Mt Blue Sky road closed all of 2025

[HikerGuy]

There is a way to avoid the worst of the willows, a little less direct but beats the hell out of heading towards Scott Gomer gully. There's even a trail for a good portion of it.

[onebyone]

So you're saying the West ridge from Guanella pass is going to see a crap ton of traffic next summer?

I doubt it. The people who are driving up most of Evans are just not going to do the West Ridge route or the traverse from Bierstadt. Just a completely different type of user. Having said that, there will be more people on it because there are people like me who will take the opportunity to climb Evans sans parking lot full of cars and tourists.
The West Ridge is not for your casual hiker imo. Gotta battle the Willows. Or traverse around it which is essentially a bushwhack. Then you got steep vertical to reach the ridge.

[greenonion]

There's gonna be a super highway through the willows.

They should build one anyway, the willows suck at all times of the year. Either re-locate the TH to avoid them or build a pedestrian highway.

Yes, they should build a boardwalk immediately.

All the way to the top… include Bierstadt too! And pave both!!

[PJ88]

Thanks for the heads up on this. I put off doing the tour de abyss last summer but will have to make it happen this year now.

[Briere]

So you're saying the West ridge from Guanella pass is going to see a crap ton of traffic next summer?

I doubt it. The people who are driving up most of Evans are just not going to do the West Ridge route or the traverse from Bierstadt. Just a completely different type of user. Having said that, there will be more people on it because there are people like me who will take the opportunity to climb Evans sans parking lot full of cars and tourists.
The West Ridge is not for your casual hiker imo. Gotta battle the Willows. Or traverse around it which is essentially a bushwhack. Then you got steep vertical to reach the ridge.

Hearing of the road closure, it does peak my interest to do the traverse again when the road is closed. Going up and down the Willows doesn't sound fun; I don't mind wet feet on the way back but not starting.

[onebyone]

So you're saying the West ridge from Guanella pass is going to see a crap ton of traffic next summer?

I doubt it. The people who are driving up most of Evans are just not going to do the West Ridge route or the traverse from Bierstadt. Just a completely different type of user. Having said that, there will be more people on it because there are people like me who will take the opportunity to climb Evans sans parking lot full of cars and tourists.
The West Ridge is not for your casual hiker imo. Gotta battle the Willows. Or traverse around it which is essentially a bushwhack. Then you got steep vertical to reach the ridge.

Hearing of the road closure, it does peak my interest to do the traverse again when the road is closed. Going up and down the Willows doesn't sound fun; I don't mind wet feet on the way back but not starting.

Yeah, I brought an extra pair of socks and a few plastic bags. Plastic bags to get through it. Then removed the plastic bags on dry ground. Boot still wet but was able to wear the first pair until the boot dried out a bit. Then new pair of socks. . On the way back traversed higher ground for most of it.

[Monte Meals]

I have been wanting to do the Tour de Abyss for quite awhile.

Does anyone know of an access to the low point
without using the Blue Sky road ?

[dwoodward13]

I have been wanting to do the Tour de Abyss for quite awhile.

Does anyone know of an access to the low point
without using the Blue Sky road ?

You can hike in via the Abyss Lake Trail to meet the Tour de Abyss route where it cross the meadow at the bottom of gully off the road. It'll add quite a bit of mileage. About 7.5 miles on the Abyss Lake Trail one way to that intersection point.

[two lunches]

I have been wanting to do the Tour de Abyss for quite awhile.

Does anyone know of an access to the low point
without using the Blue Sky road ?

You can hike in via the Abyss Lake Trail to meet the Tour de Abyss route where it cross the meadow at the bottom of gully off the road. It'll add quite a bit of mileage. About 7.5 miles on the Abyss Lake Trail one way to that intersection point.

yes it adds mileage, but that route is gorgeous and there are some excellent backpacking spots.

[jrbren_vt]

My interest in this peak just went way up ...

[James Dziezynski]

Rosalie > Epaulet > Blue Sky from Deer Creek TH is one of my favorite "long hillwalk" routes. A nice, non-technical way to get three peaks and visit Pegmatite Points if you have a little extra in the tank.