Mt Bierstadt

Mt Bierstadt and the Sawtooth Ridge

Like last week's ascents of Grays and Torreys, Mt Bierstadt is one of the easier 14,000 foot peaks to ascend.  It's all relative: the 6 mile round trip includes almost 3,000 feet elevation gain.  That's almost 1,000 feet per mile.

Unlike last week, where I had problems sleeping at 10,000 feet, I slept very well.  Yesterday I drove to Steamboat Springs and the fall colors were quite impressive.  The Aspens change into a bright gold.  There are some oranges as well, but red is rarely seen.  Still, fall is quite beautiful here.

Fall colors near Rabbit Ears Pass

The view from Guanella Pass

Near the summit of Guanella Pass

Lots of gold

Today would be a later start than last week with the good night's sleep.  Rain was not in the forecast. I stopped in Georgetown to change and fill up on some water.  Georgetown is an old mining town.  Lots of buildings are from the Victorian era.  I would love to live here, but what does one do to get by?

Georgetown

From Georgetown, it's a 12 mile drive up to Guanella Pass.  Along the way, I was accompanied by a moose.  Since there was a power station, the moose had nowhere to go but the road.  He must have been on the road for half a mile before he dipped into the woods near a campground.

Nowhere to go but the road

Finally by 9:30, I left the trailhead to ascend Mt Bierstadt.  From the trailhead and almost the entire route, Bierstadt was visible.  The sawtooth ridge which connects Bierstadt to Mt Evans is also visible.  It looks quite gnarly.  Supposedly it only takes a class 3 scramble, but it looks worse than that.  Someday, maybe, I'll give that route a go.

For the most part, the route up was quite easy.  A few runners made there way down the mountain, while I went up.  It does look like it would make for some nice trail running, except for the last few hundred feet which were quite rocky.

The views west in the early morning sun were quite nice.  Eventually both Grays and Torreys were visible.  Once near the summit, Mt Evans became visible.  Mt Evans is one of only two 14ers with a road to its summit (the other being Pikes Peak).  Mt Evans road is slightly higher and happens to be the highest road in the U.S.

Deadman's Lake

The view west

Approaching the summit

Mt Evans and Abyss Lake

Frozen Lake

Again just like last week the altitude became a bit of a problem.  Though I never did have to stop and rest for long periods, I imagine it will take time to get used to it. There were quite a few people on the summit.  There were also quite a few dogs.  Almost all of them were small.  I was quite impressed with the small pug-like dog that made it to the summit.  I watched him struggle up some of the boulders, but somehow he persevered.

On the summit with Grays and Torreys in background

The walk down went quick.  I had to keep an eye out on the clouds.  At one point some hale dropped from the sky.  I made it to Deadman's Lake in about an hour and a half.  When I reached it there were quite a few people looking into the lake.  I noticed something moving so I asked, "Is that the Lochness Monster?"  Instead it was a moose.  The moose apparently goes in for food.  We watched as it would constantly dip its head fully into the water.  At times a few ducks would congregate around the moose.  Maybe they're out for leftovers.

Clouds forming

Tough environment to thrive in

Moose in Deadman's Lake

Moose

Moose has company

After watching this for a half hour, I went to my car to get my DSLR Camera, but unfortunately I made it back too late.  It left the lake and headed into the thick brush.  Still, it was a wonderful encounter.

Some stats: 6 miles, 2,500+ feet elevation gained, Ascent 2:20, Summit Break 30 min, Descent 1:30.

Three moose sightings in one day.  Here's a moose on the way down from Guanella Pass: