I have spent a great portion of my life exploring many of the most spectacular landscapes on this fabulous planet. But I am always happy to return to the local Indian Peaks paradise and the Isabelle Lake cirque is one of my all time favorites.

The mostly ignored summit of Shoshoni Peak offers a throne room view of this spectacular valley. I have climbed it from two different routes, but my favorite is to follow the route from Isabelle Lake to Pawnee Pass up to the final set of switchbacks. The throne is quite visible from this point and I just head west at the first switchback and look for the easiest route through the steep boulder field to the Continental Divide. I would call this class 2+ but it can vary depending on your route finding skills. Beware of loose boulders and unmarked hazards.

I have noticed a few cairns along the way, but I wouldn’t trust them. The best route that I have found wanders to the south and follows the greenest path. The terrain eases and the views become even more spectacular when you reach the Continental Divide, but the actual throne will involve a bit more of a challenge. The rest of the route is obvious and follows an easy ridge almost to the summit. The summit is eagerly waiting, but it will require a calm mind that can handle a bit of somewhat extreme exposure and about 50 feet of class 3 scrambling. The reward is a natural stone throne on the edge of a sheer abyss with incredible views of Navajo, and Apache Peaks and the tiny remnant of the once great Isabelle Glacier.

If this sounds a bit too intense, the unnamed peak just to the south of Pawnee Pass is an easier alternative with a lofty summit and great views, and Pawnee Peak which is just to the north of the pass is an almost 13er with a trail to the summit. It offers a great view of the two valleys, the western slope and RMNP, and the summit is usually vacant.