Yes, Sawtooth is pretty mellow overall, especially if you stick to the route description instead of staying on the very top of the ridge the entire time - but you spoil much of the fun if you go around all the little towers and such. It also has less exposure (if you're not playing on the optional towers) except for that last little ramp to get you off the traverse. That ramp is slanted with loose rock and dirt (though not loose enough to be a major problem), as compared to last pitch up Wetterhorn which is very solid rock and literally almost like a natural staircase.NatDog wrote: ↑Tue Sep 08, 2020 6:34 pm The Sawtooth Ridge from Bierstadt to Evans was my first class 3 hike and I thought it was pretty mellow, especially in terms of exposure. I haven't yet done Kelso Ridge or Wetterhorn but my understanding is that those are a bit more exposed so something to keep in mind if that would be an issue for you.
So someone new to exposure on class 3 terrain is more likely to be uncomfortable with that slanted somewhat loose ramp at the end of the Sawtooth traverse than to be bothered by the staircase at the end of Wetterhorn - though either one could really freak out someone who has a major problem with heights.
FYI, Kelso exposure is about the same as Sawtooth except for the short little knife edge - if you want a more detailed analysis of these I did an extensive write-up and comparison: 4 Classic Ridges: Ellingwood, Kelso, Sawtooth and Quandary West Ridge (plus Buckskin) https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... m=tripmine
