Mountaineering – Brainard Lake Rec Area - Long Lake Trailhead

Apache Peak is located near Lake Isabelle in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. Our plan will be to climb Apache Couloir (1000' of steep snow up to 45-degree slope) and descend Queen's Way Couloir (moderate snow up to 35-degree slope). We may alter route if conditions require (e.g. climb Queen's Way or The Autobon I instead). 

ACS Team and Modular track students are prioritized for this trip. All participants should be comfortable using crampons and ice axe(s) on moderate to steep alpine snow. Please provide examples of recent climbs when applying for the trip. 

Basic route info here (or in Roach's "Colorado's Indian Peaks"): 

Apache Peak — Front Range Ski Mountaineering

Apache Couloir : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

I have climbed Queen's Way Couloir and Navajo Peak before, but not Apache Couloir. This trip will be a somewhat exploratory return to the Isabelle Lake basin as well as Tech Trip Leader LIT (mentor will be Sheryl Lampert). 

There is a $20 fee per CMC member ($30/non-members) for the Brainard Cabin. I have reserved and paid for the cabin in advance, and I will collect each participant's fee. If you register and are unable to attend, we will consider the fee a donation to stewardship of the Cabin. The Cabin has an outhouse, wood stoves, gas range, and other hut amenities. The hike or ride from the trailhead to the Cabin is 2.5 miles. Apache Peak is approx. 9 miles RT from the Cabin.

We will meet at the Brainard Winter/Gateway Trailhead on Friday afternoon, hike or bike into the Brainard Cabin to spend the night and get an alpine start on Saturday morning. Inquire upon registration for specific updated plans.