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Any more info on this as I will be attempting this route solo and I want to learn as much as i can about this specific area and how to avoid another accident.

God Bless his soul and his family, peace be with you.

RIP Clint....my prayer to his family and friends...it's awful news. very sad....

R.I.P.

Ugh...two years in a row up there. Sad stuff...RIP. I will be sending some good thoughts the way of his family and friends.

This tragedy demonstrates to me that you cannot take ANY peak or traverse for granted! In the end Mother Nature will prevail every time!

My deepest condolences to Clint and his family!

RIP brother!

There is nothing anyone can do to reverse the tragedy (memorial service and/or prayer vigil for Clint for those so inclined will bring a measure of comfort). A subtle reminder maybe, that when you start up a long incline to some high point (class does not matter), begin with the objective that you will return safely to climb another day.

Ugh, this is awful. This one gets me too because according to all accounts and the rescue team he was coming back over the Sawtooth from Mt. Evans after noon which is never a good idea. However, he apparently wasn't aware or just perhaps decided NOT to descend into Scott Gomer Creek to Guanella Pass from Mt. Evans. Yeah, the willows suck A LOT once you get down in there and when I did it I had to do some major mud trekking and bushwhacking but I'd MUCH rather be there than coming across Sawtooth in a thunderstorm. That and after summitting both mtns, you are pretty beat and Sawtooth back up to Bierstadt would not be pleasant. From what I remember, the steep part coming from the traverse on Sawtooth up onto the slope to Mt. Evans was pretty damn loose and scary. Throw in some water and then it's deadly. I hate to conjecture but perhaps he didn't research the route enough? However, I can't believe that he didn't know this because I'm assuming he studied the route unless he just went along with a group from Bierstadt to Evans. Maybe the group was "hey, come along with us to Evans over this cool traverse here." But then where was the group when he decided to come down. Just odd in a bunch of ways for me.

NickJ wrote:Carl: Quick to blame the "weather related decision making"? I don't follow. I don't believe anyone thinks his decision to "descend" over the sawtooth was a weather related decision. A weather-related decision would have been to descend the Scott Gomer Creek drainage. What saddens me is if he wasn't aware of that option and felt the only way to return was over the sawtooth - in spite of the weather.

You are obviously correct about speculation. That's exactly what I'm doing and you are welcome to take issue with it. But he was on Evans at 12:30 and there was a severe storm in the area at 2:30. Seems a climbing forum should analyze these sorts of terrible accidents and try to learn something from them. Like many others, Bierstadt was also my 2nd 14er and Evans was my 3rd. Evidently, this is not all that uncommon. This one hits home for me because like this guy, I was 31 at the time. But I just feel compelled to write that for those of you considering this traverse and who are new to doing this sort of thing, please understand that it is not necessary to go back over the sawtooth on your return from Evans. In fact, given how tired you're likely to be at that point, I would recommend against it.

This is neither the time nor place to be picking apart the accident, and the same goes for all such threads. Not only are friends and family likely to be reading this discussion, but the only information that exists are a few small snippets from second or third hand sources. We do not, and may never have, the full details of the story. Rampant speculation has no basis in reality and serves no productive purpose. The vast majority of accidents are from the same handful of well-documented causes, of which you can read about in detail in Accidents in North American Mountaineering. Please put respect for friends and family of the victim first and foremost. If you must discuss this accident in further detail, a separate thread would be a far more appropriate venue.

My sincerest condolences to the family.

RIP Clint.

Bierstadt was my first 14er a couple years back, and later that day Evans was my 1st denied summit as Sawtooth took longer than expected and weather moved in fast. Frankly, we got off sawtooth JUST in time and learned more than a few lessons that day. It is easy to see how bad luck here or a minor mis guided decision there could have led to a less than desirable outcome. I know that solo climbing offers unique rewards and can be just as safe (nearly as safe) as hiking with partners... While i dont mean to infer that this situation would have had any alternative outcome if he had been with a partner, I am starting to place much more value on having other educated minds to help assess weather conditions and routes on the mountain.

Thoughts go out to Clints family.

crossfitter wrote: This is neither the time nor place to be picking apart the accident, and the same goes for all such threads. Not only are friends and family likely to be reading this discussion, but the only information that exists are a few small snippets from second or third hand sources. We do not, and may never have, the full details of the story. Rampant speculation has no basis in reality and serves no productive purpose. The vast majority of accidents are from the same handful of well-documented causes, of which you can read about in detail in Accidents in North American Mountaineering. Please put respect for friends and family of the victim first and foremost. If you must discuss this accident in further detail, a separate thread would be a far more appropriate venue.
My sincerest condolences to the family.

Exactly.

R.I.P.

Shocker that this thread would turn into a pissing match. If Clint's family is seeing this thread, I'm sorry if it comes across as insensitive.