10 Mount Bierstadt

Date to Climb: June 19, 2009

Date Climbed: June 8, 2009

Elevation: 14,060

Range: Front

Latitude: 39.58252, Longitude: -105.66862

Route: West Slopes ll, Class 2

11 Mount Evans

Date to Climb: June 19, 2009

Date Climbed: June 19, 2009

Elevation: 14,264

Range: Front

Latitude: 39.58821, Longitude: -105.64359

Route: Sawtooth Ridge ll, Class 3

Pre-Climb Comments

Bierstadt is a fun relatively easy climb. After summiting we will start on the Sawtooth Ridge which connects the two mountains. We climbed it in 07. Jake was not with us. He plans on going with us on this trip. By our doing the route in 07 we saw how to bypass the harder sections in order to keep the route as a hard class 2 instead of a class 3. Once across the Sawtooth it is a seemingly endless walk to Evans. It is not hard, but it keeps going and going. We will start early for the long hike. I think I am going to carry sandals just to wade through the creek. Trying to avoid the willows is just too hard and very time consuming. Jake will definitely like the creek. We might need to carry extra towels for the car.

Post-Climb Comments - Mount Bierstadt

We split up Evans and Bierstadt. Winter is still in the Rockies.

From the Mount Bierstadt trailhead, we could view the plentiful snow on the mountain. We realized that the Sawtooth traverse which we had planned to do on June 19 was going to be really hard with the dog. Our plans then changed, we would walk up Bierstadt to about 13,000 feet today (June 8) to help us acclimate. Then, in a few days (Friday, 12th), we would return to climb the peak, without linking it to Mount Evans.

It was 8:15 when we started our hike. The trail crosses the willows and despite trail construction (including boardwalks) it was still really muddy. After crossing a stream we began our slow methodical climb. We were in no hurry, we were just trying to get acclimated.

The higher we climbed, the worse the weather. It soon seemed like we were going to have another Pikes Peak kind of day (see First Hike), but it really didn't matter, we started too late for a real climb. We were just trying to stretch our legs and our lungs. Trudging along we climbed one foot at a time. Once at the snow line, our dog, Jake went wild playing in the snow. We stopped and booted him to help prevent paw injuries. He didn't mind and soon was prancing in his red boots.

Summer was not yet alive on the mountain. We were better prepared than on Pikes, but it was still a cold, windy, snow climb. Climbers who had started climbing at a normal hour started trickling passed us as they descended. Most were dressed (if they had any clothes with them) for the weather. Their dress was an omen to us that the weather was going to get worse. Not to be disappointed, a small storm blew through giving us a few inches of new snow and chilling winds.

The winter climb is more direct and thus shorter and steeper than the summer route. From the upper north slopes the winter route goes directly to the summit, bypassing most of the west ridge. Slowly we inched our way upward. Soon it became obvious we were going for the summit. After re-discussing our plans we both agreed that we did not want to walk through the willows again, so if we could find the air to get to the top, we would go for it.

At 12:15 we summitted, took a few pictures and started back down the hill. Going down was a breeze. We plunge stepped, glissaded, ran, and walked down the slippery slope. All was great, we had snuck up and climbed a peak that we were not really even trying to do.

After crossing the creek again we re-entered the world of mud and willows, but that was not our only problem - we couldn't breathe. It was only a half a mile on easy trail but it seemed endless. Finally we made it to the parking lot. It took us only two hours to descend, but we felt the pains of not being acclimated. It was a good climb.

Post-Climb Comments - Mount Evans

After completing Mount Quandry in the early morning we left and headed for Mount Evans. We were not sure where we were going to stay and wanted to get a site at the campground at Echo Lake.

Going through Breckenridge we stopped at Patagonia to complain about a jacket that was coming delaminated. They wanted to send it back to the repairs department, but I explained that I needed to fix it, so that I could use it the very next day. The sales clerk called around and found a Gore-Tex repair kit that would temporally fix the jacket. I plan to work on it on Monday.

We had never been on the road to Mount Evans, but found it very scenic. Many bicycles and motorcycles like to ride the road. Finding a site at the campground we explored the area and even walked around the lake. Jake had a lot of extra energy and we had to exercise him.

Early to bed and early to rise, we were on our way to Summit Lake at 5:00. Driving the nine miles to the lake we were able to super warm ourselves in the car, but we knew that it was bitter cold outside. At the trailhead, Amy could not find one of her boots. It was a bit comical as we tore everything out of the car looking for it. She eventually put on a different pair of boots, but as we were getting ready to leave she saw the boot under the car. It had fallen out or had had enough and was trying to hide.

Jake did not go with us again. We were going to make a fast ascent without him.

Did we mention it was cold? Amy's GU froze solid. Our hydration bladder tubes froze. There was no eating or drinking. We just climbed through the weather. It was miserably cold.

Luckily, the climb was short. We were originally planning on doing Bierstadt with Evans as a combo, but had to alter the plans due to the snow. We were very glad we were not trying to do both routes in the gale force winds. The mileage and elevation was similar but the two routes are not as hard as the Sawtooth, our original plan.

Back in the car we could not get warm. It really was cold. Back home in Nashville, it was supposed to be ninety-eight degrees and it was well below freezing on our climb.

At Echo Lake Lodge we had breakfast. Wait, not just any breakfast, but a feast. Amy had two huge, huge, huge pancakes and I had maybe the best omelet I have ever eaten. The Lodge is a good stop. If you are lucky enough to sit by the window, you can see the hundreds of bicycles tempting the grade the with their hearts, lungs, and legs. It is a good show.

Mount Evans is over, we would not like to climb it again under those conditions.