Before hiking season came to an end, I was determined to tackle my first fourteener--one of Colorado's 53 mountains rising over 14,000 ft in elevation. The peak of choice? Mt. Bierstadt.
Mt. Bierstadt is located on the Front Range with a maximum elevation of 14,060 ft. While there are multiple routes to the summit, the most common trail is considered class 2 difficulty, clocking in at 7 miles with a gain of 2,850 ft gain.
The 2 cardinal rules of hiking fourteeners are as follows:
- Start early to avoid afternoon storms (and crowds)
- Dress warm for the high altitude temperatures and wind
I won't pretend that I jumped out of bed when my alarm went off at 4:30 am, but I will say that there is a definite excitement factor about getting up before sunrise to take on a big hike.
Anna picked me up--another sister trip--and, for once, we weren't worried about beating traffic. Heading about an hour West on I-70, we took the Georgetown exit and climbed 12 miles on the winding Guanella Pass before reaching the trailhead. One reason that Mt. Bierstadt is a top choice for first-timers is because you start the hike higher up than most other fourteeners.
Even at the trailhead, Anna and I were bundled up in multiple layers, complete with hats and gloves. We set off into the brisk morning, with the summit of Mt. Bierdstadt seemingly so far away.
It was a steady climb up the mountain, which seemed much longer than 3 miles. The thin air and high altitude added to the challenge. Nevertheless, the views became increasingly more stunning as we continued towards the summit, especially with the morning light and shadows.
One major difference that I noted compared to previous hikes was the extent of exposure to the elements. I kept waiting to emerge into a forest until I realized that we began the hike at tree line.
Eventually, we reached a false summit, and followed a series of cairns (rock piles) a couple hundred feet higher. What a feeling! The summit views reminded me of those from Pikes Peak, but it was more rewarding after having hiked to the top, rather than after driving.
Among the surrounding mountain tops, Anna pointed out Grays and Torreys Peaks--two nearby fourteeners.
Even closer, however, was Mt. Evans. In fact, Mt. Evans can be reached from where we stood. However, the course involves traversing the Sawtooth Ridge--
not a beginner trek.
After Anna and I had had our fill of pictures, we headed back down.
Although we followed the same route as before, the midday clouds and shadows cast a distinct perspective to our surroundings. A contrast existed between the hike by morning and by day. I also pointed out the
red wildflowers in continuing the theme of colors during hikes.
We were joined by several other groups of people--and dogs--along the way, but surely less than we would have encountered on the weekend. One older gentleman in particular stood out to me, as we started and ended the hike together. At times he pushed ahead of us or fell behind, but we found him in the parking lot both at the start and again at the finish. I felt as if we shared a common bond with him after our intense journey.
We finally found ourselves back at the car, exhausted yet content. Roundtrip, the hike took just over 5 hours. My first fourteener was a challenging experience, but I am already excited to take on the next... 1 down, 52 to go!
On our way back to Denver, Anna and I stopped in Idaho Springs at Beau Jo's. This Colorado pizza joint is famous for their mountain pies with honey drizzled over the crust.
