I'm looking to do Byers Peak soon, but want to do it from the end of CR 325 (see attached map), as I'm going to be starting in Fraser, and heading west afterwards over Ute Pass (riding a bicycle). Is this a doable place to start out? There seems to be many routes up Byers, but I don't know which one this is associated with. I'm trying to keep the backtracking to a minimum. Enchaining some of the neighboring peaks could make a good day, so I'm all ears on ideas for that as well.
Byers Peak from CR 32/325
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- justiner
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Re: Byers Peak from CR 32/325
I've hiked Byers many times, but only from the east / CR 73 side, which is standard. A few years ago, the trailhead on that side was pushed down two miles for cars, but bikes are allowed to go beyond the car blockade on an easy road for mountain bikes and a doable road for cross bikes.
Riding a bike on the dirt road to the edge of the wilderness boundary at 10,500 feet leaves you with about a 2-mile hike to the summit.
From the summit of Byers you can do a barely scrambling ridge run to Bills Peak along the edge of the Byers Wilderness. Looks like you want to come up the west side of Byers, where I've never been, but the saddle between Byers and Morse Mountain is easy.
The Fraser area received about two inches of snow this week down in the valley and maybe 8 inches up high. The low stuff has melted, but the approach to Byers will be muddy and possibly snowy and icy on a bike. The backside of Byers (direction you are talking about) would receive less frequent county maintenance, but it is elk rifle season and they may be plowing to keep it open for hunters.
Riding a bike on the dirt road to the edge of the wilderness boundary at 10,500 feet leaves you with about a 2-mile hike to the summit.
From the summit of Byers you can do a barely scrambling ridge run to Bills Peak along the edge of the Byers Wilderness. Looks like you want to come up the west side of Byers, where I've never been, but the saddle between Byers and Morse Mountain is easy.
The Fraser area received about two inches of snow this week down in the valley and maybe 8 inches up high. The low stuff has melted, but the approach to Byers will be muddy and possibly snowy and icy on a bike. The backside of Byers (direction you are talking about) would receive less frequent county maintenance, but it is elk rifle season and they may be plowing to keep it open for hunters.
- CreekRunner
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Re: Byers Peak from CR 32/325
From looking at old pictures, this road isn't associated with Byers Peak, but Bottle Peak. Looking at maps though, it looks like you can ascend the ridge between Bottle and Byers and hook up with Byers Peak trail. I'm not sure how the bushwacking would be.
- justiner
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Re: Byers Peak from CR 32/325
Thanks for the comments Oman, and CreekRunner. I may just look and see. I think a traverse from Bills to Byers could go well, then a screw ski somewhere Northwest of Byers North ridge
- justiner
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Re: Byers Peak from CR 32/325
Ah. That road ends at the Lake Evelyn Trailhead, which is also where the Keyser Creek Trail is. I believe it's this route,
http://www.summitpost.org/keyser-creek-route/162714" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Also Google Earth for Android is absolutely awesome.
http://www.summitpost.org/keyser-creek-route/162714" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Also Google Earth for Android is absolutely awesome.
- CreekRunner
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Re: Byers Peak from CR 32/325
How was the initial section to the ridge of Byers and Bottle? I strava stalked you and on the overlay in the mobile version, it shows that there is the Byers Peak Trail (I'm guessing an error) on the Keyser Creek side. Very odd...
- justiner
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Re: Byers Peak from CR 32/325
Altogether, it was a great day out, good views. There was an info kiosk at the Evelyn trailhead, which I was glad for, or I'd never figure anything out. From the Evelyn side, you basically patch together some old roads and trails that get you up and over a small ridge to another road, which I believe is the usual TH for Byers. Kind of a lot of up and down. Got to the area at dark so I didn't have great bearings.
Not wanting to out and back (over that ridge!), I went to Bills, then down to Lake Evelyn. That is certainly suggested, as you then get great views of Byers, and the connecting catwalk between the two is fun.
But yeah, the trail names are pretty confusing. Lots of hunters in the area, I was a little nervous as I forgot my blaze orange at home! No elk sightings, myself.
Not wanting to out and back (over that ridge!), I went to Bills, then down to Lake Evelyn. That is certainly suggested, as you then get great views of Byers, and the connecting catwalk between the two is fun.
But yeah, the trail names are pretty confusing. Lots of hunters in the area, I was a little nervous as I forgot my blaze orange at home! No elk sightings, myself.