chicagotransplant - Jun 16, 2014 11:37 am Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2014
Northeast Slopes
Northeast slopes from Mahana, Bluebird trail was fairly dry until past Ouzel Lake. We left the trail and went up a couloir on Mahana, not sure how snow is as you go farther but the above treeline slopes on Isolation were dry.
"We?" Brian and I saw one guy coming up behind us. We had left the summit of Isolation by the time he summitted. He returned across Isolation's summit ridge, but didn't seem to go back across Mahana. Was that you? We had a terrible time getting around the lakes. Brian was there last year and was sure we wouldn't need axes, so we had to carefully descend a scary snow slope above ski-jump-esque terrain that would have landed us into one of the lakes if we had slipped.
theREALCarpeDM - Jun 15, 2014 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2014
It's well named
With Brian Powers as an overnight. Got Mahana, too.
We finally figured out the route that keeps you very close to the Divide with moderate technical climbing (see my post from 2008). From the small col just south of The Cleaver, go 50-75 feet south on the west side to avoid the overhanging NE face above the col. Climb up about 60' and traverse left about 20' (5.4) to a belay just before you turn the corner to get back on the Divide ridge. You may want to stay roped up for a short distance on up the ridge (we did in high winds) but soon it's a lot of second and third class all the way to Isolation Peak. Descend via Bluebird Lake. Bob Hostetler with Aaron Rasmussen (lead the technical pitches) and Lisa Kostidanov.
kavak - Oct 24, 2008 9:51 am Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2004
Wild Basin TH
I went up this one by myself in the snow because afterall it is named Isolation Peak. And true to its name I did not see anyone until I got back down to Bluebird Lake. I also tagged Mahana Peak along the way.
bobhostetler - Sep 2, 2008 2:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2008
North Ridge from The Cleaver
We attempted the route from Boulder-Grand Pass north past The Cleaver to Isolation Peak for the second time. This time we got on what we thought was the climb Rossiter refers to in his "High Peaks" book as a 5.2 climb, without any details on the route. We thought the start was 5.3 or 5.4, then it got a lot tougher. We hadn't brought climbing shoes and we were intending to do a traverse all the way to Cony Pass--we were carrying our overnite packs--so our lead climber rapped down the climb. Has anyone who follows this site done this route or know who has? I'd like to go back up and try it again, but would like to know that I've identified the easiest route in this technical section. The next time we'll go with day packs only, more climbing gear, and, hopefully, with knowledge of the best routing. Bob Hostetler
MarkDidier - Jul 12, 2008 9:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2007
Day of Total Isolation
The most adventurous day of hiking in my life. Went up Bluebird Lake Trail and out around Box Lake to Thunder Lake Trail. We unfortunately only had about 10 minutes on the summit as the Thunderheads were rolling in. We saw no one the entire day so the peak name is appropriate.
SarahThompson - Jun 1, 2008 10:57 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2008
East Slopes from Mahana
Hiked from Wild Basin TH to Chickadee Pond on the trail, gained Mahana's east ridge, summitted Mahana and went on to Isolation. Descended same route. A beautiful spring day!
Awesome hike, from TH to summit. Linked it with Mahana and descended Mahana's east ridge...
boisedoc - Jul 19, 2006 4:44 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 1988
Lots of scrambling
Yet another long hike into wild basin. Very pretty area without much traffic. Most of the people signed in the summit register were from the Y in Estes Park.
NanitaD - Feb 22, 2006 12:40 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 1999
From Wild Basin Ranger Station
We left the Wild Basin ranger station very early that morning. When we reached the saddle we could see clouds moving in from both directions and scrambled to the summit with just enough time to touch the summit and run for cover. Lightening struck somewhere close to the summit as we hunkered down in the rain. We were going to climb Ouzel and Ogalalla that day, but because of the weather had to return in August for those summits.
An unbelievable day of weather. I lost about an hour getting off route but the weather was so good I had no issues continuing to Isolations summit. I didn't see a soul from 5:00am till 3:00 pm. Wild Basin is quite expansive, glad to fnally get in there.
chicagotransplant - Jun 16, 2014 11:37 am Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2014
Northeast SlopesNortheast slopes from Mahana, Bluebird trail was fairly dry until past Ouzel Lake. We left the trail and went up a couloir on Mahana, not sure how snow is as you go farther but the above treeline slopes on Isolation were dry.
theREALCarpeDM - Jun 23, 2014 11:43 pm
Re: Northeast Slopes"We?" Brian and I saw one guy coming up behind us. We had left the summit of Isolation by the time he summitted. He returned across Isolation's summit ridge, but didn't seem to go back across Mahana. Was that you? We had a terrible time getting around the lakes. Brian was there last year and was sure we wouldn't need axes, so we had to carefully descend a scary snow slope above ski-jump-esque terrain that would have landed us into one of the lakes if we had slipped.
theREALCarpeDM - Jun 15, 2014 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2014
It's well namedWith Brian Powers as an overnight. Got Mahana, too.
awhite28 - Dec 25, 2012 1:41 pm
IsolationThis is a long day if there ever was one.
bobhostetler - Sep 27, 2010 2:13 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2010
North Ridge from The CleaverWe finally figured out the route that keeps you very close to the Divide with moderate technical climbing (see my post from 2008). From the small col just south of The Cleaver, go 50-75 feet south on the west side to avoid the overhanging NE face above the col. Climb up about 60' and traverse left about 20' (5.4) to a belay just before you turn the corner to get back on the Divide ridge. You may want to stay roped up for a short distance on up the ridge (we did in high winds) but soon it's a lot of second and third class all the way to Isolation Peak. Descend via Bluebird Lake. Bob Hostetler with Aaron Rasmussen (lead the technical pitches) and Lisa Kostidanov.
kavak - Oct 24, 2008 9:51 am Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2004
Wild Basin THI went up this one by myself in the snow because afterall it is named Isolation Peak. And true to its name I did not see anyone until I got back down to Bluebird Lake. I also tagged Mahana Peak along the way.
bobhostetler - Sep 2, 2008 2:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2008
North Ridge from The CleaverWe attempted the route from Boulder-Grand Pass north past The Cleaver to Isolation Peak for the second time. This time we got on what we thought was the climb Rossiter refers to in his "High Peaks" book as a 5.2 climb, without any details on the route. We thought the start was 5.3 or 5.4, then it got a lot tougher. We hadn't brought climbing shoes and we were intending to do a traverse all the way to Cony Pass--we were carrying our overnite packs--so our lead climber rapped down the climb. Has anyone who follows this site done this route or know who has? I'd like to go back up and try it again, but would like to know that I've identified the easiest route in this technical section. The next time we'll go with day packs only, more climbing gear, and, hopefully, with knowledge of the best routing. Bob Hostetler
MarkDidier - Jul 12, 2008 9:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2007
Day of Total IsolationThe most adventurous day of hiking in my life. Went up Bluebird Lake Trail and out around Box Lake to Thunder Lake Trail. We unfortunately only had about 10 minutes on the summit as the Thunderheads were rolling in. We saw no one the entire day so the peak name is appropriate.
SarahThompson - Jun 1, 2008 10:57 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2008
East Slopes from MahanaHiked from Wild Basin TH to Chickadee Pond on the trail, gained Mahana's east ridge, summitted Mahana and went on to Isolation. Descended same route. A beautiful spring day!
smudge - Jul 3, 2007 4:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2007
Great , but hot, day!Awesome hike, from TH to summit. Linked it with Mahana and descended Mahana's east ridge...
boisedoc - Jul 19, 2006 4:44 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 1988
Lots of scramblingYet another long hike into wild basin. Very pretty area without much traffic. Most of the people signed in the summit register were from the Y in Estes Park.
NanitaD - Feb 22, 2006 12:40 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 1999
From Wild Basin Ranger StationWe left the Wild Basin ranger station very early that morning. When we reached the saddle we could see clouds moving in from both directions and scrambled to the summit with just enough time to touch the summit and run for cover. Lightening struck somewhere close to the summit as we hunkered down in the rain. We were going to climb Ouzel and Ogalalla that day, but because of the weather had to return in August for those summits.
Kane - Jan 21, 2006 3:40 pm
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: 8-31-05An unbelievable day of weather. I lost about an hour getting off route but the weather was so good I had no issues continuing to Isolations summit. I didn't see a soul from 5:00am till 3:00 pm. Wild Basin is quite expansive, glad to fnally get in there.