Climbed Monday August 22, 2022, Squaretop Mountain is Colorado's 111th highest peak at 13,794 feet in elevation. It's a fairly easy climb with 2,400 feet of elevation gain in 6.5 miles round trip. This 13er is right across the street from Mounts Bierstadt and Evans, two of the state's most popular 14ers. Even on a Monday there were massive crowds headed towards Bierstadt, so I was happy to go the opposite direction towards Squaretop. I saw no one the entire climb up until I got to the summit where there was one other guy up there, who then promptly descended leaving the summit to me alone. Which is all good since I prefer solitude on a climb as opposed to being around the hundreds of folks doing Bierstadt that day.
I didn't take as many pictures as usual since I normally like to take a bunch on the way down. But this time, on the summit, I injured a pre-existing condition which made the descent very painful so I just wanted to get the hell out of there. So there aren't any pictures on the way down.
A few seconds after leaving the trailhead. Looking back at the Bierstadt people at sunrise.
Then turning around we see the first direct sunlight on Squaretop.
With the sun still low on the horizon to the rear and the long shadows, it appears that the photographer is one of the Knights Who Say "Ni"!
From here, it's up, over, then a very steep climb the rest of the way. That's a false summit on the right.
Almost at the false summit now, Grays & Torreys come into view.
From the summit looking north. Grays - Torreys on the left
There's a couple of lakes that people like to hang out around and camp at for general recreation purposes.