Mt Bierstadt (14,060) by Brian Schultz Sunday July 20, 2003
I met friends John and Vicki at our motel in Georgetown last night. Fellow flatlanders from neighboring Wisconsin, their interest in Bierstadt came at my prodding- they plan to climb Mt Kilimanjaro in two years and I suggested they try a fourteener first before tackling 19,000 ft. They were very excited as we discussed last minute preparations for the hike. Also staying at the same motel were my friends Art and Mark, who'd driven straight in from Minnesota but wouldn't be climbing with us. Grays and Torreys were on their agenda.
We had one more addition to the Bierstadt group and that was my friend Dave, who'd driven in from Denver and was patiently waiting at Guanella Pass for us. He's hiked up four fourteeners with me in the past and was eager to hit the trail again, especially after just returning from a twelve month stay in Japan.
We began at 7:35 under a sunny, partly cloudy sky but the lingering clouds had me concerned. Unlike the drought of last year, storms have been regular this summer in Colorado and these clouds had a troubling look to them. I had no interest in a repeat of yesterday's weather on Mt Meeker.
We descended to the boardwalks and enjoyed pleasant conversation while hiking through the willows and up the slope. The trail was a virtual highway of people from Guanella Pass all the way to the ridge, attesting to the popularity of Bierstadt on a weekend and especially on a Sunday. We stopped for several rest breaks, which were fine at first, but we weren't making much progress or gaining much elevation. I'd allowed extra time for John and Vicki's sake but the increasing frequent and lengthy stops Vicki needed were troublesome- she was stopping every five minutes. At 12,400 feet elevation and Vicki resting behind us, I had to make a decision. She wasn't going to make the summit at her pace, and with the clouds getting darker, we wouldn't either if we didn't get moving faster.
Knowing Dave could easily make the summit, I sent him ahead and asked John what he wanted to do. He wanted to press on. When I said I'd stay back with Vicki, he convinced me to continue with him because they'd already discussed this scenario and agreed whoever was able to go on should do so. I didn't want to leave Vicki behind but, with many people still on the trail behind her and others soon to descend from the summit, she wouldn't be alone in case something happened. We headed up to the ridge.
At 13,300 feet John started feeling the effects of altitude and we stopped briefly. We took a longer rest break at the ridge and then pushed on for the summit, which we made at 11:03. Dave had already been up there for 25 minutes and throngs of people were milling about, including several young children. I really enjoyed seeing John's reaction to his first fourteener summit.
We stayed on top for 35 minutes and before leaving I pointed out two other routes I'd climbed on Bierstadt- the Sawtooth Ridge and the East Ridge. At 11:38 we started down. Vicki had plodded on to nearly 13,500 feet but admitted to stopping every 5 yards for a three to five minute rest. She insisted on going to the summit but I had to tell her no. On a perfect day maybe, but the weather and the math said otherwise. Disappointed, she turned around, and acknowledged it was the right thing to do when it began raining shortly. Other hikers continued ascending, undeterred by the immensely dark clouds above us, but when lightning flashed south of Guanella Pass, at least the smart ones turned around. I was amazed, though, at how many continued on in the rain, some without rain jackets.
We made it back to Guanella Pass at 2:15. John and Vicki thanked me profusely for the wonderful hiking experience and said they'd be back to try Bierstadt again or maybe another fourteener. Dave had a great time also and intends to return with friends. After we parted ways I headed for Frisco.
Trailhead to summit- 3 hours 28 minutes
Summit to trailhead- 2 hours 37 minutes
Total day- 6 hours 40 minutes including all breaks