Carson Mountain on the left.
Challenger Point just ahead, Kit Carson Mountain on the left.
photo protector Challenger Point summit, Kit Carson right there, but you have to go all the way around it to summit.
Challenger Point summit, Kit Carson right there, but you have to go all the way around it to summit.
photo protector Looking back from Challenger Point - Mt. Adams is the pointy mountain, Willow Lake is down there somewhere.
Looking back from Challenger Point - Mt. Adams is the pointy mountain, Willow Lake is down there somewhere.
photo protector The interesting diagonal feature up the side of Kit Carson.
The interesting diagonal feature up the side of Kit Carson.
photo protector After the interesting diagonal feature, looking down where the trail loses some elevation. You can see Crestone Peak over there.
After the interesting diagonal feature, looking down where the trail loses some elevation. You can see Crestone Peak over there.
photo protector Looking back toward Challenger Peak before heading down the south side of Kit Carson. You can see another hiker if you look closely.
Looking back toward Challenger Peak before heading down the south side of Kit Carson. You can see another hiker if you look closely.
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photo protector Heading down for a few hundred feet.
Heading down for a few hundred feet.
photo protector Looking back up the lost elevation.
Looking back up the lost elevation.
photo protector Looking up the last bit to the summit, just some Class 2+/3 scrambling.
Looking up the last bit to the summit, just some Class 2+/3 scrambling.
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photo protector At the top of the Class 2+/3 gully, looking down the way I came up.
At the top of the Class 2+/3 gully, looking down the way I came up.
photo protector Ridgeline to Kit Carson Mountain.
Ridgeline to Kit Carson Mountain.
photo protector Kit Carson Mountain summit, looking toward Challenger Point.
Kit Carson Mountain summit, looking toward Challenger Point.
photo protector Kit Carson Mountain, close-up of Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak.
Kit Carson Mountain, close-up of Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak.
photo protector Close-up of Willow Lake down there.
Close-up of Willow Lake down there.

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