TiogaBradford - Sep 22, 2006 11:48 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2006
S Arapahoe
The climb up S Arapahoe was relatively easy, then attempted the traverse to N Arapahoe. My friend and I made it past the first crux with no problem (it was quite fun!), but he was feeling uncomfortable with some of the exposure we faced afterwards, so we turned around.
ColoradoScott - Aug 31, 2006 5:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2006
The Traverse
I was very impressed and awed by this ridge. I had climbed the Mt. Wilson-to-El Diente Ridge last summer and I found the Arapahoe ridge to have more sustained class III scrambling and more difficult route finding than I anticipated. Gerry Roach's guidebook on the Indian Peaks rates this at Class III, but I felt that truly underestimates the difficulty of the route and the one true crusx of the route.
Gahugafuga - Aug 19, 2006 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2006
The Traverse
Made a quick out-and-back on the traverse but got chased off Old Baldy by a thunderstorm. Glad the weather came in when I could escape quickly rather than on the ridge.
Made the hike with my wife. The traverse was excellent. The climbing could be made as hard or easy as one wanted. The rock was solid and made for excellent scrambling. Only 2 cars when we got there and nearly 200 as we left. Also managed to take in the ranked 13'er known as "old baldy"
Chris - Jun 20, 2006 11:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2006
Great climb!
Climbed Skywalker with Mike, Marella, and CharlesD. Hit the base of the climb about 6:30am. Snow was rock hard and solid. Sunlight on the Princess Leia finish made it absolutely perfect. The schrund at the base of the Leia section is starting to open up a bit. Still passable, but not easily for much longer. Definately evidence of sporadic rockfall, and a couple whizzed by. Wear a helmet on this one.
Awesome climb, awesome day.
climbhighnow - Jun 18, 2006 8:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2006
Skywalker
this is a great climb, i'd def. call it a classic.
another climber measured the angle at the top to be 45deg., i'd say that at max it might get up to 55; on some of the bulges on the upper left of the couloir. no way 65 deg. though.
mntnplay - Jun 11, 2006 5:40 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2006
Skywalker + traverse
Ascent via Skywalker with direct finish. Departed TH at 0500. Perfect conditions: points-only penetration at start, forefoot penetration at top, and mostly dry on traverse. The traverse is awesome, and only has one tiny 4th class slab. First team up Skywalker (simul-solo), first team to N Arapahoe, first team back to parking lot.
sshankle - Jun 6, 2006 10:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2006
Second Choice
After a couple days in CO (on Grays and the Flatirons) I was too whipped (and whimpy) to carry the ropes/axes/crapons, etc. into Skywalker as I had been planning, so we went light and climbed the SE Ridge.
bauerbrian - Jun 6, 2006 12:16 am Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2005
A great day with great company! Like gurlyclimber said, this was a great tour of these peaks, we had so much fun. Everyone was on Skywalker so we had 1400' of snow climbing completely to ourselves! Then we got a lot of fun scrambling from the top of North Star to the summit of N. Arapahoe. From there it was more fun scrambling on the ridge to S. Arapahoe.
Another summit with my sweetie and one of my best friends. Climbed North Star Couloir with chicagotransplant and Jody. We traversed to N. Arapaho and then to S. Arapahoe. In my opinion, this is the best way to do these peaks (any couloir + traverse). EXTREMELY FUN DAY!
jonpierre - Apr 27, 2006 1:48 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 1991
Summit
Summit - woot
Big Skies 808 - Apr 26, 2006 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Apr 22, 2006
Skywalker to the Ridge Traverse, Stellar
Soloed Skywalker in beautiful weather. Princess Leia was one of the most fun things I have ever done. A little slushy at the top made things interesting. Linked up to the ridge traverse to North for a fantastic day. My first couloir climb, and I'm addicted!
Mountain Jim - Apr 6, 2006 1:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 1971
North Arapaho
Skywalker Couloir. Total ascents = 3.
Mountain Jim - Apr 6, 2006 1:52 am Date Climbed: Sep 11, 1966
South Arapaho
Total ascents = 2.
RMdaytripsgrl - Feb 27, 2006 5:09 am Date Climbed: Oct 23, 2005
Route: 4th of July TH
So nice I had to do it twice...this time with two girlfriends, and with substantial amounts of early season snow! Nothing too tricky though. Too much snow/not enough time for ridge runnning again! (I'll get over to N. Arapaho someday! I've heard the ridge is very fun...but I've been wanting to do a couloir from the glacier...hmmm)
RMdaytripsgrl - Feb 27, 2006 5:06 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2005
Route: 4th of July TH
Took my buddy Chad (not my husband, guess I have a thing for Chads) up his first big CO mtn. IMHO, this is the most beautiful area in the front range...We arrived too late for the traverse to North Arapaho.
peakrat76 - Feb 19, 2006 7:15 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 1996
peakrat76
North Arapaho in 96 via the ridge from South. Fun trip across with lots of exposure. Dodged lightning bolts on the return. Sleet. South peak climbed several times previous.
TiogaBradford - Sep 22, 2006 11:48 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2006
S ArapahoeThe climb up S Arapahoe was relatively easy, then attempted the traverse to N Arapahoe. My friend and I made it past the first crux with no problem (it was quite fun!), but he was feeling uncomfortable with some of the exposure we faced afterwards, so we turned around.
ColoradoScott - Aug 31, 2006 5:49 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2006
The TraverseI was very impressed and awed by this ridge. I had climbed the Mt. Wilson-to-El Diente Ridge last summer and I found the Arapahoe ridge to have more sustained class III scrambling and more difficult route finding than I anticipated. Gerry Roach's guidebook on the Indian Peaks rates this at Class III, but I felt that truly underestimates the difficulty of the route and the one true crusx of the route.
Gahugafuga - Aug 19, 2006 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2006
The TraverseMade a quick out-and-back on the traverse but got chased off Old Baldy by a thunderstorm. Glad the weather came in when I could escape quickly rather than on the ridge.
kenton - Jul 31, 2006 10:17 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2006
TraverseNo Lightning = Awesome time
mlatham - Jul 16, 2006 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2006
SkywalkerGreat climb with Marella, Chris Gerber and CharlesD.
miztflip - Jul 4, 2006 8:02 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2006
Traverse and Old BaldyMade the hike with my wife. The traverse was excellent. The climbing could be made as hard or easy as one wanted. The rock was solid and made for excellent scrambling. Only 2 cars when we got there and nearly 200 as we left. Also managed to take in the ranked 13'er known as "old baldy"
Chris - Jun 20, 2006 11:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2006
Great climb!Climbed Skywalker with Mike, Marella, and CharlesD. Hit the base of the climb about 6:30am. Snow was rock hard and solid. Sunlight on the Princess Leia finish made it absolutely perfect. The schrund at the base of the Leia section is starting to open up a bit. Still passable, but not easily for much longer. Definately evidence of sporadic rockfall, and a couple whizzed by. Wear a helmet on this one.
Awesome climb, awesome day.
climbhighnow - Jun 18, 2006 8:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2006
Skywalkerthis is a great climb, i'd def. call it a classic.
another climber measured the angle at the top to be 45deg., i'd say that at max it might get up to 55; on some of the bulges on the upper left of the couloir. no way 65 deg. though.
mntnplay - Jun 11, 2006 5:40 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2006
Skywalker + traverseAscent via Skywalker with direct finish. Departed TH at 0500. Perfect conditions: points-only penetration at start, forefoot penetration at top, and mostly dry on traverse. The traverse is awesome, and only has one tiny 4th class slab. First team up Skywalker (simul-solo), first team to N Arapahoe, first team back to parking lot.
sshankle - Jun 6, 2006 10:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2006
Second ChoiceAfter a couple days in CO (on Grays and the Flatirons) I was too whipped (and whimpy) to carry the ropes/axes/crapons, etc. into Skywalker as I had been planning, so we went light and climbed the SE Ridge.
bauerbrian - Jun 6, 2006 12:16 am Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2005
SkywalkerKiller!
chicagotransplant - May 30, 2006 5:47 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2006
North Star/TraverseA great day with great company! Like gurlyclimber said, this was a great tour of these peaks, we had so much fun. Everyone was on Skywalker so we had 1400' of snow climbing completely to ourselves! Then we got a lot of fun scrambling from the top of North Star to the summit of N. Arapahoe. From there it was more fun scrambling on the ridge to S. Arapahoe.
Foxy Long Bottoms - May 30, 2006 2:27 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2006
North Star/Peak TraverseAnother summit with my sweetie and one of my best friends. Climbed North Star Couloir with chicagotransplant and Jody. We traversed to N. Arapaho and then to S. Arapahoe. In my opinion, this is the best way to do these peaks (any couloir + traverse). EXTREMELY FUN DAY!
jonpierre - Apr 27, 2006 1:48 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 1991
SummitSummit - woot
Big Skies 808 - Apr 26, 2006 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Apr 22, 2006
Skywalker to the Ridge Traverse, StellarSoloed Skywalker in beautiful weather. Princess Leia was one of the most fun things I have ever done. A little slushy at the top made things interesting. Linked up to the ridge traverse to North for a fantastic day. My first couloir climb, and I'm addicted!
Mountain Jim - Apr 6, 2006 1:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 1971
North ArapahoSkywalker Couloir. Total ascents = 3.
Mountain Jim - Apr 6, 2006 1:52 am Date Climbed: Sep 11, 1966
South ArapahoTotal ascents = 2.
RMdaytripsgrl - Feb 27, 2006 5:09 am Date Climbed: Oct 23, 2005
Route: 4th of July THSo nice I had to do it twice...this time with two girlfriends, and with substantial amounts of early season snow! Nothing too tricky though. Too much snow/not enough time for ridge runnning again! (I'll get over to N. Arapaho someday! I've heard the ridge is very fun...but I've been wanting to do a couloir from the glacier...hmmm)
RMdaytripsgrl - Feb 27, 2006 5:06 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2005
Route: 4th of July THTook my buddy Chad (not my husband, guess I have a thing for Chads) up his first big CO mtn. IMHO, this is the most beautiful area in the front range...We arrived too late for the traverse to North Arapaho.
peakrat76 - Feb 19, 2006 7:15 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 1996
peakrat76North Arapaho in 96 via the ridge from South. Fun trip across with lots of exposure. Dodged lightning bolts on the return. Sleet. South peak climbed several times previous.