The problem with Bierstadt is that Clear County stopped plowing the Guanella Pass road in 2006. If I'm not mistaken, that hasn't changed. Access to Quandary and Torreys (from Loveland Pass) remains reasonably easy through the winter.

they plow the guanella pass road to somewhere between 10,700-10,800'. following the road, with all the switchbacks, it's roughly 1.5 miles to the pass. with that said, there is a cutoff about a half-mile past the closure which leads you to the middle of the willows.

it's normally remarkably well-packed once enough snow is up there. during "decent" winter conditions, i'm assume it adds about 1.5 hours uphill for a winter/winter conditions climb of bierstadt. if the snow covering the willows isn't compacted, good luck....and sorry, it happens!

jamie