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"...
Not so much a trip report - more of a route description back from the Sawtooth/Evans. I don't remember seeing a description of this route back, but I remember hearing that it existed.
Also, see this trip report by mt_turtle, which inspired me to post this one:
There is a trail along the north side of Scott Gomer creek that leads back to Guanella Pass and bypasses most of the willows. Generally, you find it by an easy bushwhack off the shoulder of Spalding down to the creek, crossing the creek and finding it among some rocks between a pond and a small cliff. Here is a topo representation:
Modified 14ers.com topo
Once across the creek, parallel it downstream until it starts to drop off in a cascade
Come above this pond with a rock outcropping to hiker's right - The trail actually goes through the clearing on the far side of this pond, but is very hard to spot in this photo
The rock outcropping just above and right of the pond - Get to the top of these rocks and you will see the trail coming down from the north and heading southwest to the forest and Guanella Pass
Push back the bushes here (the ground is dry) and an easy scramble over these rocks leads to the trail (blue arrow in the upper left)
Just got on the trail - you can see the trail angle up and left across the clearing
Looking back at the route from just on the trail
Another view looking back at the rock outcropping
This trail takes you pretty much back to the parking lot. But the tough part may be the last couple hundred yards. Once you get so close to the car that you can taste it, the trail seems to peter out in the willows not far from the boardwalks, and it becomes a "pick your own" route for a short but potentially sloppy finish. When I did this in June, the willows section was pretty dry. But in August, it was VERY soggy (and it was raining at the time, too). At the very least, this route bypasses about 90+% of the willows (I've also slogged right through the middle of them - and this is WAY better.)
Hope this helps. I'd appreciate any comments, updates, or improvements to this route. I think I saw someone mention another route that bypasses the willows on the southern side - i.e., closer to being under the Sawtooth. I'd be interested in more info about that.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Great alternative to the willows and gully! 9/9/2008 10:29pm
My wife and I enjoyed this route very much. Thanks for linking our reports together. Hopefully it will help others that are looking to avoid the willows. For me the added distance was well worth it!
I was with 53_Peaks last year and this is definitely the way to go. I‘d say we only had to bushwack through about 100 yards of the willows where we met up with the boardwalk just below the parking lot. I didn‘t sink in the mud at all going this way, and it was a great way to come down. We didn‘t even notice the added distance.
I had the same experience at the end of the trip back to Guanella Pass - the route just seems to die out.
I did a trip report for it (http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=8781), and based on this, I think it's largely because I did it in August the week after a series of heavy rain days.
We took this route last year. There are some scattered trip reports on 14ers.com about it, but your description and pictures are much better than what we had to go off of. I still remember looking over towards the willows and saying repeatedly, "I'm glad I'm not over there."
Just did Bierstadt Sawtooth and Evens on Saturday. descent through the bypass route. Only last couple hundreds yard of willowwack and soggy steps before reaching the boardwalk! Your post had saved us!
While we found a faded trail to the northeast of that first big pond near guanella pass trailhead, it petered out and it was difficult to see where to go through all the willows. We gave it a good effort, but eventually turned back cold and soaking wet to go meet up with the 14er.com route before we made it to the rock scramble. The 14er.com route #3 does have an actual trail - yes, willows would brush on either side of you, but no need to go full steam through them. If I do this again, I would take the 14er route rather than rolling the dice trying to find this one. Although, to be fair, I think there are plenty of more enjoyable hikes out there.
It's been years since I've done this route. I have only used it to return to Guanella - not ascend from there. Given the 2 recent positive comments and some posts in the Forum, it seems this route is getting some attention. So I'm hoping to re-do this route and report soon. Also want to see if I can find a way that is sustainable near the willows so it doesn't get too overrun. Not sure if that is possible so the other route may be better in that regard.
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.
