10/22/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 10/23/2023, By: sean23 Info: Mixed conditions on route. The gully up Challenger is snow-laden, and the recent freeze-thaw cycles has made the snow quite hard. I brought and used spikes, but I would've liked to have crampons. The spikes were not able to get much purchase in the snow on the way up. I did bring an ice axe and used it frequently. Conditions improved once I got atop the summit ridge. I barebooted down to the saddle between Challenger and KC, but I wore spikes on the way back up. Kit Carson Avenue has some snow and ice, but it was nothing difficult. No snow on the way up Kit Carson. In short: until the next snowfall, bring spikes and an ice axe. Also consider bringing crampons. Some snow climbing experience would also help. |
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10/15/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 10/19/2023, By: Mgdupree Info: I failed an attempt at challenger/Kit Carson. I turned around just before the summit of Challenger due to problems with route finding and exhaustion. There is over a foot of snow at some points but I would say a summit is absolutely doable for someone with more experience. Although I did not get to see conditions of the Avenue. I will try again in summer conditions and definitely recommend camping at Willow lake to cut the route shorter. Its a lot of mileage and elevation gain for one day. It proved to be too much for me to take on that day! |
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10/8/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 10/10/2023, By: Jajohnson11 Info: Avenue loaded with snow. Traction and poles I would say mandatory. I had my ice axe and appreciated having it. Snow easily avoidable after the avenue. The traverse over to Columbia pt had very little snow as well. |
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9/26/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 9/28/2023, By: MBosch27 Info: Great conditions overall, warm weather 40-45 on the summit. Timing the softening of the snow helped, as it was fairly firm on the relatively easy going up, but soft on the harder way down. Spikes of some kind would definitely help, but not necessary, depending on skill. The Avenue was in great shape and all snow between the saddle and the prow can be bypassed just to the side, but honestly it was easier (in some spots) to be on the snow. Again, timing the snow here helps- I could dig heels in or slice french technique steps while coming down due to the softer snow. Spikes less needed here than going down Challenger technically speaking (pucker factor not included); again, depends on skill/comfort levels. I brought but did not use my Petzl Leopards and shorty axe. |
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9/24/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 9/25/2023, By: cloudkicker Info: Spikes and basic snow climbing skills are necessary for the standard route. The worst part of it was the last 700ft or so on the way up Challenger, with a 3-4 inch layer of steep snow in between steep loose rocks, and some ice. The crux was a small and narrow chute (about 80ft) just before the uppermost part of the slopes (upper gully), in which the only way up was in the narrow chute itself. The snow was beaten down and made slippery by all the foot traffic, with no evident bypasses on rock. At least one group turned around here. Only about half the groups on the mountain yesterday proceeded onto Kit Carson. The descent off Challenger to the Avenue was more sketchy than the Avenue itself, with some traversing of snow on steep slopes. Only the first third of the Avenue had any snow and there were a few places you could bypass towards the edge on scree. The rest of the route to the summit of Kit after the first section on the Avenue, was completely dry. Our group handled all the snow sections without incident due to the experience in our group but I can see how the amount of snow (especially on the final part of Challengers slope) could give less experienced or less equipped climbers a lot of trouble. Know what youre getting into, and come prepared. The original plan was to climb the north ridge but too much of last weeks snow was still on the north face and on the class 4 ridge, so we reverted to the standard route. There may be one more small window to do the North ridge without snow or ice this season, if this Indian summer does its thing in coming days. My friends finisher! |
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9/23/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 9/23/2023, By: wmagnuson7 Info: Good conditions, but would definitely recommend trail crampons for the crux of Challenger and the Avenue to Kit Carson. God bless! |
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9/17/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 9/21/2023, By: GSODJA Info: My climbing partner and I climbed Challenger and Kit Carson this past Sunday. The Avenue was snow packed from the saddle between Challenger and Kit Carson to the Prow. We wore micro-spikes. The hike down the avenue to the gully had snow but there were multiple sections that were snow-free. Gully to top of KC was dry. The biggest issue was the ice in the early am climbing Challenger along the rock rib @ 12,500 (wore mirco- spikes). All the snow melt re-froze overnight into sheets of ice |
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9/4/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 9/6/2023, By: sparnell Info: Started early in clear weather, but cloud cover rolled in from the Challenger notch to the Point. No thunder, lightning, or evidence of anything worse than cloud cover (and we could see at least 50-100ft in front of us), so we proceeded to KC via the Avenue. Skies began to clear halfway up the final scramble, and we had great views the rest of the day under late summer conditions. However, stiff winds pushing us back up the mountain made the descent down Challenger no joke. Reports of an overly-ambitious deer in the Willow Lake camping area are on target - secure your food and sweaty clothing and be prepared for a night time visitor even after you've done all that. |
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9/3/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 9/4/2023, By: nrobsaihttam Info: Did the Hike Saturday and Sunday. Wasn't expecting how crowded everything was since I didn't think this was one of the more popular 14'era, but I guess Labor Day weekend is to blame. I was going pretty slow so it took 3.5 hrs to get to the lake Saturday night, and 13 hours to do everything else and make it back to my car yesterday. Pros: weather was perfect, the waterfall was cool, trail wasn't full of dog crap *cough* Humboldt *cough*, Kit Carson looks cool, and most of the trail was straightforward. Cons: the climb up to challenger point was loose, and felt worse on the way down with it being really hard to stay on any trail on that section. There was also a fair amount of elevation loss and re-gain in the last mile. One thing to note: be careful to not miss the avenue on the way back down from Kit Carson, I almost didn't notice it, and people have gotten in trouble from missing it. |
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9/2/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 9/2/2023, By: truekyle Info: Just wanna throw this out there. I saw 2 camps (4 tents) camping past the very obviously no camping at lake sign. With the high amount of traffic we saw coming up I'm sure there will be more. I'd ask you to please respect the rules. Don't ruin it for everyone. |
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8/5/2023 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 8/7/2023, By: CDubFTW Info: Bugs reacted well to bug spray, didnt have an issue at 4 am with them. The ridge itself was in great condition and scared the shit out of me, please stay on route! It was my partner, me, and one other climber on the ridge. Had the summit to myself for a few minutes. Descended Challenger and the melting snow made the descent a huge pain. The rocks are already loose enough and now there's meltwater going down them. I would say it's a class 3 downclimb at its worst. Bugs ate me up in the treeline because I left the bug spray back in the car. |
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8/4/2023 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 8/7/2023, By: SavannaLittle Info: Summer Conditions on the ridge and approach, avenue is clear, snow fields on descent route via challenger are all avoidable. |
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8/1/2023 Route: Via Challenger Point Posted On: 8/1/2023, By: Logan5280 Info: Completed as day trip from Willow Creek TH. The route is totally dry and in great condition. The trail up the east side of Challenger is a little hard to follow, particularly on the descent, but it's relatively low-consequence. Challenger to KC is well-cairned and the rock is mostly decent. Excellent views overall, and a great day in the mountains |
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7/25/2023 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/30/2023, By: SkywayCheerios Info: Totally dry ascent save for one snow field flowing down from Outward Bound. Route description has you hike all the way to the base of the couloir before ascending towards the north ridge. I turned perhaps 150' lower so the snow field could be crossed at a narrower spot. About 15 steps very manageable in bare boots. |
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7/23/2023 Route: North Ridge Posted On: 7/23/2023, By: -wren- Info: summer conditions. what an incredible route! one tiny snow patch on the challenger descent, and a good bit of running water. pretty disgusting amount of flies up near the lake in the afternoon, and a lot of mosquitos the evening before as I pulled into the trailhead. road to trailhead should be accesible to any vehicle with some care and maybe a little spinning out for 2wd on some of the bumps. |
