Climbed Queens way enroute over Apache to Navajo. Windy and cloudy but otherwise a nice outing.
shknbke - Aug 27, 2008 9:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
South ridge via Navajo snowfield
The scenery on this hike is simply amazing. Had a nice day on snow and rock by going up the Navajo snowfield, my first snowclimb in Aug! Traverse to Apache is easy. Took west chimney up Navajo and then went over to Niwot Ridge.
astrobassman - Jun 30, 2008 4:17 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
Great Day on the Apache Couloir
A nice tour of Apache ascending the Apache Couloir and descending Queens way. This is one of the best basins in the front range.
heather14 - Jun 29, 2008 12:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
Apache Couloir
Great day. An easy approach for a change capped of with a nice snow climb. Descended Queensway.
SarahThompson - Mar 31, 2008 12:27 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2005
3x, East Ledges, Apache Couloir, Queens Way
8/28/05 - Wasn't a huge fan of the East Ledges route. There was actally a lot of scree on the face and the scrambling was limited and not that great. Will return to try a snowclimb.
6/21/10 - I found the Apache Couloir to be a bit dissapointing as well. Maybe I'm just expecting too much from Apache. We livened up the day by traversing over to Navajo.
6/21/17 - Climbed Queens Way and then traversed to Navajo.
peakrat76 - Jan 3, 2008 1:43 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 1981
Apache Couloir
My wife and I did an open air bivy near the base of the climb. Lots of bats zoomed close over head at sunset. Got up early and did the nice snow route with a fast glissade coming down. Wonderful Indian Peaks summit.
shanahan96 - Oct 7, 2007 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2007
snowy east ledges
climbed the moderately snowy east ledges with jamie nellis. the forecast for snow never materialized, and we had a gorgeous autumn day! quite the interesting outing
jamie
georgbetsy - Aug 13, 2007 10:47 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2007
Fair Glacier
This was one of the most exhausting and longest trips I have ever done. However, it was also the most well-rounded trip (hike, scramble, steep snow/ice, low 5th class rock, beautiful scenery) that I have done so far. In summary, a great trip, beautiful day, some threatening weather, icy glacier/couloir.
Attempted North Ridge with group from CHAOS, but could not complete the route due to rain/hail. I was significantly nervous with the exposure on some sections of the route, and although I was able to continue, I had anxiety at regular critical points. We reached the gap between King's Pawn and King; hail and rain (wet rocks) had us descend before gully. I need more 'exposure to exposure' to become more comfortable, and hope to return. If you are comfortable with exposure and 3rd/4th class, you should enjoy the route. Beware loose rock - it is very easy to knock off, piled on ledge systems.
Very fun moderate snow route. The glissade down was a little tedious due to all of the old rockfall in the couloiur, but overall it was a blast. Definitely bring your skis if you are a competent backcountry skier.
boisedoc - Jul 19, 2006 5:03 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 1999
east ledge
Some fun routefinding through the ledges. Maybe a bit of class 3. Great views from the top.
Late June 2002: a low snow year. Was hitting buried rocks in Queen's way couloir while climbing up with the ice axe. Snow pack very thin! Very abnormal. Typically snow lasts year round in the couloir and you don't hit rocks.
Would like to climb from Fair Glacier / Triangle lake sometime
late June 2003: climbed Apache couloir, much better snow year, descended Queen's way
September 2004: climbed and skied queen's way couloir, fresh snow in the couloir
May 21 2006: climbed and skied Queen's way couloir. Continuous run from top of the cont. divide ridge (13400+') to trailhead (10500')
Classic climb & Incredible scenery
How many Colorado peaks have 3 permanent snow fields?
Isabelle Glacier, Fair Glacier, and the nearby Navajo snowfield.
Mountain Jim - Apr 29, 2006 12:33 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 1967
Apache Couloir
Total ascents = 2. Second time, climbed Apache Couloir then traversed across the ridge and climbed Navajo.
Route Climbed: Apache Coulier Date Climbed: 10/9/05
Weather forecast was for snow, and it did. All day long. Got around eight inches while on the route then some more on the way down. Great climb, very exciting at times.
Route Climbed: Apache Couloir, descent of Queen's Way Couloir Date Climbed: July 21, 2005
Beautiful scenery on our pre-dawn approach. Soft conditions on the way up and very soft on the way down. Fantastic scenery and a fine summit. Great way to beat the heat down in the lowlands (where the temperature was 100+ degrees!).
Route Climbed: apache couloir Date Climbed: 7/02/05
my partners and i (fritzsperry + mike) climbed apache couloir 7/2/05. we hiked into the basin and started the steep ascent up the couloir of apache mtn. we reached the summit around 10am. the ski/snowboard descent of apache couloir was awesome, the snow was super slush about 4-5" down to a nice firm consolidated base. get an early start. there is still plenty of snow back there. contact me if you want pics of the snow pack
Route Climbed: Isabelle Gl. to N. Ridge Date Climbed: begin. July, 2002
A fun route with the additional interest of climbing a rare Colorado glacier, and then great scrambling along the North Ridge over a sub-peak to reach the summit. Descent via Apache Couloir.
Route Climbed: Queens Way Coulior Date Climbed: September 1, 2003
I climbed this route with my dog Sopris. Prior to our entering the coulior we witnessed the most spectacular and scary rockfall incident of I could imagine... a boulder the size of a short school bus crashed onto and slid down the Isabelle Glacier right before our eyes. I was completely awed by the violence of this event. And I felt uneasy the whole day... This may have been the most difficult summit my dog has tackled. (tis a tie between Apache and Mount Richthofen...) The looseness of the upper slope suprised me.
miztflip - Jul 20, 2009 9:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 20, 2009
Queens WayClimbed Queens way enroute over Apache to Navajo. Windy and cloudy but otherwise a nice outing.
shknbke - Aug 27, 2008 9:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
South ridge via Navajo snowfieldThe scenery on this hike is simply amazing. Had a nice day on snow and rock by going up the Navajo snowfield, my first snowclimb in Aug! Traverse to Apache is easy. Took west chimney up Navajo and then went over to Niwot Ridge.
astrobassman - Jun 30, 2008 4:17 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
Great Day on the Apache CouloirA nice tour of Apache ascending the Apache Couloir and descending Queens way. This is one of the best basins in the front range.
heather14 - Jun 29, 2008 12:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2008
Apache CouloirGreat day. An easy approach for a change capped of with a nice snow climb. Descended Queensway.
SarahThompson - Mar 31, 2008 12:27 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2005
3x, East Ledges, Apache Couloir, Queens Way8/28/05 - Wasn't a huge fan of the East Ledges route. There was actally a lot of scree on the face and the scrambling was limited and not that great. Will return to try a snowclimb.
6/21/10 - I found the Apache Couloir to be a bit dissapointing as well. Maybe I'm just expecting too much from Apache. We livened up the day by traversing over to Navajo.
6/21/17 - Climbed Queens Way and then traversed to Navajo.
peakrat76 - Jan 3, 2008 1:43 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 1981
Apache CouloirMy wife and I did an open air bivy near the base of the climb. Lots of bats zoomed close over head at sunset. Got up early and did the nice snow route with a fast glissade coming down. Wonderful Indian Peaks summit.
shanahan96 - Oct 7, 2007 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2007
snowy east ledgesclimbed the moderately snowy east ledges with jamie nellis. the forecast for snow never materialized, and we had a gorgeous autumn day! quite the interesting outing
jamie
georgbetsy - Aug 13, 2007 10:47 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2007
Fair GlacierThis was one of the most exhausting and longest trips I have ever done. However, it was also the most well-rounded trip (hike, scramble, steep snow/ice, low 5th class rock, beautiful scenery) that I have done so far. In summary, a great trip, beautiful day, some threatening weather, icy glacier/couloir.
Joe_Parvis - Jul 16, 2007 5:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2007
Scared on North Ridge (Kasparov)Attempted North Ridge with group from CHAOS, but could not complete the route due to rain/hail. I was significantly nervous with the exposure on some sections of the route, and although I was able to continue, I had anxiety at regular critical points. We reached the gap between King's Pawn and King; hail and rain (wet rocks) had us descend before gully. I need more 'exposure to exposure' to become more comfortable, and hope to return. If you are comfortable with exposure and 3rd/4th class, you should enjoy the route. Beware loose rock - it is very easy to knock off, piled on ledge systems.
WestEndAllStar - Jul 6, 2007 6:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2007
Queen's way round tripVery fun moderate snow route. The glissade down was a little tedious due to all of the old rockfall in the couloiur, but overall it was a blast. Definitely bring your skis if you are a competent backcountry skier.
boisedoc - Jul 19, 2006 5:03 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 1999
east ledgeSome fun routefinding through the ledges. Maybe a bit of class 3. Great views from the top.
wlloyd - Jun 1, 2006 6:54 am
Queen's WayLate June 2002: a low snow year. Was hitting buried rocks in Queen's way couloir while climbing up with the ice axe. Snow pack very thin! Very abnormal. Typically snow lasts year round in the couloir and you don't hit rocks.
Would like to climb from Fair Glacier / Triangle lake sometime
late June 2003: climbed Apache couloir, much better snow year, descended Queen's way
September 2004: climbed and skied queen's way couloir, fresh snow in the couloir
May 21 2006: climbed and skied Queen's way couloir. Continuous run from top of the cont. divide ridge (13400+') to trailhead (10500')
Classic climb & Incredible scenery
How many Colorado peaks have 3 permanent snow fields?
Isabelle Glacier, Fair Glacier, and the nearby Navajo snowfield.
Mountain Jim - Apr 29, 2006 12:33 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 1967
Apache CouloirTotal ascents = 2. Second time, climbed Apache Couloir then traversed across the ridge and climbed Navajo.
iwlclmeverest - Oct 9, 2005 8:28 pm
Route Climbed: Apache Coulier Date Climbed: 10/9/05Weather forecast was for snow, and it did. All day long. Got around eight inches while on the route then some more on the way down. Great climb, very exciting at times.
CharlesD - Jul 22, 2005 3:53 pm
Route Climbed: Apache Couloir, descent of Queen's Way Couloir Date Climbed: July 21, 2005Beautiful scenery on our pre-dawn approach. Soft conditions on the way up and very soft on the way down. Fantastic scenery and a fine summit. Great way to beat the heat down in the lowlands (where the temperature was 100+ degrees!).
Chris - Jul 10, 2005 11:12 pm
Route Climbed: Apache Couloir w/ descent of Queen's Way Date Climbed: July 10, 2005Awesome day, awesome climb!
jonpierre - Jul 4, 2005 2:31 pm
Route Climbed: apache couloir Date Climbed: 7/02/05my partners and i (fritzsperry + mike) climbed apache couloir 7/2/05. we hiked into the basin and started the steep ascent up the couloir of apache mtn. we reached the summit around 10am. the ski/snowboard descent of apache couloir was awesome, the snow was super slush about 4-5" down to a nice firm consolidated base. get an early start. there is still plenty of snow back there. contact me if you want pics of the snow pack
virginiapine - Jun 14, 2005 10:59 am
Route Climbed: Isabelle Gl. to N. Ridge Date Climbed: begin. July, 2002A fun route with the additional interest of climbing a rare Colorado glacier, and then great scrambling along the North Ridge over a sub-peak to reach the summit. Descent via Apache Couloir.
JonBradford - Oct 24, 2003 12:44 am
Route Climbed: Queens Way Coulior Date Climbed: September 1, 2003I climbed this route with my dog Sopris. Prior to our entering the coulior we witnessed the most spectacular and scary rockfall incident of I could imagine... a boulder the size of a short school bus crashed onto and slid down the Isabelle Glacier right before our eyes. I was completely awed by the violence of this event. And I felt uneasy the whole day... This may have been the most difficult summit my dog has tackled. (tis a tie between Apache and Mount Richthofen...) The looseness of the upper slope suprised me.
Jon Bradford
Jim Clarke - Oct 1, 2003 2:58 pm
Route Climbed: Queen's Way and Apache Coulior Date Climbed: 7/14/00 + other datesA great peak for getting dailed on snowclimbing and ski descents. June and even early July still occasionally hold some good snow in the couliors.