Easy from Guanella, although if hiking with Evans, watch out that you don't get off trail on the way back to Guanella...climb over Bierstadt again if possible.
Route Climbed: South Ridge via Scott Gomer Trail Date Climbed: 7/29/01
A great alternative to the usual route! Didn't see a soul, until I intersected the crowd just before the summit. Must have been 40 people on the top - and the weather was spectacular. About an 8 1/2 hour round trip hike from the Scott Gomer trailhead. A little bit of everything scenary wise - beaver dams a plenty, cool woods, and an easy 3.5 mile prologue to the main climb. Recommended.
Route Climbed: Guanella Pass Date Climbed: 08/24/1997
Personally found this to be a good first mountain to climb, not too far, not too hard, and I was 6 mos. pregnant to boot. Although a small step in mountain climbing, I felt on top of the world. Somewhat entertaining to watch the tourists scurry atop Mt. Evans (where there is a paved road to the top) after sweating my way up the easy slopes of Bierstadt.
Route Climbed: Combined with Evans via Sawtooth Ridge Date Climbed: 8/13/00
Fun, easy 14er with a classic high-alpine traverse followed by an extremely boring slog over to the most uninspiring summit of my life...the tourist trap of Mt. Evans...
Route Climbed: Guanella Pass Date Climbed: July 14, 2001 9:00 AM
First 14er. Climbed w/Mindy and Scott. 2.5 hours to summit, 4.5 hours round trip. Beautiful view of Grays and Torreys on the trail. Impressive panorama at summit.
Route Climbed: West Slopes and Evans - Bierstadt combination
I have climbed the West Slopes in winter and it is a good first time winter accent. I also climbed the Bierstadt - Evans combination via the Sawtooth Ridge. This route is rated 3rd class and is for advance climbers and should be climbed only when dry !
Route Climbed: Guanella Pass Date Climbed: 4/27/01
An easy summit, but the snow at the willows on descent would not support climbers and experienced constant postholing into waist deep snow. Gaining the summit by the trail and ridge was easy- I should have taken the same route down for descent. But I decided to make a beeline for the trailhead on descent only to realize that snow was covering the willows. I didnt have snow shoes, but even snow shoe tracks showed lots of postholing. A normal easy 4-6 hour RT in the summer, this day it took 11 hours and was not nearly as easy as advertised because of the constant postholing. Live and learn.
Route Climbed: Guanella Pass Date Climbed: 3/20/99
My first 14er, do not let the Mountain fool you, it is bigger than it looks. If you climb it with snow on the ground you get to walk over the infamous willows.
Peter Eliassen - Aug 16, 2001 11:40 am
Route Climbed: Guanella Pass Date Climbed: 9/1/96Easy from Guanella, although if hiking with Evans, watch out that you don't get off trail on the way back to Guanella...climb over Bierstadt again if possible.
mwalker2 - Jul 29, 2001 11:21 am
Route Climbed: South Ridge via Scott Gomer Trail Date Climbed: 7/29/01A great alternative to the usual route! Didn't see a soul, until I intersected the crowd just before the summit. Must have been 40 people on the top - and the weather was spectacular. About an 8 1/2 hour round trip hike from the Scott Gomer trailhead. A little bit of everything scenary wise - beaver dams a plenty, cool woods, and an easy 3.5 mile prologue to the main climb. Recommended.
maudie73 - Jul 23, 2001 9:29 pm
Route Climbed: Guanella Pass Date Climbed: 08/24/1997Personally found this to be a good first mountain to climb, not too far, not too hard, and I was 6 mos. pregnant to boot. Although a small step in mountain climbing, I felt on top of the world. Somewhat entertaining to watch the tourists scurry atop Mt. Evans (where there is a paved road to the top) after sweating my way up the easy slopes of Bierstadt.
Jim Clarke - Jul 23, 2001 6:14 pm
Route Climbed: Combined with Evans via Sawtooth Ridge Date Climbed: 8/13/00Fun, easy 14er with a classic high-alpine traverse followed by an extremely boring slog over to the most uninspiring summit of my life...the tourist trap of Mt. Evans...
chuck - Jul 23, 2001 9:45 am
Route Climbed: Guanella Pass Date Climbed: July 14, 2001 9:00 AMFirst 14er. Climbed w/Mindy and Scott. 2.5 hours to summit, 4.5 hours round trip. Beautiful view of Grays and Torreys on the trail. Impressive panorama at summit.
climbcolorado - Jul 17, 2001 9:44 am
Route Climbed: West Slopes and Evans - Bierstadt combinationI have climbed the West Slopes in winter and it is a good first time winter accent. I also climbed the Bierstadt - Evans combination via the Sawtooth Ridge. This route is rated 3rd class and is for advance climbers and should be climbed only when dry !
mpbro - Jul 3, 2001 2:22 pm
Route Climbed: Northwest (usual) slopes Date Climbed: September 24, 2000This should have been a summer climb, but it was the day after the year's first snowstorm. COOOOOLD and Windy! Ugly summit!
Trip report is here
jratk - May 15, 2001 11:01 pm
Route Climbed: form Guanella Pass Date Climbed: Jan. 2001Great first winter ascent. Fun little climb.
kilimanjaro1 - Apr 29, 2001 6:29 pm
Route Climbed: Guanella Pass Date Climbed: 4/27/01An easy summit, but the snow at the willows on descent would not support climbers and experienced constant postholing into waist deep snow. Gaining the summit by the trail and ridge was easy- I should have taken the same route down for descent. But I decided to make a beeline for the trailhead on descent only to realize that snow was covering the willows. I didnt have snow shoes, but even snow shoe tracks showed lots of postholing. A normal easy 4-6 hour RT in the summer, this day it took 11 hours and was not nearly as easy as advertised because of the constant postholing. Live and learn.
Jerry Thomas - Mar 30, 2001 8:56 am
Route Climbed: Guanella Pass Date Climbed: 3/20/99My first 14er, do not let the Mountain fool you, it is bigger than it looks. If you climb it with snow on the ground you get to walk over the infamous willows.