Climbing Colorado's Fourteeners

• Class 2
• From Guanella Pass Trailhead:
  9.0 miles, 3,100 feet

You can climb Evans by itself from Guanella Pass. From Guanella Pass, hike 2.0 miles northeast across the shallow basin at the head of Scott Gomer Creek. Skirt north of all the cliffs that extend for 1 mile northwest of the Sawtooth and reach the gentle, open slopes on the northwest side of Mount Spalding (13,842 feet). Cross to the south side of Spalding's broad west ridge, skirt south of Spalding's summit and reach the west end of Evans' west ridge at 13,900 feet. Scramble east along this ridge for 0.7 mile to Evans' summit (Class 2). Most of this airy, fun traverse is on solid, sculpted rock. The traverse stays above 14,000 feet as it crosses two false summits. The eastern false summit reaches 14,256 feet.

• Variation: From Guanella Pass Trailhead: 8.0 miles, 3,100 feet

This significant and frequently used shortcut provides the shortest route up Evans that does not use the Mount Evans Road. Instead of climbing around the north end of all the cliffs extending northwest from the Sawtooth, continue straight east at 11,600 feet and ascend a scree gully through the center of the cliffs (Class 2). Rejoin the route on the slope above. You can easily see the shortcut gully from Guanella Pass. It rarely holds snow in winter.

• Extra Credit: From the open slopes between Mount Spalding and the west end of Evans' west ridge, climb north for 0.5 mile to the summit of Mount Spalding (13,842 feet), one of Colorado's 100 highest peaks.