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"...
| Sunrise and Sawtooth |
I left Golden at 3:00 and made it to the trailhead by 4:00. A few notes on the drive: turn left after exiting I-70 in Georgetown and go right at the round-about and you will soon see signs that say Guanella Pass. The road is in great condition but has many tight switchbacks. The sign for the lower parking lot is hard to see in the dark but it is on the left before the pass summit.
A little windy and chilly, even the boardwalks were slippery with frost. On the first, longest boardwalk, there are three step downs while you are on that you might not expect otherwise. The logs and rocks to cross Scott Gomer Creek were a little slippery too, but trekking poles really helped balance. After you leave the creek, there are a few steep sections before you leave the willows for good. The trail sometimes branched or just got really spread out, especially in and around talus, and was hard to keep on in the dark. Just head up and to the left towards the ridge and you'll probably run into a cairn. The summit was gusty and very cold but the sunrise was beautiful. The hike up took me 2 hours with plenty of breath catching.
After a short break, it was Sawtooth time. The descent is rocky and steep, and patches of ice were all over, including the big one that I think is easier to pass on the low side. From there I traversed fairly level back to the ridge crest and scrambled over/around the first tooth. On the second (bigger) tooth, you can go all the way over near the top but I got stuck in the middle and had to backtrack and downclimb. The route is well cairned and soon we were on the west side of the ridge for the ledges that aren't really ledges. It was easier in this part to find rocks to scramble on than crossing and ascending on the loose, steep dirt. Around the corner and out of the Sawtooth, I didn't have time for Evans so I took the gully down. The crossing took about 1.5 hours going fairly slowly to enjoy the views.
It is not immediately visible but the downslope and convergence of the area is noticeable. Near the top, the ground was inundated with water and the creek flowing through the gully is running well. The trail was easy to find but not easy to stay upright, quite a lot of work for the knees going down. As you descend, you should be able to spot a trail in an open grassy area that crosses the creek, and this is the way I took. If you want to avoid mud and willows, I suggest you try crossing above the trees on the hillside to the left but I am not sure how well it works. If you follow the trail, the mud is deep in places and beware if it rained the night before for I got soaked by the willow leaves holding water. After a while the trail got much worse and it was just about finding another trail or any open way through the willows. It would be very hard to miss the Bierstadt trail on the way back. It was another 2 hours of hiking from the gully to the trailhead.
|
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.
