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.
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12.1m - 3400ft - 6hrs 50min
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Almost to treeline on the Niwot Ridge Trail. Shoshoni(R) - Apache (L)
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Almost to base of the Niwot Ridge peak on the long grassy walk above treeline
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Northerly views to the Kasparov traverse between Shoshoni and Apache
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Arikaree to the south
![Niwot ridge 06]()
Kiowa to the south
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Niwot Ridge begins to get scrambly
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Fun navigational class 3 to the Niwot Ridge's summit
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![Niwot ridge 10]()
There is more to it than you might think
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Looking back to some obstacles on the ridge
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Close to the summit a look back along the ridge. This one was fun!
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Summit selfie with Navajo in the distance
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Looking back to Niwot Ridge's summit en-route to Airplane Gully
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Looking back to Niwot Ridge's summit en-route to Airplane Gully
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Navajo from the saddle but time was a factor today
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The Kasparov traverse from the saddle
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Airplane Gully? Think I will drop this
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Sure enough... found more airplane debris further down as well
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Had an axe but not spikes. Stayed mostly on the left during the descent. A little steep to glissade
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A look back up the gully
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Chess pieces
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Time to glissade
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![Niwot ridge 25]()
Looking back to Navajo(L) and Appache(R) and my glissade pitch
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More glissading fun
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A look back to Niwot's fun east ridge
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L2R: A final look back to Navajo, Appache and Shoshoni over Lake Isabelle
