Niwot Ridge
Date: 06/21/2024
Partners: Solo
Trailhead: Brainard Lake
Distance: 12.1miles (includes .5 mile out and back round trip after missing the Niwot Ridge Trail)
Elevation Gain: 3400ft
Duration: 6hrs 50min
Niwot's east ridge is a fun and navigational class 3 scramble on solid rock.
If you enjoy longer scrambly days consider this... Niwot's East Ridge > Navajo > Apache > Shoshoni (or reverse). Take a look at my Apache-Navajo report for additional beta.
12.1m - 3400ft - 6hrs 50min
Almost to treeline on the Niwot Ridge Trail. Shoshoni(R) - Apache (L)
Almost to base of the Niwot Ridge peak on the long grassy walk above treeline
Northerly views to the Kasparov traverse between Shoshoni and Apache
Arikaree to the south
Kiowa to the south
Niwot Ridge begins to get scrambly
Fun navigational class 3 to the Niwot Ridge's summit
There is more to it than you might think
Looking back to some obstacles on the ridge
Close to the summit a look back along the ridge. This one was fun!
Summit selfie with Navajo in the distance
Looking back to Niwot Ridge's summit en-route to Airplane Gully
Looking back to Niwot Ridge's summit en-route to Airplane Gully
Navajo from the saddle but time was a factor today
The Kasparov traverse from the saddle
Airplane Gully? Think I will drop this
Sure enough... found more airplane debris further down as well
Had an axe but not spikes. Stayed mostly on the left during the descent. A little steep to glissade
A look back up the gully
Chess pieces
Time to glissade
Looking back to Navajo(L) and Appache(R) and my glissade pitch
More glissading fun
A look back to Niwot's fun east ridge
L2R: A final look back to Navajo, Appache and Shoshoni over Lake Isabelle