alpine solos Colorado

So, I did Dragons Tail Couloir and Kiener's on Longs Peak. But this weekend I'm at a loss for what to do. I'd love some alpine ice and/or some 4th/ easy 5th class scrambling. Ideally further south than RMNP, somewhere along I70 ideally.

Thanks for your recommendations

I think you would really enjoy the Citadel.
You can approach it from Herman or Dry Gulch (near Loveland Pass and the tunnel).... some sweet routes up there and a class 5+ traverse over to/from Pettingell Peak.
There is even a few couloir's still in.

I can send you pics if you want.

...or do "Solo Flight" on Lone Eagle

bumping this thread

Any recommendations for alpine solos in the mid class 5 range, say up to 5.7 (short sections of 5.8 also OK)? Link-ups a plus. thanks

Pagoda's North Buttress (5.7)? I don't solo at this level but seems like it'd be reasonable if you do. One very brief slabby part, the rest has great holds from what I recall. Crux is steep and juggy. I really like this route.

Sharkstooth NE ridge (5.6) is an awesome climb too. Maybe Longs Keyhole Ridge (5.6). Blitzen Ridge (5.4+) is great.

Little Bear via NW Face to Blanca to Ellingwood, then down Ellingwoods SW ridge has been one of my favorite ridge runs in Colorado. Very easy for you but probably still worth doing.

thanks, Sarah!

to the OP, maybe try kelso ridge on Torrey's Peak? Its 4th class, but long and spectacular.

RyanO wrote:to the OP, maybe try kelso ridge on Torrey's Peak? Its 4th class, but long and spectacular.

+1 to all the stuff in the park like Pagoda and the Cathedral Spires (including the Petit w/ ropes for the rapp). Spearhead pretty sweet. Stettners Ledges was great. The Prow on Kit Carson. Blitzen might get my early season vote. Depends on your psych and the snow level. Be careful/ have fun.

I second the Blitzen Ridge rec. That is a spectacular solo. The North Ridge of Spearhead would be another really good one (I did it roped).

Check out A Walk in the Park aka The Great Wheek aka Glacier Gorge Traverse. I have done portions of this. Doing the whole thing would be a hell of a day (or more).

[Edit] Spiral Route on Notchtop isn't too hard, but a pretty fun adventure.

Great suggestions, Mic and Charles. Glacier Gorge is definitely on my to do list.

Mic, give me a call if you want to do something mellower by your scale in Eldo. Will be heading out to the Sierra shortly for ~3 wks.

fossana wrote:Great suggestions, Mic and Charles. Glacier Gorge is definitely on my to do list. Mic, give me a call if you want to do something mellower by your scale in Eldo. Will be heading out to the Sierra shortly for ~3 wks.

Willie, will PM you my number. The Park looks kind of scary windy (gusts up to 47-55 mph) for soloing this weekend, but let's chat this evening.

fossana wrote:Willie, will PM you my number. The Park looks kind of scary windy (gusts up to 47-55 mph) for soloing this weekend, but let's chat this evening.

@fossana

not alpine, but i assume you've had a go at the first? the direct start can be something like 5.6, downclimb is maybe a bit harder? i used to lap this route in about 1.5 hours car-to-car before work, until my mother found out what i was doing ;)

off topic, but i saw a guy solo the bastille last night in about 5 minutes.. he started at about 8 o'clock, while my partner was halfway up our last pitch, and finished before my partner did :) truly incredible to watch!

fossana wrote: Thanks, Ryan. I did that a while ago. I would like to keep it at 5.4 minimum.

@Ryan: I've soloed a bunch of routes on in the Flatirons/Eldo up to 5.8, although the thought of soloing the Bastille makes me nervous.

@MM: will look at the Citadel

thanks

Spiral Route on Notchtop

the 5.4 on sharkstooth is a fun day!

mountainproject.com/v/east-…

i haven't done any of these, but they come highly recommended by my san juan buddies:

wham ridge, jagged mountain, lizard head, wilson-el diente traverse