We Did a Fourteener! - Mt Bierstadt

We climbed our first fourteener - Mt Bierstadt!

We decided since we did so well on Mt Chief that we would go forth and also try a 14teener this summer! Why not, were tough!

While chatting with our friend Eric he mentioned that he would join us since his wife was busy that day!  (He did get in trouble for climbing a 14teener with her!) Good thing  we had him going since he informed us of the noon thunder storm threat as well as the 40-50 degree temps at the top! Thanks Eric!  He also made sure we were eating on the way up since we were expending energy we didn’t know!

The drive up was a little bizarre. The 12 mile route on the part paved, part giant hole road required quite a bit of hand eye coordination from the hubby!

We made it up and found about a million other people had decided to do the hike that day too! Ooofa!  We found some parking on a curb in the lot. Off to conquer the mountain we went! We were amazed at some of the cars that had made it up the road!

We started in a swampy meadow that has recently had woodenbridge built over it – thank goodness.

Then it was UP!  All up. Up up and more up.  My brisk gait turned into the song from SantaClaus Is Coming To Town – put one foot in front of the other!  I thought we might never make the top!  As we slowly made our way – I called it slow and steady – the clouds started rolling up the back of the mountain!  I didn’t find the altitude to be too much of a factor. I could still hear people talk over my hearbeating!  We made pretty good time to the top. Under 2 hours!

Once we hit the ridge line it was basically a rock scramble.  We made the top – finally –just as the darkest clouds appeared. We took a quick peak and then skedaddled off the top. That was a bummer- not getting to spend much time taking in the view. As we descended it started. Hail! Sharp stingy little buggers!  We were soaked in a matter of minutes and Eric was racing down ahead of us. He had no hood.

I started feeling some of the effects of the altitude at that point – loss of balance, and not the clearest of brains. But that could have been sheer exhaustion as well! It was a 3.7 mile hike with a 2200 foot elevation gain!  We started around 11700 and ended at 14600.

Hubby added a point of information for me that I found wonderful – if you feel any bit of static, drop your pole (it was metal with a wooden knob on top) and in fact you should hit the ground as well. Ah man! Thanks honey!

We trucked along step after step, legs not wanting to work. And both found the urge to pee unbearable. There was no tree line, the large rocks were long behind us. Eventually I just went behind a medium sized rock and hoped not too much of my sunny white patutie was hanging out for everyone to see. But at that point, it was showing my butt or christen my pants with something I would have to ride home in. Ewwww….

Hubby was able to wait a bit longer than I, but spent the entire time worrying he would fall down and lose the slight control he had over that situation! He was able to find a big rock a mile or so later to hide behind!

By the time we got back down to the meadow it was sunny and hot!  At that point the poor hubby started feeling the effects of that altitude. He was nauseous and was not moving too fast. We got to the car and got him into a seat. Eric and I had lunch – since it was too icky on the mountain to enjoy our picnic! I had some more water since I had emptied my camel back by ¾ of the way down! Then I got to drive the Audi down the dirt road!  We made it! No damage! Hubby got in a quick cat nap, woke up at  about 10 thousand feet (10 minutes later) and descending and felt a ton better! My headache was raging at the point!  It finally subsided around 6pm!

It was a great hike! Glad that we were able to do it! Definitely bring the hat and gloves, multiple layers, and rain gear! And small snacks – eat lunch after!