Mt. Bierstadt
Mt. Bierstadt is supposed to be one of the easiest 14ers in the state. As far as I have seen it, it isn't really tough, just steep towards the top. I started fairly late on the Guanella Pass trailhead and there were many cars parked at the top. The first mile is tough, as you wind through a sea of willows which remain damp throughout the year. The trail is always muddy and hard to negotiate. This part of the trail is actually downhill, which makes the return trip difficult. After this section, you are at the foot of the mountain and the view is astonishing. From here you begin the steep rise to the saddle connection of Bierstadt with a lower peak to the southwest. Once the saddle is attained, the summit is just a short scramble to the east. From the summit, Evans is directly southeast. You can see all the people driving to the top. The infamous sawtooth connects these two mountains, and makes for an interesting class 3 scramble.
Along with me on the climb: No one
Total Round Trip Time: 5 hours