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 Peak:  Mt. Bierstadt
 Route:  West Slopes
 Range:  Front
 Posted By:  glerbi
 Date of Info:  6/17/2015
 Date Posted:  6/17/2015
Details

Got to the Guanella Pass parking lot around 9:30am, turned on my etrex there. The first portion of the hike through the willows to Scott Gomer Creek is fine in the morning, but parts were totally flooded on the back, lots of slippery mud. Scott Gomer Creek itself is running large and in charge, so much so in fact that the actual crossing is about 50-75 yards to the left of where the trail takes you through (unless you want to wade a creek, I saw people doing this) at a chokepoint of willow marshes where you can make a jump across. The next portion of the willows is easy and in good order. When I reached the snowline there was some thigh-deep postholing the first 100 yards but the snow was firm the rest of the way up, quite windy at times, I carried snowshoes but never saw the need for them as rocky outcroppings every couple hundred feet made them useless as the snow was only shin deep at points. The bootpack up the very clear and easy to follow at all times. Hit the summit around 11:30, amazing views, saw many families and dogs (so many dogs, awesome) making the summit so I would say this is a great early season choice if you can get a decently early start on a nice day, most should summit. Summit conditions were were firm snow and strong winds were present but nothing concerning. On the way down the bootpack goes left or right, I personally glissaded down the right and had a lot of fun, the snow turned slushy quick on the face on the way down, and sliding on my butt I made it down much quicker than I had ascended. Left or right the trail goes along the ridgeline and the hike back is simple as long as you remembered where you jumped the river (I totally forgot and people were following me like I had it in the bank). When I got back to my car I checked my etrex and the trip had taken me 5hrs5min with the total round trip from the parking lot at 7.05 miles and a peak elevation at 14,086ft when I checked at the summit. Camped at Guanella Pass Campgrounds for the day, pretty nice spot despite beings so close to the road, every spot has a fire pit and an outdoor grill. Just don't forget to wear sunscreen like I did


Comments or Questions
Whitcc1
GPS file
6/19/2015 3:13pm
Can you email me your GPS route? I feel as if it would greatly aid my hike haha
Thanks

Whitcc1 (at) g mail



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