Sometimes last-minute decisions lead to the best outcomes. And so it was, I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to hike my second fourteener: Mt. Evans. I knew that it was a bold move to do relatively late in the season, but I wanted to get at least one more fourteener under my belt. Because it was not a pre-planned trip, it was also my first solo fourteener.
My alarm sounded shortly after 4 am on the last day of August. I sleepily got ready, biked to Anna's apartment, and gratefully took the keys to her car--the perks of being able to walk to work!
Without a hint of the approaching dawn, I drove 1.5 hours West on I-70 until I reached the Idaho Springs exit. I am gradually becoming more familiar with the routes to the mountains. 13 miles later, I arrived at Echo Lake, and the start of the Scenic Byway. Similar to Pikes Peak, driving to the summit of Mt. Evans is an option. In fact, it is claimed to be the highest paved road in North America.
As with other fourteeners, there are several routes to reach the summit. It is accessible from the start of the Byway near Echo Lake, and even from the summit of Mt. Bierstadt. I chose the 5-mile trail (roundtrip) over the West Ridge via Mt. Spalding, the trailhead of which begins at Summit Lake.
I reached the trailhead (about 9 miles into the Byway) around 6:30 am, just in time to catch a phenomenal sunrise. The parking lot was near empty--one of the advantages of an early start on a weekday.
Summit Lake glowed with the morning light from the waking sun. The summit of Mt. Evans seemed far, yet within reach. The anticipation and jitters quickly set in.
I officially set off at 6:45 am, equipped with my trusty hiking boots and several layers of clothing. I hoped that I was well prepared for the journey ahead. The first trek was climbing up and over Mt. Spalding--a task that required a fair amount of scrambling.
I had briefly read through the recent trip and weather reports the night before, but it seemed that the mountains had received a decent dumping of snow over night. It turned out that 90% of my trek was to be through snow. Still, it wasn't as miserable as it sounds; quite the opposite actually. The snow formed a thin coating over the ground, which was warmed by the glowing sun. It made for the most spectacular photos.
I was one of few hikers en route that morning, which made the experience that much more enjoyable. The peaceful morning was unspoiled by noisy crowds.
From the top of Mt. Spalding, I had clear views of Mt. Evans stretching out before me, and of Summit Lake below.
I descended the opposite side of Mt. Spalding in order to reach the saddle that lay between it and Mt. Evans. I stopped several times to remove or add a layer of clothing, in sync with the fluctuating temperatures. Overall, it was much warmer than I had anticipated. In retrospect, I probably could have used an extra pair of socks, but my boots successfully kept my feet dry.
The second half of the trek was traversing the West Ridge of Mt. Evans. It truly was a ridge, and I proceeded cautiously, following the cairns and footprints to stay on track.
The mountain views gradually became familiar as I realized that I was staring plainly at Mt. Bierdstadt and the Sawtooth ridge. I found it amusing to be on the opposing mountains just weeks apart. A full-circle perspective!
Just when I was starting to have doubts about the remaining distance, I caught a glimpse of the summit, making out tiny triumphant figures in the distance.
A short while later, I rounded the crest of the ridge and spotted the observatory and parking lot at the end of the Byway.
From there, I followed a short set of switchbacks to the summit: 14,264 ft! Priorities = rest and refuel. The summit hosted a continuous ebb and flow of people. Although the drive along the Byway is an adventure in itself, I felt rewarded in my efforts to reach the summit (at least partially) on foot.
Back in the summit parking lot, I briefly explored the surrounding area before beginning my descent.
The journey to the summit took close to 3 hours, so I contemplated taking a quicker and more direct route back to the trailhead. The Northeast Face Route is technically an unmarked trail, which was difficult to locate in the snow. However, I befriended an affable young couple who had the same plan in mind, so we decided to give it a shot. After dropping over the ledge, we slowly winded our way down the face of the mountain. Hiking poles served them well as they blazed the trail ahead of me.
Conversations about hiking, traveling, and life made the time pass quickly, and my we reached the road below in no time at all. A half a mile later, we said our farewells at the trailhead parking lot. It was not a particularly scenic route, but returning the way that we had come would have been infinitely longer and more difficult. All in all, the trip took just over 5 hours from start to finish.
Back at Summit Lake, the view of Mt. Evans carried a new perspective--physically at midday, but also emotionally after completing the summit hike.
Back at the car, I followed the Byway to the base of the mountain, noting the afternoon clouds swiftly rolling in.
The end of the Byway led me once again past Echo Lake, where I said goodbye to faraway Mt. Evans--my favorite hike to date.
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