2023 Colorado Hiking

The highlight was a climb, with Katie Larson, of Grizzly E, the lowest of the five peaks in Colorado named Grizzly. This required a long approach in the Lake Creek valley behind Winfield. Matt Cary and I climbed the Buffalo Caldera; the deadfall in the first part of the climb was really awful. I had wanted to see the newish west trail on Mt. Massive, and David Blakeslee, Janet Jacks, and I climbed North Mt. Massive via the North Halfmoon Lakes and then went to Massive along the beautiful ridge. And then we descended that west side trail; no problem but it was a tedious descent of 4000 feet. And Katie and I did a massive loop from Guanella Pass, climbing a beautiful long ridge to gain the high ground north of Mt. Rosalie (Note: Rosalie was the initial name of Mt. Evans, now Mt. Blue Sky.) Then we hitchhiked to the top of Mt. Blue Sky and took the trail to the usual descent route of the Sawtooth to reach Guanella Pass. 14.7 miles on foot.

The upper part of the Buffalo Caldera (with Matt Cary).
Approaching North Mt. Massive (with Dave Blakeslee and Janet Jacks).
North Mt. Massive viewed from Mt. Massive. Luna Couloir, which I skied with Katie Larson and Starr Jamison drops from the left shoulder, left of center.
Clear Creek Valley on the way to Grizzly E, the least of Colorado’s five Grizzlies (with Katie Larson).
The Sawtooth Ridge from Mt. Bierstadt (right) to Mt. Blue Sky (hidden) from the north (with Katie Larson).
Mt. Bierstadt’s southeast face (with Katie Larson). In 2024 Elke Dratch, Bill Briggs, and I climbed the southeast ridge of Bierstadt in tricky conditions (ice and snow) and then descended the face.