Mount Bierstadt

I met my friend Steve at his house last night and early this morning, we made the drive west, up into the mountains for our climb of Mount Bierstadt. We arrived at the trailhead shortly after 6 am and set out on the well-trodden trail. The hike began with a descent down to Scott Gomer Creek.

We caught a glimpse of a bull moose in a small pond near the start of the trail. However, in the early morning light it was too dark to photograph. After crossing the creek we started our ascent in earnest. 

As the sun rose in the sky, the nearby mountains were bathed in a soft orange glow. 

We slowly made our way up the trail, stopping frequently to take breaks. 

As we ascended, the scenery just got better and better. 

Eventually the trail reached a flat section and just ahead the last section of the climb featured a scramble up a jumble of rocks.

We made pretty quick time of this last section,

and soon enough we were standing on the summit of Mount Bierstadt!

After a short break on the summit, we started to make our way down, back towards the trailhead at Guanella Pass. 

On the descent, we caught a glimpse of a family of ptarmigan. 

After the ptarmigan sighting, it was a fairly quick descent back to the car. The scenery on the way was spectacular.

We also observed what are likely the last wildflowers in bloom at these altitudes: a type of gentian. 

Soon enough we were back at the trailhead,

and ready to get some lunch in Idaho Springs on the way back to Arvada. It was a great day for exploring the high mountains of Colorado with great company!