Isabelle Glacier Spring Skiing (Indian Peaks Wilderness)

 

Nestled at over 10k feet, the Brainard Lake Recreation Area is a vast playground for spring mountaineering, alpine runs, and other outdoor pursuits.

Although it’s only a quick 45’ quiet mountain drive from Boulder, most Spring missions to the high peaks require long approaches of over 4 miles, often involving bikes and a multisport approach.

Armed with the latest lightweight performance ski touring gear, and eager, fit, and skilled partners with a winter of skimo racing in our legs, the crew (Davide, Kirtis) knew the conditions were PRIME for an Isabelle Glacier mission.

Navajo Peak and Navajo snowfield in the backgroumd.

ROUTE:
13 miles | 4.5k feet + | 5 hrs

We were coming off a big 5 hour ski mission on Crooked & Little Pawnee just the day prior (12 miles, 4.5k feet +), and both the skiing and the bike approach conditions were ideal. So we rallied for a second day.

The Isabelle Glacier basin is the most tucked in of the area (and the stats don’t include the 5 miles round-trip bike ride in & out!), so you really want to go when you know it’s good.

Below is the Strava route from the day. It goes without saying: don’t just download this route and follow it blindly. Conditions in the mountains are always changing!

A note on safety: backcountry skiing is a dangerous pursuit. To attempt these lines you should have crampons, ice axes, avy gear, and know how to use them. A fall can be fatal, and rescue is difficult due to the remoteness and no phone signal.

QUEEN’S WAY:
1 Km | 380m+ | 35%

The approach went by quick thanks to firm conditions, and we shared the approach with a Brit who was keen to ski Apache and was happy to have some partners for the ride.

We finally get to couple of big rollers that require kickturns to get up them, and finally started making our way up Queen’s Way. I always like to kickturn up the face before settling for booting & crampons, till it doesn’t feel safe anymore. I’m always amazed when I go back to Italy how challenging skinning conditions are over there and how skilled people are there, skinning up icy steep no-fall slopes.

Conditions were prime just starting to soften up, and as we were booting up we could see a madman booting up Apache Couloir solo at a blistering pace. After around 50’ from the base, we summited at the same time as him (after a super cool ridgeline traverse), and we exchanged a few words. Turns out he was a badass skimo racer and a neighbor!

The descend was excellent and varied, and for sure my favorite in the Brainard zone, with stunning views of below from the highest peak in the basin.

After skinning in the day prior on a 50% melted approach, we decided to take bikes this time. Probably the first day of the season.

On the last no-name lake after 90' and 4.5mi of skinning, with the lines visible (Queen's Way: red. Apache couloir: yellow). With good conditions, you can link up all the rollers from the summit all the way to Lake Isabelle (around 2000 ft).

Booting up the first walled section

Kirtis surfacing above the scenic towering walls of Queen's Way.

Final push to the summit of Apache peak (13,441'), the highest in the Brainard area and the 2nd highest in the IPW after North Arapahoe.

This Brit (sorry forgot your name!) was on his way to ski the same line, so we shared the approach with him.

Super cool ridge walking to get to the true summit of Apache

Dropping into the scenic walls of Queen's Way after skiing perfect corn off the summit.

The same Brit skiing the apron of Queen's Way.

On the summit of Apache Peak, 2nd highest in the Indian Peaks at 13,440'.

Dropping from the summit into the walls of Queen's Way is always such a cool rush.

APACHE COULOIR:
1 KM | 350m+ | 35%

After Queen’s Way, our Brit friend parted ways, but Kirtis and I were fired up to ski Apache Couloir after having seen our “other” new friend rip that ascend & descend solo. Plus, it’s such a long approach for only one line, so another line was in order. Having fit, eager, and skilled partners is truly the #1 requirement for ski mountaineering!

Due to ominous clouds, we hurried up the couloir and our friend from earlier had set souch a nice booter that we were able to go without crampons (although I’m always weary of this approach, as I know of deaths that have occurred this way).

At the top of the couloir we got blasted by the wind that had picked up, and decided to skip the short exposed traverse to the true Apache summit (same summit as Queen’s Way).

We transitioned quickly and got out of the wind, to ski into a super fun steep funnel that then drops into the walled couloir. Definitely one to remember, and clearly visible from the road as you approach Brainard!

Kirtis at the bottom of Apache couloir

Davide heading up Apache couloir

The most scenic part of Apache couloir

Kirtis with Navajo in the background

Davide towards the exit of the couloir with Navajo peak and the Navajo snowfield in the backgroun

Awesome view of Navajo and Navajo snowfield

Booting up Apache couloir.

The most scenic part of Apache couloir.

Skiing away from Isabelle Glacier is super fun! If conditions are right and the snow doesn’t turn into hot pow, you have at least 3 rollers to ski all the way down to the shore of Isabelle Lake (and some).

The rest of the exit is the longest Brainard exit around, so arm yourself with some patience, a good conversation, and maybe a few skins on/off decisions.

The lines from the exit. Queen’s Way in RED, Apache Couloir in YELLOW.