Colorado 14ers: Kit Carson North Ridge & Challenger Point Hike Guide

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

For a full hike review of both of these mountains, you can visit www.thevirtualsherpa.com/kit-carson-challenger-point/

[@georgesheffield1580]

The bes climb of Kit Carson of course the Prow on the other side a 5.8 start and committed ,low 5.x up. Beautiful

[@georgesheffield1580]

Kit Carson Avenue side is great too . Over the top of the prow , equivelent to broadway on longs

[@georgesheffield1580]

To the left of theater in the smaller cirque is the route to Mt Adam's, with an interesting final set of moves .

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Been on my list for a while! Need to get down there to check it out in 2024.

[@allencasey337]

I'm currently working to level up to Class 3 and 4 terrain, and I appreciated how you chose to show extended sequences of yourself navigating through the more challenging sections of this. It was really helpful to watch how you were moving and choosing holds. I love your content, man. Thanks for putting it out there!

[@georgesheffield1580]

This is a fun one in the crestone group .views east and west ,down in the the valleys below and to the San Juans off to the west and The Elks to the north west . This is one of my favorites in this area

[@clintgillespie8579]

Just did this hike a couple weeks ago and used your video as a guide. The one thing that the camera can't truly convey is the exposure. It looks a lot scarier in real life.

[@drewharrell7657]

I did the standard route up Challenger and over to Kit trailhead to trailhead in one day. Incredibly long day. Not to mention I came to Colorado the day before Texas. So no acclimation time

[@TheCpowderly]

What advice do you have for someone considering doing the same?

[@Theninjaonthemountains]

great video will be trying this one pretty soon hoping to snowboard down the kirk coliur after

[@henrydesmarais3761]

Did you ever end up snowboarding down the coliur?

[@Theninjaonthemountains]

@@henrydesmarais3761 I did, unfortunately I started too late and snow was really soft by the time I got to snowboard so only got a few turns, I would love to revisit with more snow kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5ncoJyZbZ1ooMk

[@georgesheffield1580]

Great choice of routes , could include Columbia crest and Mt.Adams from the lake.

[@TheFarmersFarmington]

Challenger point coming down hit different with the giant loose rocks that look stable. Ngl I did a Little Rock surfing

[@kathrynsmith8554]

Look at this young guy! Lol Gonna hit this route tomorrow. Was glad to see you had a video for it 👌

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

TBH, I look at old me and am usually like WTF was I doing with this filming, sound quality, beard length etc. but glad this helps out a little. FWIW, I still think I went up the wrong couloir, I would head deeper into the canyon before going up. the North Ridge.

[@kathrynsmith8554]

@@TheVirtualsherpa Well you gotta start somewhere! Definitely a noticeably older video in comparison to newer content, but mostly wanted to see what the climbing + exposure were like. I got other beta to follow for route-finding so hopefully I'll be good. Take care!

[@nickkowalczyk7644]

Sweet video! Can't believe I haven't seen it yet

[@robertscales9930]

Great video, however I would like to point out that where you start is NOT the Outward Bound Couloir. The Outward Bound Couloir is the next couloir proceeding east up the valley. I made the same mistake on my fist attempt of this route. Bypassing this couloir and heading to the Outward Bound Couloir is more ideal. [Photo of Outward Bound Couloir from 14ers.com](www.14ers.com/photos/kitcarsongroup/mRKCar_606.jpg?lastupd=20180205)

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Robert Scales Makes a lot of sense, thanks for pointing too. I felt like I was always a bit too far west on the trial but eventually hooked up with the ridge so found my way eventually. Thanks for the comment!

[@georgesheffield1580]

Correct lots make that mistake ,but it goes either way or the direct ridge .

[@SuperJoey1950]

Those who film these climbs for us never show going down which I'm sure has its own different challenge.

[@TheHungaryJack]

Are you sure that was the entrance to the OB couloir? The Roach route description suggests you need to traverse more left of the cliff band.

[@georgesheffield1580]

The wide angle makes that cirque look wide , ha !

[@georgesheffield1580]

One handed climbing trying to balance steady a go pro ups the exposure at least half a grade

[@TheFarmersFarmington]

Had we had the time me and my cattle dog would have gotten Kit Carson but I left my sleeping pad so another night at willow lake in the late season was out of the question. New moon was beautiful in dark sky country but not ideal for an early start.

[@carsonc1214]

Great video as always Virtual Shirpa! I was re watching this video as well as your ranking all the 14ers video and I was wondering where you would put this route in that video? I have completed the north ridge and was wondering if it stacks up with the exposure of the crestone traverse or the technical difficulty of some of the other class four peaks. We didn’t have much trouble but I would love to gauge my skills for future hikes.

[@TheVirtualsherpa]

Hey Carson - probably somewhere in between El Diente and Crestone. That headwall on Crestone Needle really has no comparison in terms to any other standard route. Its been a while since I have done either route -but think that overall Kit was probably more challenging but the two crux moves on that C traverse are much harder / more exposed than anything on this one.

[@carsonc1214]

@@TheVirtualsherpa Thank you! It is always great to get some insight from someone with vast knowledge like yourself.