Route Climbed: South Arapahoe Southeast Ridge (South Peak only) Date Climbed: October 16, 2005
This was a nice fall climb. Quite a bit of snow from that big storm last week. Wasn't up for the traverse. Probly do it some time in the future or climb North Arap. from another route.
Route Climbed: Arapaho Peaks Traverse Date Climbed: September 24, 2005
The traverse is an awesome climb. It was not as difficult as I expected; the inclined slab was quite short and not terribly too steep. These cruxes made the climb much more enjoyable.
Route Climbed: Arapaho Glacier trail via 4th of July Mine Date Climbed: August 26, 2005
After carefully studying weather forecasts, we started up the trail shortly after noon. The clouds were trying to build, but humidity was too low and we safely summitted a few hours later. This is surely a worthwhile hike with a fun talus scramble at the end. The ridge traverse looked scary--luckily we had insufficient time to traverse to North Arapaho. lol. Due to our late start, both mountains were completely deserted! I recommend this fun and scenic walkup!
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: 21 August, 2005
Weird summer day in the IPW-at least from what I have experienced. The weather actually got better as the day progressed. Got to the top of S Arapaho, the weather looked nasty quite a ways to the south and southwest and I decided to go for N Arapaho. Very straightforward (painted arrows and cairns whenever route finding was ), well travelled and fun scrambling! This would be a good introduction to this sort of thing... All in all a great way to spend the morning!
There was some rockfall and icefall in the couloir - there's a cornice at the top invisible from below. Stay away from the debris trail and wear your helmet! The ridge was spectacular. I watched several natural wet slab avalanches down the east side, including one that started a few steps away from me. Careful out there.
Route Climbed: Southeast Ridge - South Arapaho Date Climbed: June 19, 2004
Extremely warm (hot even) day. Saw dozens and dozens of wet slides, even triggered a couple below Arapaho Saddle with only a baseball sized rock lobbed into the snow. Great hike, great company, great views...
Route Climbed: Arapahoe Peaks Traverse Date Climbed: December 1990
During the run-up to the first Gulf War, and the dissolution of my relationship with the Univeristy of Colorado, Boulder, I decided to take a day off and walk up these two peaks, which are so striking from the plains outside Boulder. It's a beautiful hike, the third class ridge is fun. Too bad the Arapahoe Glacier is off-limits. It would make a good ski run.
Route Climbed: Arapaho Peaks Traverse Date Climbed: 8/5/2004
Did the traverse today, what a great route. The crux slab is overrated in my opinion... I'm 5'6 and I pulled myself up with just my hands on the shelf and a tiny bit of traction from my hiking shoes. The slab is maybe 6 1/2 feet high on its right side. The crux for me was downclimbing the slabby face to avoid the 7 ft. notch right near the end of the route.
Route Climbed: Southeast ridge on South Arapahoe + traverse to North Arapahoe Date Climbed: August 5, 2004
We had a great time hiking up South Arapahoe and traversing to North Arapahoe. We started at 7:15 and just made it back to the car before the thunderstorm started. I cannot believe how many people were just starting at the trailhead with dark clouds all over the place. No wonder so many people get hit by lightning each year.
Route Climbed: Arapaho Traverse with Old Baldy Date Climbed: July 31, 2004
We finished our month in the Indian Peaks with the Arapaho Peaks. The traverse was a hoot, and the climb of "Old Baldy" was worth it for the view of the Arapahos alone! A trip report is available here.
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: June 29th, 2004
Climbed with my sister after camping at Buckingham campground. Made the south summit after 2.5 hours. Stayed on top for an hour fighting marmots, and headed down, as she was not very interested in the traverse. Great climb. I'll certainly be back for the traverse soon.
Route Climbed: Standard South Ridge Date Climbed: October 11, 2003
Despite the light snowfall the night before and the startlingly strong winds, we persevered. Started from 4th-of-July at 8am with Justin and Kristie van Voorst and Nathan Smith. Surprisingly stout weather above TL. Made it to the summit of South Arapaho with little trouble after a steep climb from the col. van Voorsts turned back here leaving Nathan and I to traverse the ridge. Definitely looked worse than it was and was conciderably easier in every way than the nearby Neva north ridge. Snow and strong cross-winds made going a little more challenging, but not as much as I'd expected. Some route-finding challenges along the way. Total there-and-back time from S peak was 2.5 hours. Descent through lessening winds and melting snow. Arrived back at the car at 4:30.
Route Climbed: Standard North to South ridge traverse Date Climbed: August 2, 2003
Both peaks are very rewarding in themselves, but the true gem of courage is the ridge traverse. The beginning of the ridge from the south peak is rather inviting, but sooner or later it throws you a few class 3 curveballs. Although there is only 100 feet of elevation gain between the peaks, its sure takes a lot of work. August was perfect, the only snow on the mountain was the glacier itself.
crzyjt - Oct 16, 2005 5:07 pm
Route Climbed: South Arapahoe Southeast Ridge (South Peak only) Date Climbed: October 16, 2005This was a nice fall climb. Quite a bit of snow from that big storm last week. Wasn't up for the traverse. Probly do it some time in the future or climb North Arap. from another route.
Mike Mc - Sep 24, 2005 5:32 pm
Route Climbed: Arapaho Peaks Traverse Date Climbed: September 24, 2005The traverse is an awesome climb. It was not as difficult as I expected; the inclined slab was quite short and not terribly too steep. These cruxes made the climb much more enjoyable.
chef007 - Sep 7, 2005 4:15 pm
Route Climbed: Skywalker Couloir Date Climbed: Sept. 5 2005Did a lot of 5th class stuff to avoid the scree, the final third was a bit of a challange.
dunking_deutschman - Aug 31, 2005 10:56 pm
Route Climbed: Arapaho Glacier trail via 4th of July Mine Date Climbed: August 26, 2005After carefully studying weather forecasts, we started up the trail shortly after noon. The clouds were trying to build, but humidity was too low and we safely summitted a few hours later. This is surely a worthwhile hike with a fun talus scramble at the end. The ridge traverse looked scary--luckily we had insufficient time to traverse to North Arapaho. lol. Due to our late start, both mountains were completely deserted! I recommend this fun and scenic walkup!
ajdonner - Aug 21, 2005 8:57 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: 21 August, 2005Weird summer day in the IPW-at least from what I have experienced. The weather actually got better as the day progressed. Got to the top of S Arapaho, the weather looked nasty quite a ways to the south and southwest and I decided to go for N Arapaho. Very straightforward (painted arrows and cairns whenever route finding was ), well travelled and fun scrambling! This would be a good introduction to this sort of thing... All in all a great way to spend the morning!
Asphazell - Jun 30, 2005 11:20 am
Route Climbed: Skywalker Couloir Date Climbed: June 11, 2005What a great climb! This is my favorite snow couloir that I've climbed as of yet. Had 5 inches of new snow to boot, was like winter up there =)
mtnsavy - Jun 21, 2005 2:48 am
Route Climbed: Skywalker Date Climbed: June 2003Classic couloir climbing.
jwproulx - Jun 20, 2005 4:45 pm
Route Climbed: Skywalker Couloir / Arapaho Peaks Traverse Date Climbed: June 18, 2005This was an amazing climb on a spectacular day. Lori, Jim, Andy, Sandeep, and all -- here are my photos:
http://hep-www.colorado.edu/~proulx/mypictures/arapahopeaks/
I'll get them organized and post some here soon.
There was some rockfall and icefall in the couloir - there's a cornice at the top invisible from below. Stay away from the debris trail and wear your helmet! The ridge was spectacular. I watched several natural wet slab avalanches down the east side, including one that started a few steps away from me. Careful out there.
Chris - Jun 20, 2005 9:47 am
Route Climbed: Southeast Ridge - South Arapaho Date Climbed: June 19, 2004Extremely warm (hot even) day. Saw dozens and dozens of wet slides, even triggered a couple below Arapaho Saddle with only a baseball sized rock lobbed into the snow. Great hike, great company, great views...
edlins - Jun 6, 2005 3:44 pm
Route Climbed: a west-side couloir on north and traverse to south Date Climbed: June 5th, 2005went for north star, took next couloir south instead. scary snow, long day, fun traverse. 13 hours car to car.
Steve Larson - Nov 28, 2004 10:05 pm
Route Climbed: Arapahoe Peaks Traverse Date Climbed: December 1990During the run-up to the first Gulf War, and the dissolution of my relationship with the Univeristy of Colorado, Boulder, I decided to take a day off and walk up these two peaks, which are so striking from the plains outside Boulder. It's a beautiful hike, the third class ridge is fun. Too bad the Arapahoe Glacier is off-limits. It would make a good ski run.
colint - Aug 10, 2004 2:54 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: May 2004Intense winds and blinding snows made for a fun climb, but kept me off the North Arapahoe traverse.
Aaron Reid - Aug 6, 2004 12:20 am
Route Climbed: Arapaho Peaks Traverse Date Climbed: 8/5/2004Did the traverse today, what a great route. The crux slab is overrated in my opinion... I'm 5'6 and I pulled myself up with just my hands on the shelf and a tiny bit of traction from my hiking shoes. The slab is maybe 6 1/2 feet high on its right side. The crux for me was downclimbing the slabby face to avoid the 7 ft. notch right near the end of the route.
georgbetsy - Aug 5, 2004 5:28 pm
Route Climbed: Southeast ridge on South Arapahoe + traverse to North Arapahoe Date Climbed: August 5, 2004We had a great time hiking up South Arapahoe and traversing to North Arapahoe. We started at 7:15 and just made it back to the car before the thunderstorm started. I cannot believe how many people were just starting at the trailhead with dark clouds all over the place. No wonder so many people get hit by lightning each year.
RyanS - Aug 3, 2004 2:44 pm
Route Climbed: Arapaho Traverse with Old Baldy Date Climbed: July 31, 2004We finished our month in the Indian Peaks with the Arapaho Peaks. The traverse was a hoot, and the climb of "Old Baldy" was worth it for the view of the Arapahos alone! A trip report is available here.
pphlux - Jul 1, 2004 12:30 pm
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: June 29th, 2004Climbed with my sister after camping at Buckingham campground. Made the south summit after 2.5 hours. Stayed on top for an hour fighting marmots, and headed down, as she was not very interested in the traverse. Great climb. I'll certainly be back for the traverse soon.
Ryan Kowalski - Apr 19, 2004 4:09 pm
Route Climbed: Standard route to traverse Date Climbed: July 7, 2002Pretty easy scrambling on the ridge and a great approach hike are what single out this wonderful climb. Popular peaks, but understandably so.
f360driver - Apr 14, 2004 6:52 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: July/03Easy Hike. Hoping to do Sky walker couloir soon.
CharlesD - Mar 18, 2004 10:35 am
Route Climbed: Standard South Ridge Date Climbed: October 11, 2003Despite the light snowfall the night before and the startlingly strong winds, we persevered. Started from 4th-of-July at 8am with Justin and Kristie van Voorst and Nathan Smith. Surprisingly stout weather above TL. Made it to the summit of South Arapaho with little trouble after a steep climb from the col. van Voorsts turned back here leaving Nathan and I to traverse the ridge. Definitely looked worse than it was and was conciderably easier in every way than the nearby Neva north ridge. Snow and strong cross-winds made going a little more challenging, but not as much as I'd expected. Some route-finding challenges along the way. Total there-and-back time from S peak was 2.5 hours. Descent through lessening winds and melting snow. Arrived back at the car at 4:30.
CanopyBoy - Aug 3, 2003 10:53 pm
Route Climbed: Standard North to South ridge traverse Date Climbed: August 2, 2003Both peaks are very rewarding in themselves, but the true gem of courage is the ridge traverse. The beginning of the ridge from the south peak is rather inviting, but sooner or later it throws you a few class 3 curveballs. Although there is only 100 feet of elevation gain between the peaks, its sure takes a lot of work. August was perfect, the only snow on the mountain was the glacier itself.