14er Report #1: Mt. Bierstadt (West Slope)

Mt. Evans from Mt. Bierstadt Summit #1. Colorado, 2014

Mt. Evans from Mt. Bierstadt summit. Colorado, 2014

In my younger past, I had been on top of a handful of Colorado 14ers: Mount of the Holy Cross, Mt. Elbert, Longs Peak twice, and of course Pikes Peak and Mt. Evans by car. For many decades, the idea of climbing all of them has been fermenting in my brain. Now that I am within view of a time in which such climbs will no longer be physically possible for me, I have decided I’d better get at it.

So, starting this year, I’ll begin seeking out these summits. I’ll also start from scratch–I won’t count any previous ascents. All climbs will be done at an age of 56 years or older and I hope I can finish by the time I hit the Big 6-oh. (If I don’t climb them all, that’s OK, too…after all, it’s the journey, right?)

Thus we have: “The 14ers for Seniors Challenge” (Hey, you, too, can get special senior prices at the International House o’ Pancakes (IHOP) once you hit 55!)

Today was the first outing of the quest.

Mt. Bierstadt (14,060′) Trip Report

Route:

West Slopes, from Guanella Pass.

Timeline:

12:30a.m. wakeup.

1:00a.m. departure from Boulder.

2:30a.m. arrival at the Guanella Pass trailhead.

3:10 departure up the normal West Slope Trail (after 40 minutes of photographing stars, packing up, etc.)

High on “the shoulder” by first light, and on the summit just a few minutes after official sunrise–but in time to see the sun come up over Mt. Evans just to the east.

Nearly an hour taking photos on top, then back to the Parking lot by about 9a.m.

Weather Conditions:

Most excellent. Clear skies and 0-10mph breeze at start and throughout the morning. Temps just below freezing. Thin, low clouds moved through just before sunrise and for an hour or so after the sun was up (they briefly threatened to turn the summit climb and view into a whiteout), but they then departed, leaving behind clear, blue, Colorado skies. I departed the trailhead by 9:30a.m. or so, so don’t know how the rest of the day panned out. It was looking warm and sunny!

Trail Conditions:

Finishing the whole climb by 9a.m. meant the snowshoes I carried were never necessary despite the many, deep snow fields still around–the white stuff was hard enough to allow one to walk atop the crust. Microspikes might have been a good call here and there, but I was able to get by without. The mud was taffy-like and the seeping tundra water frozen (watch your step on the ice).

A later departure/return, with warm temps would likely make things a lot more unpleasant, especially that first mile out from the parking lot until you get up on steeper slopes. I saw plenty of postholes from folks who had plunged down anywhere from six inches to three feet. Go early–avoid the soft stuff (or use snowshoes)! Of course, in a couple more weeks, most of the trail should be clear.

For skiers. It’s probably a bit late for a good ski descent. You’d have to work hard to link the big snowfields for anything continuous. Torreys and Grays still look good, though!

Unusual Events/Comments:

Arrived at the summit to find a tent perched there (which explained the lone vehicle at the parking lot when I arrived). It turned out to be Colton, from Golden, CO, who had hiked up the night before for the sunset. What a wonderful perch above the world he had. We ended up hiking down together.

Colorado 14er Senior Challenge summit count: 1 of the basic list of 58 (p. xxiii in Gerry Roach’s 14er “Bible”, Colorado Fourteeners, 3rd Ed.); 1 of the long list of 73 (pp. 347-348, with South Wilson added, also in Roach’s “Bible”.