This is the story of my hike to the summit of Mount Bierstadt, which is in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains west of Denver. Mt Bierstadt is a 14er. (Fourteeners are mountains whose summits are 14,000 feet or more above sea level.)
When I pulled in to the parking lot at the top of Guanella Pass, the sun had not yet risen but the lot was already almost full. The air was cool, and there was frost on the grass, but the rising sun and the hike soon warmed me.
The trail descended from the parking lot and passed through "The Willows" to the foot of Mount Bierstadt. At one time, the willows were almost impenetrable, but a clearly defined trail, with boardwalks over the marshy sections made passage easy. Halfway through the willows I had to cross Scott Gomer Creek, which was running low enough for me to rock-hop across. At the other side of the willows, the trail climbed via a series of switchbacks onto the lower slopes of the mountain. Then there was a long climb to the saddle. A traverse brought me to a small snowfield at the foot of the rocky summit. After a making my way carefully across the icy snow, it was just a quick scramble up a boulder field to the summit.
The reward for reaching the summit of any 14er is the 360 degree view, and Bierstadt's was as good as any. Mount Evans was only a mile and a half away to the east, and in the other direction I could see the mountains on the Continental Divide, including Grays and Torreys Peaks.
I counted 40 people on the summit, and on my way back down passed many more on their way up. An easy 14er close to Denver on a sunny summer's day is not the place to go if you are seeking solitude!
Stats
| Start Time | Sat July 12, 2008 5:52 AM |
|---|---|
| Up | 2:31 |
| Down | 1:14 |
| Distance | 7.52 miles |
| Steps | 18,643 |
| Starting Elevation |
11,503 ft |
| Low | 11,475 ft |
| High | 14,060 ft |
Here is the trail superimposed on a 3-D terrain image. Click on the image to view larger:
You can see photos of Bierstadt on Wikipedia
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