Tour de Abyss

We did the Tour de Abyss with our Boulder Trail Runner Friends. It is about a 15 mile loop that starts at Guanella Pass and takes the standard route up Mount Bierstadt (14,060’), then follows the Sawtooth Ridge to Mount Evans (14,264’), then down 1600 feet in a steep rock gully to Abyss Lake followed by a scramble back up Mount Bierstadt a second time and then back to Guanella Pass. It was a long day and we got back to the car at dark.

Our group at the start of the hike up Mount Bierstadt. Lots of willows !

Staci and Rich on top of Mount Bierstadt.

A picture of the Sawtooth Ridge on the left as it curves toward Mount Evans in the distance. Abyss lake is at the bottom of Mount Evans.

After MostBierstadt, the Sawtooth Ridge heads down for a bit.

The crux of the ridge, heading back up to the Mount Evans Plateau.

Heading up to the summit of Mount Evans.

There are many gullies leading from Mount Evans to the Abyss Lake basin. We tried to find the easiest but it was still full of loose dirt and rocks.

The Abyss basin looking toward Abyss Lake and the Sawtooth Ridge in the distance.

Abyss Lake below the ridge.

Rich on top of Mount Bierstadt the second time.

The sun setting behind Guanella Pass.