| Perhaps my plans were too ambitious when I set out for Kit Karson Peak with not too good a weather forecast. I have tried twice before to attempt the 3rd class Crestone Group peaks socked in with clouds in the Fall only to waste a trip each time. I was still up for a challenge, and it looked like the lower 13ers along the Northern end of the Sangre de Cristos were less cluttered. Arriving at the 4x4 road, I never actually had to use 4WD, but the clearance was important because of rocks. 9:00 a.m. was the start time. The temperature where I parked was warm, and I figured I didn't need to bring my fleece to put under my jacket (voluntary mistake). The hike up the old road (not even passable for an ATV) went by quickly, though the temperature was dropping. On the right is a view toward Bushnell Peak with clouds being pushed over Point 12,730' from the east. | |
| At the end of the 'old road', I could see I had quite a bit of work left to do - and it was going to suck - off-trail talus hopping for over 2,000' vertical feet in very short milage. A revisit of Mount Columbia's West Slopes - this time with crappy weather and less grassy slopes. Reaching the Southwest Ridge was not too difficult, just time-consuming. On the left is a view of the non-trail route up to the Southwest Rdige. Then everything went dark - I couldn't even tell where the sun was. I kept making myself memorize the surrounding terrain so I could later discern if I was descending into the correct drainage on the return. I knew white-out was coming. There was a seemingly unending series of false summits - that's what happens when you cannot see the surrounding terrain to guess how high you are. Finally, a stick appeared at the top of the ridge. It was really starting to blow white now. |
| I wasted no time on the summit, and took shelter from the wind, descending below the ridge crest. Then I was faced with two options - the ridge to the left or right. I remember telling myself that I can just pick the higher ground from any available turn-offs, as I could see the options on the way up. Unfortunately, I didn't consider the possibility of being so off-route to end up heading north on the ridge, though I knew the the terrain did not look familiar. I knew I was heading north when I stepped next to the cairn on point 12,730'. There was little choice but to descend straight down the talus face toward the basin - a true test for my knee. Fortunately, I've been dedicating enough hours to physical therapy that my knee didn't notice. As though the Sangre de Cristo Range was spiting me, the view of most of the range was snow and cloud-free on the drive out - Look. |
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