Mt. Bierstadt Trip Report 09/04/2007

Peak(s):	Mt. Bierstadt - 14,066 feet Mt. Blue Sky - 14,268 feet
Date Posted:	09/04/2007
Modified:	09/09/2007
Date Climbed:	08/31/2007
Author:	tystent

Sawtooth route
I started solo from Guanella Pass at 7am with frost still on the tundra and footbridges, pausing only to check out the marsh route for my later return. And to check out the Sawtooth. -- and of course, to catch my breath. I reached Bierstadt at 9:30. On the way I saw an eagle above, and a flock of ptarmigans pecking around the trail (can you see them here?). There were plenty of folks hiking this Friday, so I joined two couples atop Bierstadt to do Sawtooth (good idea not to do this alone your first time, if only to agree on the proper notch to head towards). After descending the ridge to the correct notch (the ridge must be harder than staying on lower boulders), it seemed pointless to avoid the Gendarme by going around it below, and indeed it was barely more difficult than what we'd already done. . Finishing Sawtooth, we dropped one couple and worried about the clouds building up as three of us headed over to Evans by 12:30. Big crowds there, but we still stayed too long, 'til after 1pm. The gully is easy to find; just follow the flowing water in the tundra as you approach "the edge". (Sure seems to be a lot more water on the mountains this year than most!) My quads were killing me going down the gully route and eventually the two pilots I was with got too far ahead for me to keep up with them. Luckily I was down to the grassy steeps before the rain kicked in at 3. It was a real drencher. I tried to find a route that stayed out of (above) the willow marsh, but didn't find one, even in the forest. I ended up slogging 1.5 hours through continuous rain and hail, mud and willows before rejoining the Bierstadt trail at the Scott Gomer Creek crossing to return to the lower parking lot at 4:30. A woman was waiting there for her husband and two other guys to return, apparently an hour or two behind me; I don't envy their slippery trip down the gully but I hope they made it okay. Note 1: my cellphone said it had "bars" at both summits, but the only place I could actually connect to anywhere was on West Evans, around where the Sawtooth and gully trails meet. This is also a good place to see marmots and mountain goats. Note 2: A good place for hot coffee and chili is the Red Ram in Georgetown, on the main street corner where you come down from Guanella Pass. And they don't care how muddy you are. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Sawtooth route

I started solo from Guanella Pass at 7am with frost still on the tundra and footbridges, pausing only to check out the marsh route for my later return.

And to check out the Sawtooth.

-- and of course, to catch my breath. I reached Bierstadt at 9:30.

On the way I saw an eagle above, and a flock of ptarmigans pecking around the trail (can you see them here?).

There were plenty of folks hiking this Friday, so I joined two couples atop Bierstadt to do Sawtooth (good idea not to do this alone your first time, if only to agree on the proper notch to head towards). After descending the ridge to the correct notch (the ridge must be harder than staying on lower boulders), it seemed pointless to avoid the Gendarme by going around it below, and indeed it was barely more difficult than what we'd already done.

.

Finishing Sawtooth, we dropped one couple and worried about the clouds building up as three of us headed over to Evans by 12:30.

Big crowds there, but we still stayed too long, 'til after 1pm.

The gully is easy to find; just follow the flowing water in the tundra as you approach "the edge". (Sure seems to be a lot more water on the mountains this year than most!) My quads were killing me going down the gully route and eventually the two pilots I was with got too far ahead for me to keep up with them.

Luckily I was down to the grassy steeps before the rain kicked in at 3.

It was a real drencher. I tried to find a route that stayed out of (above) the willow marsh, but didn't find one, even in the forest. I ended up slogging 1.5 hours through continuous rain and hail, mud and willows before rejoining the Bierstadt trail at the Scott Gomer Creek crossing to return to the lower parking lot at 4:30.

A woman was waiting there for her husband and two other guys to return, apparently an hour or two behind me; I don't envy their slippery trip down the gully but I hope they made it okay.

Note 1: my cellphone said it had "bars" at both summits, but the only place I could actually connect to anywhere was on West Evans, around where the Sawtooth and gully trails meet. This is also a good place to see marmots and mountain goats.

Note 2: A good place for hot coffee and chili is the Red Ram in Georgetown, on the main street corner where you come down from Guanella Pass.

And they don't care how muddy you are.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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