Trip Report
Ascending Hikes - Endurance – Mt Bierstadt
I was joined by Sal and Courtney on this difficult hike. We were greeted with fog, low clouds, windy weather conditions. The lower trail was muddy and also had large puddle formation. The upper trail was snow packed and icy.
Terry Ploski
- Sat, Oct 11, 2025
- Ascending Hikes - Endurance – Mt Bierstadt
- Mt Bierstadt
- Hiking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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The Mount Bierstadt trail was muddy and also had large puddles due to yesterday's rainfall. The upper trail was snow packed and icy. Trekking poles and traction control devices - YakTrax, microspikes - proved essential to safely trek the upper trail segment.
I was joined by Courtney and Sal at the Wooly Mammoth CDOT Park-N-Ride lot at 6:00am. We carpooled through Georgetown, CO to the Mount Bierstadt trailhead parking lot. [The Georgetown Visitor Center was closed when we arrived ~7:00am.]
We were trained and prepared to ascend the Mount Bierstadt trail from the lower Guanella Pass parking lot. We began our hike with an expedient crossing of Scott Gomer Creek. We continued to ascend in windy, chilly conditions. The sky was 100% overcast with limited ground visibility.
We achieved the Mount Bierstadt summit at 11:10am. The weather was extremely unfavorable for a snack, lunchbreak, or any extended activity. The wind was steady at 20mph with occasional gusts of 30mph. The summit was enclosed by clouds and ground fog. The ambient temperature was below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
We began our descent at 11:17am. The weather became more extreme. We encountered graupel between the summit and 13,000'. As we descended the graupel turned to penetrating rain. Courtney and Sal had adequate clothing, equipment, and training to remain warm in these adverse weather and trail conditions.
We achieved the Guanella Pass trailhead at 1:17pm. We quickly stowed our gear and hastened our return to Golden, CO.