Apache Peak (13,441) by Brian Schultz Wednesday August 26, 2015

Roundtrip mileage: 10.5 miles from the Long Lake trailhead

Elevation gain: 3,200'

Start to finish: 9 hours 25 minutes

Participants: Tim Briese, Brian Schultz

Tim and I drove in from Boulder, paid the $10.00 permit fee at the entrance station self issue box, and continued to the trailhead parking lot. It was surprisingly empty but that would likely change by the time we returned as this is a popular area. We began on the Long Lake trail at 5:55 AM with the forecast calling for a 50% chance of showers/storms after noon.

The excellent trail is the same one we took when we climbed Navajo Peak nine years ago and we set a decent pace up to Lake Isabelle. We noticed Isabelle's water level was curiously low and thought it odd since there was still lots of unmelted snow higher up and no sign of drought.

The trail crosses a stream with a small waterfall and continues to an unnamed lake higher up. We arrived at the unnamed lake at 8:10, whose water level was normal, and now wondered if Lake Isabelle was drained for some reason. It turns out this was the case. Lake Isabelle is actually a reservoir and its water rights are owned by the Left Hand Ditch Company. It's drained every year.

We took a break at 8:45 in the high basin above the unnamed lake and pondered not only a route to the slopes above but whether after reaching the slopes we should traverse over to the snow filled gully (Apache Couloir) on the right and then head up to the saddle, or angle across the slope and up to the Apache saddle. We agreed to angle up.

We began by contouring around the basin's left side so we wouldn't lose much elevation, and then worked our way up grassy ledges toward the Navajo Snowfield. Above the ledges, we found a trail leading to some slabs and encountered only one short class 3 section, which was very easy since it was dry. Handy but thin ledges on the slabs quickly led to easier terrain and we angled up scree and talus to the saddle, slow going but easy, and reached it at 10:30. Ten minutes later we arrived on the summit.

Our arrival was early enough to allow for a thirty five minute stay. We departed at 11:15 under nicely holding weather but still wanted to get down to the lakes in case it turned. We reached the basin below Navajo Snowfield at 12:40 and took another break, weather holding but threatening.

Back on the trail, we picked up our pace and started seeing lots of day hikers. It started raining for a brief period but stopped before we reached the trailhead at 3:20 and, as expected, the parking lot was full of vehicles. This was an enjoyable climb in a very scenic area.

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