My first winter 14er ascent. I've been meaning to climb Bierstadt for a few weeks now but something always came up: high wind alerts, job possibilities, snow, etc. I was thinking of climbing a 14er every month of 2002, but I don't know... so far I don't think winter climbing is all that fun.

I left home at 06:20 and headed for Guanella Pass. I went through Evergreen so I could stop in Idaho Springs for gas and food. I arrived on Guanella Pass and started hiking at 08:20. The snow didn't look bad at all so I left the snowshoes behind and just brought my trekking poles and an ice axe. I had a new backpack I got for Christmas - it's bigger than my usual daypack but smaller than my big backpack. I thought it would be good for overnights with peak-bagging, or just a day trip with extra gear.

The first part of the hike across the willow flats was a piece of cake. The snow was only a couple inches deep and well packed down on the trail, and I made good time. Once I started climbing upward I slowed down, since I haven't been all that active this winter. Around 12,300' the wind really picked up, steady at 30 kts and gusting to 40 kts by my estimation. I was still warm enough but hiking in a strong wind isn't all that much fun. I have to remember to tie my pack straps down so they don't whip me in the face next time.

The higher I got, the more my lungs protested and my legs weakened. A few months off from climbing 14ers really seems to make a difference for me! I kept plodding up, trying not to focus on how far I had to go or what altitude I was at. Finally at 11:20 I reached the summit and signed in on the register. A couple from the Czech Republic had climbed just the day before, but for the most part the entries were few in the winter months. I got out of my warm goretex mitts, leaving them entangled in the trekking pole straps to make it easier to get back in when it was time to leave. I laid down the trekking poles and mitts, put on light fleece gloves, and poured myself a cup of coffee. This is the first hike I've brought a thermos on, and it was a nice treat in that cold and windy weather.

I also brought my scanner since I have been getting interested in radio and wondered what I could pick up at that altitude. Not much more than usual, it turns out - but I only scanned for a few minutes. I just took the test for my amateur radio license, so by August I'm hoping to get involved with the Colorado 14 Event for ham radio. This is where a bunch of hams climb 14ers and talk to each other from the summits. Sounds like good geeky fun to me...

While I was playing with the scanner, a very strong gust of wind (maybe 50 kts) came up and I felt something hit me in the back. I turned around and noticed one of my mitts was gone. I quickly jumped up, grabbed the remaining mitt, and took off downwind to look for it. No sign of the mitt anywhere - with that wind it was probably halfway to Wyoming by then. Or it was down somewhere below the Sawtooth on either side - NOT a good place to be. I was a little concerned since my fleece gloves didn't offer much protection against the wind, but I removed the liner from my remaining mitt and put that over the fleece glove on my right hand, and put the shell over my gloved left hand. That kept my hands nice and warm on the descent.

I figured I had been on the summit long enough and the wind seemed to be picking up even more, so it was time to descend at 11:45. The descent was windy but uneventful, and I actually passed another climber who was on his way up. Not bad for a Monday in January... I made it down at 13:30, sat in the Jeep warming up and eating beef jerky, and drove down the south side of Guanella Pass. The road was in good shape except for one spot where a large quantity of water had crossed the road and froze, leaving a river of 4" ice flowing down the road for 100 yards or so. I gingerly crossed the ice river with no problem and went home.

Next climb? Not sure... I'm still toying with the idea of climbing a 14er every month during 2002. I was thinking a winter backpack/climb of San Luis might be good in February or March, but I'd like to do a shorter backpack/climb as a practice run - maybe Grays Peak.