I’m convinced one of the most “Colorado” things to do is summit a 14-er, so I defer to the whole “when in Rome” sentiment as a new transplant to the state.
Now technically I’m not really a new transplant—more like a “new, old transplant” since I lived here once before (from 2008-2016). All to say, that while there have been multiple opportunities over the years to “bag” a 14-er, I didn’t. A 14-er was a dreadful thought—until recently! Perhaps my impending 40th birthday became a motivating force… consumed with ego and proving to myself I’m not quite “old” yet.
But but perhaps its more than that…
Much of my motivation is rooted in the desire to model for our daughter, Gwen, that if we can’t move mountains, we can sure climb them! Kinda a metaphor for life. My hope is that as she enters pre-teen-hood, she comes to believe her body is meant to move (versus be simply gazed upon/look pretty) and that she’s capable of extraordinary things. Hiking is just one of them, and can serve as a mini-rebellion against our culture’s fixation on unattainable beauty standards and objectification/commodification of girls and women. So as we raise our young daughter, we’ll continue instilling her worthiness and give her opportunities to use that body to mobilize her beautiful soul.
But given this was my first 14-er, I wasn’t above looking for the “easiest” one to tackle. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I actually Googled “friendliest 14er” in Colorado. While there’s no such thing as an easy/friendly one, some are undoubtably less challenging than others (with 58 total to choose from). So after lots of research and suggestions from hiking friends, we declared Mt. Bierstadt the perfect “starter” 14-er, and here’s why:
–Close proximity to Denver
-No required fees or permits
–Parking and trail head are already at or above tree line; bathrooms available
-Class 1, not too technical
-Elevation Gain: 2,765 ft.
-Miles: 8 total
We arrived at the trail head at 6:30 AM out of practicality (had to pick up the kids from school later) and for safety, as thunderstorms often roll in each afternoon over the Rockies. Note: an early start is always advised on a 14-er, and always be prepared for unexpected weather conditions. Equally as importantly: THE FOOD!!! (at least in my opinion). I get as excited about the picnic lunch and snacks as I do the actual hike! Trader Joe’s and Costco are my saving grace on a hike…even if it means carting an extra 10 pounds!
It was just after sunrise when we started, and my friend and I were welcomed with a beautiful rainbow—a good omen! Lucky for us we had our pick of parking in the lot and the temperature was mild. This may be more indicative of early September and it being a weekday though. And although I would have appreciated a bluebird kind of day, the dispersed cloud coverage gave a reprieve from the intense, high-elevation sun, typical of Colorado. In other words, my pale skin didn’t get burned and sunglasses weren’t necessary—yay!
So one of the nice parts of this trail is it’s pretty straight forward—you can see the entirety of the trail. The “goal post” was always in view. (Once at the summit, the parking lot can also be spotted in the distance.)
The trail began with a minor decent from the parking lot, then we traversed raised, wooden platforms over willows and marsh for about a mile, until we reached Scott Gomer Creek. After hop-scotching over stones to cross the creek, the trail then steadily ascended broad switchbacks. Sweeping, unabridged views remained a constant since we were already above tree-line on the face of Bierstadt. For the first three-fourths of the accent, the trail was well-maintained, smooth, and wide enough for ample room to break without blocking the route. While we never did spy mountain goats (as I had hoped), there were plenty of pikas and marmots, and a couple dogs with with their peak-loving owners that we passed.
The last fourth of the trail becomes more vague as we crossed boulder fields. Luckily it was well-marked with cairns (human-made piles/stacks of stone) helping lead the way. Even if we had been led astray, the summit was close and in view…it seemed all we had to do was climb/scramble in its general direction and we’d make it. Although as the fog rolled in and the our height became more evident, I became a little anxious. I pushed though though and took those last few steps to the summit of 14,065 feet. It felt so good..I was elated!
Once at the top, we were greeted by a few other people celebrating their accomplishments too. Thankfully the weather was mild (not always the case), permitting us to really relish in the moment as we congratulated and chatted with each other, enjoyed a snack (see what I packed below), and took the obligatory pictures. This is always my favorite part—getting to meet people who have travelled near and far to hit the trail and bask in the glory of God’s beautiful creation.
There was a guy from Kansas who drove overnight, a man from Texas who was training for Mt. Kilimanjaro, and a couple from the Denver Metro area (like us) celebrating a birthday, among a couple others. And here we were, an impromptu meeting on top of a mountain, “breaking bread” together and sharing a slice of our lives. It gave me all the warm and fuzzies, and for a moment it tricked me into believing all is right with the world.
The way down was a breeze, but by the time we reached Scott Gomer Creek again, my legs felt like overcooked noodles. As I tried to hop across the rocks in the creek, my foot slipped and I fell face-first into the water. My friend and I were laughing hysterically as I tried to lift myself, yet the weight of my pack–filled mainly with cheese and such–led me deeper into the creek. Water cascaded down my face and pants, and my boots were waterlogged. You could ring me out like a used car wash shammy, but I wasn’t injured…just my pride. Not to worry, it was regained the instant I looked back at that mountain!
By Jennifer Mihlbauer-Schiel, @JJMihlSch
Trading for Trails 