MOUNT BIERSTADT 7/23/84

MOUNT BIERSTADT 14,060'


Mountain........Mt. Bierstadt
Elevation.........14,060
Rank...............38th
Range..............Front
Trail length......3 miles
Elevation gain..2,500'
Difficulty..........*
Comments........Wet willows


TRIP REPORT

7/23/84

Once again we got up to chocolate covered doughnuts & bad coffee. We drove to Guanella Pass on a good road and parked in misty clouds that occasionally parted to reveal glimpses of the Sawtooth ridge and surrounding peaks. We (Richard, Mitch, and me) headed for what looked like a trail and were soon neck-deep in soaking wet willow bushes with muddy rivulets underfoot. We continued toward the peak anyway, and eventually exited the willows totally soaked just as the sun came out and the clouds disappeared.
We headed for the easy ridge to the right of the peak. The rest of the climb was pleasant - we took our time, dried out nicely, took breaks as the day got warmer in beautiful meadows with whistling marmots. We sunned on the summit and then took a direct route down to the lake. We were still unable to find a decent trail through the willows but at least they were dry by now so we only got whipped and not wet.

We took another sunny nap by the lake, then drove to Georgetown for dinner and a room. We finalized our plans to climb Grays & Torreys during a continuation of our hearts game, in which I was falling desperately behind.