Scramble – Summit Lake to Mt. Bierstadt via Sawtooth

NOTE: the trip summary image shows the snow coverage of the route as of 7-11. There is some snow near the top of Mt. Spalding and at the entry cairn to the Sawtooth traverse. The snow at the cairn may increase the difficulty and risk associated with the traverse. If required please email me for better quality images and addition discussion.

Starting at Summit Lake hike up the Spalding Trail to the saddle between Spalding and Mt. Evans. Leave the trail and hike west on the 13,600 ft. contour to a modest cairn at 39.5916, -105.6655. Heading south, drop approx. 200 feet on the loose scree goat-path that joins the ridge between Sawtooth and Bierstadt. From the low point on the ridge follow the exposed rock ridge to the peak of Bierstadt. Return to your car by reversing the route. 

A Caltopo map is available at 

https://caltopo.com/m/KN115

More details about the Sawtooth traverse provided online by Bill Middlebrook at https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=bier4

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING THOROUGHLY

Meet at the Mammuthus primigenius (Woolly mammoth) parking lot section BB for a 6:00 departure.

Since Parking REQUIRES ADVANCED BOOKING at recreation.gov we need to coordinate parking the day before the trip. I will have one parking permit; we will need another permit holder (not necessarily the driver). The trip size is currently 8 so we will have 4 to a car.

We will be entering on an 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Summit Lake Park Only Vehicle Ticket which cost either $2 for people with an Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass or $7 for everyone else and is available at recreation.gov.

From Woolly Mammoth P&R we will drive West on I-70 to exit 240 and take CO 103 to CO 5 and park at Summit Lake.