Stats
- Route: West Slopes (standard)
- Distance: ~7.0 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~2,850
- Start time: 8:00 AM
- Time: 5.5 hours
- Climbers: Amy, April and Sandy
Often maligned as an easy climb, Bierstadt offers expansive views across Jefferson, Clear Creak and Park counties, an ample reward for those who climb the 3.5 miles of the standard route. While short, the first mile is spent crossing a willow filled valley, often on boardwalks, so the west slopes rise steeply above you.
Amy and April drove down from Fort Collins, probably having left there at 4:30, to join me. Neither had climbed a 14er in years and we had tried, unsuccessfully the last two summers, to meet for a hike. Both of them are training for upcoming races in September, so even without the benefit of acclimation, they cruised the climb.
As to be expected, there was a crowd on the mountain, which is the curse of Front Range 14ers. The crowd included a shih tzu/bijon frise that won the heart of everyone, as well as a leashless yellow lab that seemed more interested in descending than ascending, costing it owner additional effort chasing it downhill.
April, Amy and me headed up
Bistort with April in the background
Buttercup of some sort with Amy in the background
April and Amy with the Sawtooth ridge in the background
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