Challenger Point is the ranked fourteener on the west shoulder of Kit Carson Peak, named for the crew of the space shuttle Challenger after the 1986 disaster. It is the first summit on the standard Kit Carson route from Willow Lake, and few people climb it without continuing along Kit Carson Avenue to the higher peak.
Standard Route
From the Willow Creek trailhead at 8,900 feet, climb the switchbacks to Willow Lake at 11,580 feet, about 4.5 miles. Follow the trail around the lake's north shore and up the drainage above it, then climb the steep north slope of Challenger: a loose Class 2+ gully of scree and ledges, cairned, that gains about 2,000 feet to the summit ridge. The summit is at 14,081 feet. Challenger alone is about 13.5 miles round trip and 5,400 feet of gain; adding Kit Carson makes it 15 miles and about 6,250 feet including the re-ascent of Challenger on the return.
What to Expect
The north slope is the route's problem: loose rock, a few short scrambling steps, and parties above you sending stones down the gully. Helmets and an early start matter. From the summit, Kit Carson Avenue is obvious below and to the east, and the traverse to Kit Carson takes about an hour each way. A memorial plaque sits on Challenger's summit.
Access & Logistics
From the town of Crestone, the signed gravel road east reaches the Willow Creek trailhead in about 2 miles. Small lot, no fee or permit. Camping at Willow Lake is at designated sites only.
When to Climb
The Kirk Couloir on Challenger's north face is a snow climb in June; the standard slope dries by mid-July and stays dry into September. The route is long, so most people camp at the lake and climb on day two, starting before dawn to be off the summits by noon in storm season.
Camping, Permits, and Nearby
Willow Lake's designated campsites are on the east end near the falls. Crestone has a general store and cafes; Alamosa, an hour away, has everything else. Kit Carson Peak is the obvious pairing, and Humboldt or the Crestones by way of South Colony Lakes are on the far side of the range, a long drive around through Westcliffe.
Gear Notes
Helmet, boots, poles, a filter for lake water, and microspikes with an ice axe before mid-July.
Related Reading
Often Climbed With
Kit Carson Peak →
14,165 ft · Class 3 · 15 mi standard route
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