Mt. Bierstadt was my first 14er summit 2 years ago, seemed fitting Ash & Tom would summit the same mountain as their first 14er. Shouldn’t be too challenging.  Ash reminded me they had already conquered New Jersey’s highest – High Point, 1,803ft 🙂

Early on the road, quick stop for gas station food in Georgetown (guilty pleasure), then up Guanella Pass.

Warm weather & Bierstadt’s close proximity to Denver = lotta trail traffic.  Battled mosquitoes thru the mile-plus willow thicket, but luckily they dissipated as we reached our first glacier.

(Colorado’s dry, high altitude environment make mosquitoes rare but this year the mountains were socked with snow, followed by a wet summer.  Generally Colorado summers are plagued by forest fire.)

Lotta afternoon lightning strikes (summer norm) so hiked at a fast clip.  Couldn’t have been more impressed with my Jersey transplants – kept good attitudes & stayed well hydrated.

Switchback after switchback – targeted a spot (generally a large rock), hike sprint, quick break – rock, hike, break, rock, hike, break.  Little by little we worked our way to the false summit (actually tougher than the last half-mile rock scramble UP).  Ash & Tom stopped midway for lunch; I opted to hike on & eat at the false summit.  Finished lunch, took in some thin air, waited 20 minutes.  Up popped Ash & Tom over the lip of the false summit.  Super proud!

More fun than summiting?  Sharing others’ experience of reaching their first summit.  FAAANNTASTIC!

Rock scramble to the Summit.  Straight UP 1,000ft — large boulder climb, looking for hand holds, scoping out footing.  Much more interesting than the past 2 miles of scree hill incline.  SUMMIT SUCCESS!

Pics, conversation…then a quick descent to beat storms blowing in from the North.  Caught a few sprinkles, but didn’t need jackets ‘til the willow thicket on our hike return.

Congrats Ash & Tom!  (who think maybe one 14er a year – what, only one?  I’ve gotta work on that 🙂 )