Kit Carson Mountain (14,165)
Route: Outward Bound Couloir
Distance: 15.2 miles
Vertical: 5,320 feet
Date: May 02, 2022
Time: 16 hours
Partners: Alex Platt
Our route.
Finally on skis after several hours of hiking.
A willow thicket.
Alex finds a grotto.
Willow Lake with its impressive ice falls.
Closeup of the ice falls.
Me skinning across the lake.
Difficult snow above the lake.
After 4.5 hours, our first view of Kit Carson Mountain (to left of center).
View from the top of the ice falls.
The upper basin with Columbia Point, Kit Carson Mountain, and Challenger Point on the skyline (from left to right).
Surprisingly thin snow in the basin.
Kit Carson looms large as we pass beneath it.
The Outward Bound Couloir comes into view.
A short break before starting the real climbing.
Wind sculpted snow on the apron.
Entrance to the couloir.
Alex sets a switchback.
Booting up.
Alex clears a steep section.
Top of the couloir in sight.
Traversing to get underneath the final headwall.
I'm leading the traverse.
Nearly there.
Finishing the headwall.
Looking back at our tracks.
Totally different snow on the southwest aspect above the couloir.
The summit comes into view.
Climbing though a mixture of rock, snow, and ice.
Alex finishing the summit ridge.
Me reaching the summit.
From left to right Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak.
Humboldt Peak at center, the Crestones to the right.
Challenger Point.
Amazing views.
The sand dunes and the Sierra Blanca in the distance.
Alex on the summit.
Me on the summit.
Willow lake (at center) looks quite distant.
Zoom of willow lake.
Me skiing the southwest face.
Booting back up to the col.
Alex riding the couloir.
Me skiing the couloir.
Soft snow on the lowest skiable section on the way out.
