| Peak: | Challenger Point (Unranked 14er) |
| Route: | North Slope |
| Range: | Sangre de Cristo |
| Posted By: | supranihilest |
| Date of Info: | 12/21/2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12/21/2021 |
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Perfect conditions on Challenger today. You have two days before more snow arrives, get it while it's hot. Trail to Willow Lake is broken now. Make sure to take the left branch at the split in the upper flats near the campsites, we went the wrong way in the morning. Rounding the lake is dry. We then took the standard route up, following the trail until about 12,700 feet before it ended in solid snow. At this point we just went straight up alongside the large wall along climber's right, most of which was on snow. The snow felt bomber and safe. Crampons were very useful, axes somewhat. Once we reached the upper cliffs we began scrambling up and left through whatever weaknesses looked easiest. Most of this was Class 2+ with maybe a little bit of Class 3, and all of it snowy. Eventually we were funneled next to the Pencil couloir and back on a climber's trail to the notch, where a short scramble took us to the summit ridge. I took my crampons off here since I could stick mostly to rock. We descended the standard route as well. The winter variation on the left side of the Pencil couloir is significantly more difficult, so get this one while it's easy if you can. Flotation not needed. Traction very helpful (I preferred crampons since there was plenty of pure snow climbing). Ice axe somewhat useful, depends on comfort on steep, sometimes hard snow. Photos (click for slideshow):              
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