The Sawtooth

From the first time I climbed Mount Bierstadt and looked down on the Sawtooth ridge leading over to Mount Evans, I knew I had to climb it.  Maybe it's because there's an inherent risk involved (a woman was killed earlier this summer climbing the same route), or it's the challenge to be overcome, or just so I can say that I did it.  My friend Brian had already done the double-peak Bierstadt to Evans route, so I convinced him to come with me.  It was only once we reached the top of Bierstadt that he casually informed me that it was 20 years ago, and that he wasn't quite sure of the route.  But for Brian that's all part of the adventure and the challenge.  If you know everything about where you're going, then what's left to figure out?  The whole route took us eight hours, and it was an absolute trip for me.  One quick story:  we were taking a break about halfway along the Sawtooth when a small fixed-wing plane flew up the valley in front of us about 2000 feet up, and disappeared over the ridge behind us.  I figured it was some tourists who wanted to see the mountains.  About five minutes later I nearly pooped my pants when the same plane came roaring back over the ridge above us - only this time it was only 50 feet above the rocks.  The pilot dove straight for the floor of the valley, and Brian and I watched in sheer horror thinking he was on a suicide mission and was going to plow straight into the lake at the bottom.  At the very last second - and I mean LAST second - he pulled up and dropped something into the lake, then regained altitude and flew back down the valley.  Only then did we realize what he was doing; he was stocking the high altitude lake with fish!  Wow!  What a trip!  I would have given anything to have been in the passenger seat for that thrill ride!  I probably WOULD have pooped my pants, but it would have been totally worth it.  Hmmm - I think I'll give the Colorado division of wildlife and fisheries a call...

Anyway, here is the photographic and video tour of our (at times) hair-raising climb.

Our goal at sunrise - the Sawtooth ridge between Mt Bierstadt & Mt Evans

Sunrise behind us as we climbed up Bierstadt

Me, at the summit of Bierstadt - complete with sunscreen smeared on my face

Brian at the summit, enjoying his frozen burrito (??)

A Ptarmigan - nearly perfect camouflage

This is the route we followed, more or less.  This was taken from the summit of Bierstadt

A Window to the world halfway across the Sawtooth

I was freaking out at this point, and Brian kept saying - "focus on the right side!"

The route we climbed, starting at the summit of Mt Bierstadt

The last, scary section of the climb to reach the plateau on top.

Mountain goats on the way down from Mt Evans