This route ascends the complete northeast ridge from the shoulder above Solitude Lake to the summit of Arrowhead and is joined by the last several hundred feet of the old East Face route. It is reminiscent of the CMC Route on Mount Moran, but is 4 thousand feet shorter and 4 grades harder. Expect some snow on the approach and descent until July.
P1. Climb a beautiful slab and belay up and right on a good ledge with a poor anchor (8, 180 feet) or go 15 feet higher and belay at a poor stance with a good anchor.
P2. Work up and left to a big sloping ledge beneath a steep wall with a conspicuous finger crack (4, 70 feet).
P3. Climb the excellent finger crack to a sort of notch, then go straight up to the top of the pinnacle and belay on a good ledge (10a, 150 feet).
P4. Downclimb 50 feet from the west side of the ledge into a notch (class 4, could belay), then climb 60 feet to a ledge at the base of a perfect hand crack (7, 110 feet).
P5. Climb the hand crack to a step in the ridge, then climb a finger crack to another pinnacle (8, 120 feet).
P6. Scramble to the top of a final pinnacle (12387') and rappel 80 feet to a big notch in the northeast ridge. One can escape the ridge at this point by descending a steep gully to the southeast (class 4).
P7. Scramble through some blocky terrain and belay where the angle increases, even with Ledge 1 (class 4, 180 feet).
P8. Climb the exposed arete on the left to where the angle eases and belay (6, 200 feet). Scramble west quite a long way (staying right of the crest) to the true summit of Arrowhead. Descend the South Ramp.
Location
Approach: Hike the Solitude Lake Trail to Shelf Lake and Solitude Lake and hike talus to a high point on the shoulder of the northeast ridge. Consider roping up here.
Protection
Bring stoppers and cams up 3 inches and slings for the odd this and that.
By Pebby Johns From: Boulder, Colorado Aug 16, 2008
I must say that the crack lover climber in me found the crack on pitch #5 to be worth all the blood and sweat put out on the approach. It was just over too soon. The exposure on this climb was exhilarating. The weather was on our side, and it was a dream come true. Thank you, Richard for your superb guidance and encouragement as always, Pebby
Climbed this route July 31. Highly recommend this as a fun alpine outing. Good rock, great position and beautiful views. With a 70 meter rope, the route can be done in 4 1/2 pitches. Don't miss the final arete pitch - easy and wonderful. Recommend leaving packs at base of Solitude trail and returning via Black Lake. We left ours at Solitude and took a while circumnavigating Arrowhead. Make sure you drop all the way down to top of approach gully from Black Lake before heading east across talus. We spent lots of time getting cliffed. Lots of other route possibilities in the vicinity. Thanks, Richard - good find.
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