Mt. Bierstadt Trip Report 06/29/2008

Peak(s):	Mt. Bierstadt - 14,066 feet
Date Posted:	06/29/2008
Modified:	06/30/2008
Date Climbed:	06/28/2008
Author:	rlynn

Bierstadt Sunrise Summit
Climbing Group: myself, Kyle (boilermaker), Tom, Patrick, Neal, Pat, Tommy Departure Time: 02:45 Finish Time: 08:40 Round Trip: 7.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2850' Route: Standard Bierstadt Trail The seven of us were attempting a night hike of Bierstadt in order to summit for the sunrise. We took two cars and left Boulder slightly after midnight on Friday night. We arrived at the Guanella Pass parking lots at just after 02:00. We left the trailhead at 02:15, but it turned out to be the Rosalie trailhead, not the Bierstadt TH. Turns out things are hard to see in the dark. Starting from the wrong trailhead like smart people Once we figured out we were on the wrong trail, we backtracked and started from the Bierstadt TH at 02:45. There were no clouds in the sky at all, which made for great views of the stars. The moon was out, but not full nor bright enough for packing away of the headlamps. We were pretty fortunate in that we saw 4 shooting stars, all around 03:30-04:00. Along the trail at 03:25 Predawn ambient light coming up at 04:40 - looking east, just north of Mt. Evans Tommy, Pat, Patrick, and Neal decided to charge ahead in order to make the summit by sunrise while Kyle, Tom, and I held back slightly at a slower pace. At that point our goal was to at least make the ridge by runrise since we were running on very little sleep, if any. Kyle (left) and Tom taking a short break before heading up to the ridge on the west side - 04:45 By 05:00 there was quite a bit of ambient light which was making us want to hurry up a little in order to make summit by sun up. Tom and Kyle making their way up the ridge, close to the top There was a decent amount of snow along the ridge toward the top, but nothing too difficult. It was very easy to skirt around the north side of the bigger snowfield. The next one was significantly smaller and hardpacked enough to walk across with no chance of postholing. Kyle at the top of the smaller snowfield - 05:23 Tom, Kyle, and I made the summit at 05:30 while the rest of the group had been there since a little after 05:00. Kyle and Pat on the summit (photo looking east toward Evans) - 05:32 Looking west from the summit of Bierstadt - 05:33 Neal was slightly tired after the 3.5 mile hike We had about 10 minutes on the summit before the sun rose over Mt. Evans at 05:45. The Sawtooth to Evans appeard to have some decent snow left on the south side. Looking northeast at part of the Sawtooth Sun rising over Mt. Evans - 05:46 Summit picture with whole group and sunrise We decided to finally obtain some sustanance after the sun had risen. Brats and Coors Light - 14,060 foot breakfast of champions We had the summit completely to ourselves which was nice since this was my first night hike. We left the summit at 06:35 after spending an hour relaxing and enjoying the views. At this point the sun was starting to warm us, so not as many layers were necessary on the way down. We didn't encounter anyone else until we were done with most of the rock hopping along north side of the ridge. Kyle taking in the views to the west - 07:05 Viewing the Sawtooth from northwestish - 07:23 The bridges were quite well maintained, although I may consider them the crux of the hike. We had to really pick up the knees in order to step onto them, and by this time, the legs were quite tired. Looking northeast from about 3/4 mile from the TH - 08:23 Looking at Bierstadt from the correct TH - 08:35 All of us made it back to the cars at 08:40. Post hike picture of the entire group - time for a beer...umm, another one Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Bierstadt Sunrise Summit

Climbing Group: myself, Kyle (boilermaker), Tom, Patrick, Neal, Pat, Tommy
Departure Time: 02:45
Finish Time: 08:40
Round Trip: 7.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 2850'
Route: Standard Bierstadt Trail

The seven of us were attempting a night hike of Bierstadt in order to summit for the sunrise. We took two cars and left Boulder slightly after midnight on Friday night. We arrived at the Guanella Pass parking lots at just after 02:00.

We left the trailhead at 02:15, but it turned out to be the Rosalie trailhead, not the Bierstadt TH. Turns out things are hard to see in the dark.

Starting from the wrong trailhead like smart people

Once we figured out we were on the wrong trail, we backtracked and started from the Bierstadt TH at 02:45. There were no clouds in the sky at all, which made for great views of the stars. The moon was out, but not full nor bright enough for packing away of the headlamps. We were pretty fortunate in that we saw 4 shooting stars, all around 03:30-04:00.

Along the trail at 03:25

Predawn ambient light coming up at 04:40 - looking east, just north of Mt. Evans

Tommy, Pat, Patrick, and Neal decided to charge ahead in order to make the summit by sunrise while Kyle, Tom, and I held back slightly at a slower pace. At that point our goal was to at least make the ridge by runrise since we were running on very little sleep, if any.

Kyle (left) and Tom taking a short break before heading up to the ridge on the west side - 04:45

By 05:00 there was quite a bit of ambient light which was making us want to hurry up a little in order to make summit by sun up.

Tom and Kyle making their way up the ridge, close to the top

There was a decent amount of snow along the ridge toward the top, but nothing too difficult. It was very easy to skirt around the north side of the bigger snowfield. The next one was significantly smaller and hardpacked enough to walk across with no chance of postholing.

Kyle at the top of the smaller snowfield - 05:23

Tom, Kyle, and I made the summit at 05:30 while the rest of the group had been there since a little after 05:00.

Kyle and Pat on the summit (photo looking east toward Evans) - 05:32

Looking west from the summit of Bierstadt - 05:33

Neal was slightly tired after the 3.5 mile hike

We had about 10 minutes on the summit before the sun rose over Mt. Evans at 05:45. The Sawtooth to Evans appeard to have some decent snow left on the south side.

Looking northeast at part of the Sawtooth

Sun rising over Mt. Evans - 05:46

Summit picture with whole group and sunrise

We decided to finally obtain some sustanance after the sun had risen.

Brats and Coors Light - 14,060 foot breakfast of champions

We had the summit completely to ourselves which was nice since this was my first night hike.

We left the summit at 06:35 after spending an hour relaxing and enjoying the views. At this point the sun was starting to warm us, so not as many layers were necessary on the way down. We didn't encounter anyone else until we were done with most of the rock hopping along north side of the ridge.

Kyle taking in the views to the west - 07:05

Viewing the Sawtooth from northwestish - 07:23

The bridges were quite well maintained, although I may consider them the crux of the hike. We had to really pick up the knees in order to step onto them, and by this time, the legs were quite tired.

Looking northeast from about 3/4 mile from the TH - 08:23

Looking at Bierstadt from the correct TH - 08:35

All of us made it back to the cars at 08:40.

Post hike picture of the entire group - time for a beer...umm, another one

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

BLDR N8IVE

Nice
6/29/2008 9:32pm

Hey nice report and congrats on the summit...
If your ever looking for climbing partners let me know Im in boulder too. Just did the same summit the night before but missed the sunrise feel free to check out my report as well...

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