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Mt. Bierstadt - Standard Route - Winter(ish) ascent
Trailhead 7:00 am
Summit 9:45 am
Return 12:15 pm
Brief report showing trail conditions
After getting thwarted by the weather this weekend (supposed to be a Long's attempt), I was really interested in getting something done, and Sunday morning looked good enough to attempt Bierstadt. I suspected that with a bit later start, somebody would have blazed a trail, and in fact, about 6 people were ahead of me.
Shot of Mt. B and Sawtooth from near the trailhead
There was about 4 - 6" of snow on the boardwalks through the willows.
On the way up, the trail was snow packed, on the way back down, the willows were slushy and muddy.
A little bit of sun peeking through
Shot looking back on the first climb section
Looking back on the plateau area above the first climb. The trail through the snow was a direct ascent, not traversing back to the west.
Summit and Sawtooth
The trail was fairly well packed by the time I got through, and definitely so on the way back. Post holed a few places. The final summit push was pretty firm snow, but a lot of handwork to keep from slipping back down a rock.
A rarity, I had the summit of Bierstadt to myself on a Sunday in August.
Coming back down, passing several people on the way up
Again, the willows were a mud / slushfest on the way down. I had more problems sliding around in that than on the upper slopes.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I wouldn‘t think so, unless you were going through the Sawtooth and then I wouldn‘t know. The trail was pretty packed down and a bit slick, but I think that crampons would be overkill. The route up through the snow wasn‘t that steep.
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