Download Agreement, Release, and Acknowledgement of Risk:
You (the person requesting this file download) fully understand mountain climbing ("Activity") involves risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death ("Risks") and you fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages you incur as a result of your participation in this Activity.
You acknowledge that information in the file you have chosen to download may not be accurate and may contain errors. You agree to assume all risks when using this information and agree to release and discharge 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and the author(s) of such information (collectively, the "Released Parties").
You hereby discharge the Released Parties from all damages, actions, claims and liabilities of any nature, specifically including, but not limited to, damages, actions, claims and liabilities arising from or related to the negligence of the Released Parties. You further agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and each of the other Released Parties from and against any loss, damage, liability and expense, including costs and attorney fees, incurred by 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. or any of the other Released Parties as a result of you using information provided on the 14ers.com or 14ers Inc. websites.
You have read this agreement, fully understand its terms and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
By clicking "OK" you agree to these terms. If you DO NOT agree, click "Cancel"...
This is my third Tour De Abyss, and if you've done this route, you can probably understand why. There isn't much simple walking, it's got a couple of downclimbs that can be tedious, but the rest of the day is highly enjoyable. Mostly, it drops you into a charming basin, and you climb up the other side and do a full "U" around it, left to right, gaining, in order, Bierstadt's south ridge, Bierstadt's summit, the Sawtooth, Evans' north ridge, and Evans' summit. If you 're lucky, you can get a ride from Evans' summit back to your car, making this about the only summit that marks the end of the climb.
A couple friends asked about doing Longs Peak later in the summer, and I suggested this route as a warm up- the technical climbing is similar, the exposure is similar, and it would be a great work out to get ready for Longs. Ashley and Holly both came through like Champs, handling their first class three scrambling with confidence and without incident. This was the first time I went up and over all the teeth on the Sawtooth without dropping down.
The most frightening part of the climb was looking back at the snow apron coming down off Bierstadt. While on it, the snow was soft but secure, and even though we went slow, it wasn't too jarring. From the Sawtooth, that snow looked extremely steep and dangerous, and we all had a hard time believing we had just traversed it. The climbing on the Sawtooth was energizing, and the ledges are wide enough that the extreme drop off didn't get into our head, and the beer at Tommyknockers was excellent as always.
Am I the only one who is bothered that people are leaving Which Wich sandwich wrappers on summits under rocks? It's an amusing promotion, but I wonder how many of the Colorado summits are now graced with wrappers so everyone can get their free sandwiches. It's also ironic how the people driving to the top of Evans and walking the last 200 feet are also snapping their summit Which Wich pictures for the free sandwich for summiting a 14er. I wonder how long this promotion will last.
Epulet saddle under layer of fog Bierstadt south ridge from Evans/ Epulet saddle Holly and Ashley in the coulior mountain goat in coulior into the Abyss basin Abyss Lake, Sawtooth in background Holly making her way up to the ridge Ashley getting to ridge with Sawtooth in background along the south ridge of Bierstadt farther along Bierstadt summit Ashley's first summit, Holly's third! Sawtooth- easier than it looks making our way down Bierstadt to Sawtooth coming down off the second tooth third tooth- crux of the climbing Ashley on the third tooth Holly topping out on the third tooth Ashley in the chimney nearing the saddle turnoff along the ledges Ashley ignoring the extreme drop off below her beyond the Sawtooth Holly and Ashley relaxing - "We climbed that!" Evans summit- James Evans summit- Holly Evans summit- Ashley
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I hadn't seen that view of Sawtooth 6/28/2013 2:09pm
from Abyss Lake...this might be my new favorite!
Congrats to Ashley for taking down Bierstadt the ”hard way”.
Just to clarify - which culoir were you climbing -- kind of SW direction from Abyss or did you continue around Bierstadt (from Epaulet Saddle) to climb above Frozen Lake?
If I understand your question, we just climbed the rocky face to the west of Abyss Lake. Specifically, we parked off the Mt Evans road and walked to the saddle of Evans/ Epulet, dropped down a pretty obvious couloir there, walked to Abyss Lake, and crossed just on the south (lower) side of the lake where it drains out, then headed directly up the rocky face from there. It isn't really a couloir. Once we gained the ridge, it's a direct shot up to Bierstadt.
Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.
Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.
