Ken has been talking about doing a 14er since we moved to Colorado, so when he found out we were doing one the weekend of the 13th, he found a plane ticket and flew up to join us on our Bierstadt hike!
We headed up to Guanella Pass after work on Friday to camp. We were hoping to get into the campground so we could have a campfire (there was a fire ban on open fires, but you could have on if you were in the campground). Unfortunately, they were all taken, so we ended up at our favorite pull-over-to-the-side of the road spot instead. We had our grill so we were still able to grill dinner, but it was an early night since there wasn't a campfire to sit by.
We got up around 5:15am on Saturday and were up at the trailhead around 6am. Slow and steady was the name of the game. We got to the summit in just under 3 hours, with a few stops along the way to rest, get some water, and chat with other hikers. Unlike the first time we were at the summit of Bierstadt (in a cloud), the view from the top was amazing. we made sure to get a picture of Dad at the summit of his first 14er. On our trip down, the fields of wildflowers were blooming and we got some great pics of the flowers and the trailhead.
After breaking camp, we had lunch at Idaho Springs and decided to to some tasting on the way home with stops at Colorado Cider Company, Wits End brewery, and Great Divide brewery. Saturday night was dinner at Jonesy's and an early bedtime since we were up so early.
Karla had to work on Sunday, so Dad and Matt went to Golden to do some hiking, checked out Wild Bill's grave at Lookout Mountain, and then did some drinking at the Coors Brewery. We took advantage of the express pass to the tasting room Karla and I discovered the previous weekend! Dad flew out last Sunday night so the rest of the day was just hanging out and a quick dinner over and Naomi and Ryan's.
Karla and I were happy to hear that Dad enjoyed the 14er and his first one won't be he last one!
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