Having fairly recently climbed Crestone Peak and Needle, I felt like with these peaks I experienced another part of the character of this overall mountain group. Their giant smoother rock masses contrast with the more dramatic pinnacles and jaggedness of the Crestones. All do, however, have the same intriguing conglomerate rock. The weather on this occasion gave things an 'eerie serenity' - if that's possible. Also, the circuitous route to the top of Kit Carson Peak reminds me of the Keyhole route up Long's. For all mtn climbs: kzitem.info/door/PL_-D3-4b6xbqY9qs5cN_QFTiqs4gNUstL. Thanks for watching! -CT
@adambowser7132
Ай бұрын
Love the video, very informative. Thanks for posting!
@jonallenjones2405
3 ай бұрын
Incredible video!
@franciscogarza8273
2 ай бұрын
More memories from the past. I did this route solo in 2011 and fell in love with the Crestones. I summited Kit again in 2019 starting from the South Colony lakes, it was such an awesome day going over Obstruction peak and Columbia (from there to Kit is the most fun part) and lastly going over to Humboldt before returning to camp and get rest. We summited The Needle the following morning, it was my second time hitting all of those summits. Happy trails!
@CentennialTreks
2 ай бұрын
Excellent - that's a real tour-de-force. For me, no mtns necessarily exceed the splendor of the Crestone group. I myself still have yet to climb Humboldt. Maybe this year or next.
@franciscogarza8273
2 ай бұрын
@@CentennialTreks Humboldt is pretty tame, the connecting ridge to Columbia is way more spicy
@diana.goes.hiking3276
Жыл бұрын
Those peaks are quite the experience. I did not have the energy to tackle Kit Carson and the descent on Challenger was one of the worst so far. Thank you for posting this video showing all the details as I will be heading back to complete the group and tag Kit. Beautiful area but oh so rugged and daunting.
@CentennialTreks
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! For sure, to even reach just Challenger is enough of a haul in itself. And the terrain on its north slopes is indeed pretty tough. In my assessment, that is the hardest portion of the whole combo route. Hopefully the day is favorable to you next time around.
@brianlund7862
8 ай бұрын
Descending challenger is still my worst experience on a Colorado 14er. So nasty, so untrustworthy, and for a class 2, very little room for error. I was shaking by the time we reached the grassy stuff
@CentennialTreks
8 ай бұрын
@brianlund7862 I understand your pain on that. I found this to be one of the more understated mountain routes in the literature - and you say and as I mentioned, particularly the stretch just below Challenger's NW ridge, which is very rugged and confusing, and, well.....challenging.
@ruggedland
Жыл бұрын
That was quite an adventure and a huge day indeed. Felt tired myself after just watching it :). The views though are truly spectacular. Sure hope to give it a try myself one day
@CentennialTreks
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for tuning into another one. Even without getting off course, this is a long trip. Generally, the Sangre de Cristo 14ers are formidable climbs.
@OutdoorExistential
Жыл бұрын
Another awesome run buddy! That challenger crux gully looked rocky and sketch, glad you got out of that but still! What a climb! The views from Kit C are sublime! Sand dunes??
@CentennialTreks
Жыл бұрын
For sure, these mtns were a rugged experience - especially that crux part up Challenger Point. Plus, I made the day more difficult than it had to be. The fog and clouds added a mystique to it. And the Great Sand Dunes visible from this and other Sangre de Cristo summits are a national park. I have only ever seen them from a distance, but at some point I will have to actually go there. Thanks for watching once again!
@papajon62
9 ай бұрын
Another great hike and history lesson! Your fearlessness is only matched by your vocabulary and mastery of the English language. Looking forward to your new adventures in 2024… 😊
@CentennialTreks
9 ай бұрын
Thank you once again - on both counts. I am very glad to have you as a viewer on this channel. I'm sure there will be plenty more next year. I am tentatively planning on possibly North Maroon, Pyramid, Mt. Wilson, El Diente, and wherever else I happen to end up. Later!
@papajon62
9 ай бұрын
…. Until then, I’ll be waiting with anticipation… 😊
@brianlund7862
8 ай бұрын
Crazy that there's a path up KC. I didn't see that once. We just straight-lin bear crawled the thing. I would've been so happy to know there was a path 😅
@CentennialTreks
8 ай бұрын
There is a path on the last few hundred vertical feet of Kit Carson, which goes up the gully above the terminus of the avenue, but as I recall, it has some markers, but isn't especially conspicuous.
@chapelontherock
Жыл бұрын
Great video, thank you!
@hiking1213
Жыл бұрын
Another great video CT!! I really appreciate you including the details of missing the turn at the Avenue. That helps us all to understand the potential mishaps that can happen. Route finding is something that concerns me the most about my hiking. I can easily zone out and make those types of mistakes. I’m so thankful you made it out ok. It’s in those moments one has to keep focus and not spend vital energy on panicking or frustration. Your calm demeanor helped you a great deal to get out of there safely. Great job on getting both summits. These are definitely on my to-do list . How many 14ers is that for you now?
@CentennialTreks
Жыл бұрын
This route is less technical than Crestone Peak and Needle, but nevertheless still fairly rugged, and quite long. There is a lot to see though - I'm sure you would find it as amazing as I did. Generally, in doing this I suppose one can expect to go the wrong way sometimes. In my estimation this is probably the most adverse screw-up I have made thus far, but not the first or the last. Once I got lost for like an hour in the forest while descending the off-trail east ridge route on Mt. Oxford. Another time, I forgot the turn out of the final gully coming down Wetterhorn, and had to make an off-trail circuit around a lower part of the mtn. to get back on track. I think these can be valuable experiences - in dealing with the unexpected, and in not freaking out. There are quite a few of the 14ers that I have climbed 2, 3, 4 or more times, but I think my tally of individual ones is at 37. Many I have yet to attempt are in the San Juans, but soon I will be living closer to that region. Anyway, thanks for watching another one!
@ksuds08
4 ай бұрын
Glad you made it back up to the Avenue. From everything Ive heard and read that can be a deadly mistake
@CentennialTreks
4 ай бұрын
The realization of what had to be done to get back on track was a daunting one. And yes - I saw a 14ers initiative video where a search and rescue team guy was saying how lots of rescues have been called in from people who have committed this foul-up, which is largely why I tried to describe it in this video. Thank you for watching.
Пікірлер: 24