Challenger Point facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Challenger Point |
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Challenger Point seen from nearby Kit Carson Mountain.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 14,087 ft (4,294 m) |
| Prominence | 301 ft (92 m) |
| Isolation | 0.22 mi (0.35 km) |
| Parent peak | Kit Carson Mountain |
| Listing | Colorado Fourteener 34th |
| Geography | |
 Challenger Point
Location in Colorado
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| Location | Saguache County, Colorado, United States |
| Parent range | Sangre de Cristo Range, Crestones |
| Topo map | USGS 7.5' topographic map Crestone Peak, Colorado |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Difficult class 2 |
Challenger Point is a very tall mountain peak located in Colorado, United States. It's part of the Crestones area within the Sangre de Cristo Range, which is a section of the Rocky Mountains. This mountain is special because it's one of Colorado's "fourteeners." A fourteener is a mountain that is over 14,000 feet (about 4,294 meters) high. Challenger Point stands at 14,087 feet (4,294 meters) tall.
The mountain is located about 8.1 kilometers (5 miles) east of the Town of Crestone in Saguache County. It is actually a smaller peak connected to a larger mountain called Kit Carson Mountain. Challenger Point was renamed to honor the seven astronauts who died when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart shortly after launching on January 28, 1986.
Remembering the Challenger Crew
After the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, a person named Dennis Williams from Colorado Springs suggested naming this mountain peak "Challenger Point." The official group that names places, the USGS Board of Geographic Names, approved this idea on April 9, 1987.
A local climber named Alan Silverstein organized a trip to the top of the mountain on July 18, 1987. He led a team to place a special memorial plaque there. The plaque is about 6 by 12 inches (15 by 30 centimeters) in size.
The plaque reads:
CHALLENGER POINT, 14080+'
In Memory of the Crew of Shuttle Challenger
Seven who died accepting the risk,
expanding Mankind's horizons
January 28, 1986 Ad Astra Per Aspera
The Latin phrase "Ad Astra Per Aspera" means "To the stars through adversity." It reminds us of the challenges faced to explore space.
Climbing Challenger Point
Climbing Challenger Point is considered a difficult route. Most climbers start their journey from the Willow Creek Trailhead, which is located at about 8,900 feet (2,713 meters) above sea level.
