Mt. Evans - Idaho Springs, Colorado

The Mount Evans climb from Idaho Springs is a long grind that starts out with a low gradient, then picks up a bit after the first switchback at something around 8 km. The road gets a moderate amount of recreational car traffic, in part because the Mount Evans Road becomes the highest paved road in the United States. The first 70% of the road has a nice shoulder, however, so cars are not a problem. After Echo Lake, where many cars spend the day, the road continues into a fee area--cyclists also pay--and quickly climbs above timberline. The last 15 km or so can be very cold and windy, even when it is warm and sunny below. The road deteriorates somewhat as you approach Summit Lake. I got a few switchbacks beyond Summit Lake, to around 3950 m, before succumbing to insufficint oxygen and calling it a day. I suspect that effect on climbers is not uncommon. My wife made it to the top. A slow return descent to Summit Lake is necessary because of the poor road condition as well as the possibility of congested traffic.

My personal climb rating: