Last summer, I hiked my first 14er with my wife - Pikes Peak via Barr Trail. This summer, we took a short three-day trip to Colorado Springs to look at apartments in hopes of moving there next April. Lucky for me, I had planned a way to hike Pikes again, going solo this time, and meeting my wife and two-year old daughter at the top (they would be taking the cog).
Driving into Colorado Springs on Monday, we noticed a ominous-looking storm cloud just sitting on the summit. In fact, the actual summit wasn't even visible to us. I had been keeping track of recent trail and weather conditions for Pikes, and everything pointed to the snow being melted and the trail nice and clear. But it was obvious on Monday that it had been snowing quite a bit up above treeline.
White Light posted a trip report showing the nasty conditions Monday. http://backcountryblog.wordpress.com/
By Wednesday morning, though, it looked like most of the snow had already melted and it was going to be a perfect day for hiking. Since my wife and daughter would need the car later to drive to the cog, I woke up at 3 a.m. for a breakfast of Wheaties Fuel and a banana, then went to the front of the hotel where my taxi was already waiting for me, 10 minutes early. After a short drive to the trailhead, I got going at about 4 a.m.
Just before sunrise at the top of the early switchbacks
My first view of the peak
Pikes in the early morning sunlight
I wasn't paying any attention to what time it was as I hiked, only knowing that I wanted to make good time. My wife and daughter were taking the 10:40 a.m. train, and I wanted to be there to meet them. The early switchbacks were just as brutal as I remembered them being, and I soon took my light jacket off. However, after going through the leaning rocks, the wind really picked up all the way to the fork in the trail where the Experimental Forest sign is located. A very chilly morning indeed.
I only saw three people on the trail on the way to Barr Camp. A gentleman from Florida who I believe said he was hoping to make it in 10 hours, and had a cog ticket for the last train of the day; a guy who said he hikes only to Barr Camp and back down a few times a week; and another guy who was running and flew by me before I hardly even knew he was coming.
Upon arriving at Barr Camp, I was really looking forward to using the facilities. Unfortunately, the chain was hooked across the bridge and a sign posted saying that Barr Camp wouldn't be open until 7 a.m. Confused, I pulled out my cell phone and saw it was only 6:44! Last year we didn't arrive until 8 a.m. I ran off into the woods for a minute, and came back to see the chain removed about 10 minutes early. I went in and ate a PB&J sandwich, and chatted with a young gentleman making pancakes (Neal and Teresa were not present). Only two people had camped the previous night, and I soon saw them come out to eat as well. I learned Barr Camp had received an inch of snow Monday, and above treeline got quite a bit more. However, it was all gone until after I went above treeline.
I changed into my wool socks, and left Barr Camp at about 7:10 a.m. I had forgotten how ridiculously long the switchbacks were up around the Bottomless Pit trail area. After winding my up and through the hills, I arrived at the A-Frame at 8:34 a.m.
A little bit hazy, but still a beautiful morning
The boulder field
I was able to see the moon for the entire trip
Around the three-mile to the summit marker, I encountered my first patches of snow. They were very small, easily avoidable, and no problem whatsoever. After the two-mile marker, the long traverse presented some larger patches of snow, some avoidable, some not, but again, nothing that was bothersome. As a side note, I could hear some race cars testing for the race this weekend during the last couple miles as well.
Walking next to the snow
More snow, but easy to walk through
A marmot hanging out near the Cirque
After the one-mile marker, but before the 16 Golden Stairs, I ran into a bit of trouble. There was a very narrow switchback, covered in a nice little combination of snow and ice. I tried to gingerly plant my foot in it, and immediately my foot slipped out from under me. After a couple tries, I knew this wouldn't work. I tried to walk across a boulder sticking up on the edge of the trail, but it tilted out from under me as soon as I applied my weight. I lifted my foot, and it rested right back where it was. I got a little nervous, wondering how to cross. I had not seen a single person from Barr Camp to the one-mile marker, but as I stood wondering how to cross this little rough patch, a woman came up behind me. She does endurance races and was hiking Pikes for training. She asked if I wanted her to go ahead and I could follow her tracks, which I gratefully accepted. Aside from ice on the rocks during the last mile, the rest of the hike up was pretty easy.
I ended up summiting at 10:35 a.m. My original plan was to hike down the Crags side to Little Pikes and back, so I could get my first view from that side. However, after walking down the Crags trail for a short ways, I decided I'd rather just enjoy resting on the summit and enjoy the beautiful weather and views. I saw a never ending string of snowcapped mountains to the north and west, but I'm not at all qualified to determine what peaks they were. There had to be some 14ers in there, though.
Checking out the other side of the Peak for the first time
Looking for 14ers...
After an hour and a half or so, I heard my wife and daughter's cog train approaching. I quickly went over near the track to wait for them. I know a lot of people don't like the idea of all the tourists and gift shop on the summit, and I admit it was a little weird being all alone for basically the entire trip, only to be surrounded by hordes of people at the top. But I was also grateful for the cog, as that was the only way I could share my first solo summit with my two favorite people. And my daughter loved riding the "choo-choo train up the big mountain", as she put it.
My wife Kellie and daughter Emma getting off the Cog
Emma standing on her first 14er at age two!
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