Arapaho Pass, Indian Peaks Wilderness

Having been here since October without hiking in the backcountry it was nice to finally set out. I had intended to camp a couple nights looping together two trails with a leg along the continental divide trail, but I ran into a lot of snow.

The trailhead for Arapaho Pass trail begins under treeline, but quickly thins to an alpine landscape. Deciding to scrap the camping, I still wanted to see if I could get up to the divide.

A view of the trail up to the divide. The trail had 3-4 snowfields still intact but the full sun made the snow soft and yielding.
Mt. Neva is the taller mountain at the left. At the sign post two trails met and I met the ridge of the pass at about 12,000 ft.
Looking south at Mt. Neva, quickly snapping photos while being blasted with wind.

West over the pass. Above you can see the rock shelter set up to hunker down against the gusts. It's perfectly calm behind them as they were set below the ridge as well, but as soon as I stepped up the winds were howling. A couple days before we had recorded gusts around 100mph with a late spring storm. I can't imagine what it was like up here.

Being up at this altitude reminded me of hiking Kilimanjaro and just how harsh alpine conditions can be. Accordingly seeing small life exist here was just astounding and fueled my desire to take these photos below.

Below is the view from the pass heading east back to the trailhead--stunning.

Views from Bear Peak; above 8,000 ft

Wildflower found along the Mesa trail below Bear Peak.

West: View of the Continental Divide. You can spot a passing rain squall in the right corner.

Northeast: View of Boulder and Boulder reservoir.

Northwest: View of the Divide with the intensifying squall moving east.

Southeast: View of the plains extending easterly [ Denver seen by eye, but perhaps not caught by the photo].

Cheyenne (Photos from late Winter)