Columbia Point

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Columbia Point
The Crestone Group as seen from Mount Adams. From left to right: Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, Columbia Point, Kit Carson Peak, Challenger Point.^[1]
Elevation	13,980 ft (4,261 m)
Location	Colorado, United States
Range	Rocky Mountains, Sangre de Cristo Range
Prominence	320 ft (98 m) - 400 ft (122 m)^[2]
Coordinates	37°58′44″N, 105°35′51″W
Topo map	USGS Crestone Peak
First ascent	unknown (probably climbed as part of an ascent of Kit Carson Mountain)
Easiest route	Difficult class 2

For Columbia Point in Boston see Columbia Point (Boston)

Columbia Point is a 13,980 foot (4,261 meter) subpeak of Kit Carson Peak, in Colorado, USA. It was known informally as Kat Carson, but was officially named Columbia Point in 2003 to honor the seven astronauts who died when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry on February 1, 2003. With a topographic prominence of at least 320 ft (98 m), it just qualifies as a separate summit under the standard cutoff, but it is not a well-known peak.

1 The Memorial
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] The Memorial

The USGS Board of Geographic Names approved the name of Columbia Point in June, 2003. On the weekend of August 7, 2003, a group consisting of family members, astronauts, friends and climbers installed a memorial plaque on the summit. The trip included a dedication service for the memorial, and an F16 flyby in missing man formation.

Today, we name a point in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado in honor of the Space Shuttle Columbia. Seven brave astronauts perished during her final mission on February 1, 2003. Columbia Point is an appropriate honor for this shuttle's last voyage. Those who explore space in the days ahead may gaze back at Earth - and know that Columbia Point is there to commend a noble mission. The point looks up to the heavens and it allows us, once again, to thank our heroes who soared far beyond the mountain, traveled past the sky -- and live on in our memories forever.

– Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton^[3]

The plaque reads:

COLUMBIA POINT, 13,980'

In Memory of the Crew of Shuttle Columbia
Seven who died accepting the risk,
Expanding humankind's horizons
February 1, 2003
"Mankind is led into the darkness beyond
our world by the inspiration of discovery
and the longing to understand. Our
journey into space will go on."
President George W. Bush

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ The name Kit Carson Mountain can be used to describe three summits: Columbia Point, Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point. It can also be used to describe the main summit only.
^ Columbia Point (unmarked) on Topozone. Also see Lists of John.
^ http://www.doi.gov/news/030610a.htm Department of Interior Announcement on Columbia Point