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Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point

Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Kit Carson, Challenger, Crestone Peaks and Crestone Needle
Challenger Point, Kit Carson Peak and Columbia Point on the left,
Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle on the right,
taken from San Luis Lakes State Park.

Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point are pretty good climbs with some technical routes available. The Prow on Kit Carson is every bit as challenging as the Ellingwood Arete on Crestone Peak. The two main routes to the summit of Challenger Point are rated 2+ while the routes to the summit of Kit Carson Peak vary from 3 to 5.8.

The southern approaches and the summits of Kit Carson and Challenger are both on the Baca Grande, which is now owned by the National Park Service. The easiest way to the peaks is through the Willow Creek drainage: 5 miles to Willow Lake and the waterfall. Then you are 1 mile north of the true base of Kit Carson and Challenger.

Columbia Point was formerly known as "Kat Carson" and is one of the 100 highest peaks in Colorado. It was renamed for the Space Shuttle that disintegrated on reentry in 2002. There are routes from the west that go to Columbia but the easiest route comes from the east below the north face of the Crestones.

Kit Carson Mountain
Challenger Point, Kit Carson Peak and the Prow,
from the Spanish Creek drainage southeast of Crestone, Colorado
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Kit Carson Mountain and Crestone Peak
Kit Carson Mountain and Crestone Peak from near Crestone
Kit Carson and the Prow
Kit Carson Peak and the Prow from the south
Kit Carson Mountain
Kit Carson Mountain from near Crestone
the south face below Challenger Point
The southern face of Challenger Point
Venable Peak
Venable Peak, north of Kit Carson
Willow Lake drainage with Fluted Peak and Mount Adams behind
Willow Creek drainage, Fluted Peak and Mount Adams
Kit Carson Mountain
Kit Carson Mountain
Venable Peak
Venable Peak
Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado
Challenger Point, Kit Carson Peak, Columbia Point, Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, left to right
Kit Carson Mountain area mapCrestone NeedleCrestone Peak
Kit Carson Mountain area map
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Map courtesy of National Geographic Topo!
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