Pikes Peak Trip Report 02/06/2014

Peak(s):	Pikes Peak - 14,109 feet
Date Posted:	02/06/2014
Date Climbed:	02/05/2014
Author:	moneymike

Manitou to Pikes to Manitou
Elevation Gain: ~7,500' Round Trip: ~22 mi Ski Descent: ~7,500' Route: Cog RR track to summit, Barr trail down. Start: 3:18 a.m. Manitou Springs Hydroelectric plant. Summit: 2:45 p.m. Finish: 6:30 p.m. Manitou Springs Hydroelectric plant. This is the story about me skiing Pikes Peak from the summit down to Manitou Springs (the town I live in). I had wanted to do this for some time now. The problem was that Pikes doesn't get a whole lot of snow. In the winter, Manitou will get moderate snow falls that usually melt out quickly, and the peak's east face is usually dry and wind scoured. Often times when it does snow, either the high elevations will get hammered or the low elevations, but not both. Pikes' east face often gets enough snow for a decent ski in the spring time after one or two good dumps (usually in May), but by this time the lower elevations are completely snowless. In the last week, Pikes Peak and the Colorado Springs area (actually most of Colorado) got hammered by winter storms. These storms put a lot of snow on Pikes Peak from summit to base. Although the forecasted high of -8 F for Pikes Peak was not very inviting, I knew that this was my opportunity to ski Pikes Peak from the summit to the base in Manitou Springs. Before I proceed further, I must make the following disclaimer: This trip involved a fair amount of trespassing on private land (about 10 miles of trespassing). I do not endorse tresspassing or encourage anyone to do the same. Just because I put in a super-awesome-mega-cool skin track up Pikes Peak does NOT mean that anyone should follow my tracks for a speedy and enjoyable ascent to the summit. Although I did not invade anyone's privacy, dammage any personal property, or harass any livestock, I know that trespassing is inherently wrong...otherwise people would not ask God to "forgive us for our trespasses." Trespassing is wrong, and probably causes cancer. Around 3 a.m. February 5th, I drove my car one mile from my house in Manitou Springs to the Barr trail trailhead (I'm extremely lazy, what can I say). At 3:18 a.m., I left the car, walked down to the hydro plant and skinned up Ruxton. The air temperature was around -5 F at that time and apparently the high for Manitou Springs that day was -2 F. A short distance up the trail that extends past Ruxton, I crossed the creek and got onto the Cog RR track (no trains ran that day). The snow was easily deep enough to cover the tracks...all I could see was a big snowy highway up the mountain. Breaking trail by my lonesome was a bit tiring, but it kept me warm. The air temperatures seemed to warm slightly as I ascended. Dawn approached as I reached 10,000' elevation. Looking down on a cloudy Colorado Springs (literally, not figuratively) Above 10,000' there was plenty of fresh snow on the ground, but none on the trees. It was clear that the higher elevations had recently experienced high winds. While below treline, I experienced almost no wind. However, not long after I ascended above tree line, the winds became horrendous. Just as the winds reached the maximum I experienced this day, I came to a structure near the tracks. I huddled against the building on the leeward side and donned my down puffy. At this point, the head winds were too intense and the temperature was too cold to continue up Pikes' SE ridge. I decided to traverse to the east side of the ridge where I would contemplate either continuing up the SE ridge on the leeward side, or descending to the base of the east face and hiking up the face. By the time I reached the top of the ridge, the winds settled down a bit. They were blowing pretty hard, but I felt it was manageable and continued along the SE ridge and regained the RR track. Looking towards the snowy Sangres Near the summit, looking down E face towards Colorado Springs I reached the summit at 2:45 p.m. I was happy to see a snowy line descending from the summit and onto the east face. I was also happy to hide on the leeward side of the summit house (-8 F feels almost tropical compared to the -20 F wind chill). Me on summit I skied a short distance down the RR and then skied onto the east face. I ski traversed to the cornice, south of the summit, that one can usually see from Colorado Springs. The upper section was steep (35 degrees perhaps?) and I skied this section with caution...a slide would take me for a nasty ride through rocks. Fortunately the snow was near bullet proof. After a couple hundred vertical feet the angle mellows to a point where the avalanche hazard is almost non existent. Unfortunately, this section alternated from bullet proof crust to breakable crust without any visable warning. This kind of snow is extremely difficult and exhausting to ski (especially when you are already exhausted from the hike up). With every turn, I never knew what to expect. It must have taken me an hour to descend this crap. I picked up the Barr trail at A-frame, and this is where the snow began to get good! I lost the trail almost as soon as I got on to it. I found this to be a little bit embarrassing, considering I've run up and down this trail more times than I can even count. After failing to find the trail after criss crossing the slope several times through slabby boulders and downed trees, I descended into the creek bed. This turned out to be a great decision! The creek bed was wide open, filled with deep pow, and was at that magical angle where it was steep enough for good turns but not too steep to worry about slides (in a very terrain trappy environment). I continued down the creek for about a thousand vertical feet, and got some of my best powder turns of the season down here. Around 10,300' I did a descending traverse to the left through low angle, somewhat dense aspen/fir woods and found the Barr trail. This ate up a bit of time. The Barr trail is pretty flat at this point and the snow was deep enough that I had to free heel ski-hike down it. Below Barr camp the trail was broken and I was able to pick up the pace (except for the flat and slightly uphill portions). Around 9,000' I was really able to pick up the pace. Deep snow and fast skiing above the switchbacks By the time I got to the switchbacks the sun had set. I had to ski this portion by headlamp, but I was so greatful that I was actually skiing it (I've run up and down Pikes Peak dozens of times and I've never once enjoyed running down the switch backs). I hit a few protruding rocks on the way down but most of it was pretty smooth and fast (I was even able to get around (on skis) that boulder that fell on the trail during last summer's rains). I avoided the lower, south facing portions of the trail by taking a trail (which is now gated and has a no trespassing sign) down into the trees in the canyon bottom. Again, I found deep enough snow to cruise this portion down to the top of Ruxton. Ruxton was snow packed, and I snowplowed down the road to the power plant. I debated skiing all the way down Manitou Ave to my front door, but found that some jackass had put sand all over the roads! Sanded roads are very obnoxious to ski (I don't know why anyone would want to put sand on snow packed roads, especially on hills). Oh well, I guess one shouldn't complain after 7,500 vertical feet of continuous skiing. I hiked back up to the car, and drove home. I've wanted to do this for a number of years, and I'm happy to have accomplished this task. And all it cost me was $5 for parking, three core shots to the skis, and a very minor frost bite. Minor frost bite Fountain Creek as solid as I've ever seen it! Feb. 6 Feb. 6 If anyone has a prettier picture of Pikes Peak taken around Feb. 5 and wouldn't mind sending it to me, I'd really appreciate it. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Manitou to Pikes to Manitou

Elevation Gain: ~7,500'
Round Trip: ~22 mi
Ski Descent: ~7,500'
Route: Cog RR track to summit, Barr trail down.
Start: 3:18 a.m. Manitou Springs Hydroelectric plant.
Summit: 2:45 p.m.
Finish: 6:30 p.m. Manitou Springs Hydroelectric plant.

This is the story about me skiing Pikes Peak from the summit down to Manitou Springs (the town I live in). I had wanted to do this for some time now. The problem was that Pikes doesn't get a whole lot of snow. In the winter, Manitou will get moderate snow falls that usually melt out quickly, and the peak's east face is usually dry and wind scoured. Often times when it does snow, either the high elevations will get hammered or the low elevations, but not both. Pikes' east face often gets enough snow for a decent ski in the spring time after one or two good dumps (usually in May), but by this time the lower elevations are completely snowless.

In the last week, Pikes Peak and the Colorado Springs area (actually most of Colorado) got hammered by winter storms. These storms put a lot of snow on Pikes Peak from summit to base. Although the forecasted high of -8 F for Pikes Peak was not very inviting, I knew that this was my opportunity to ski Pikes Peak from the summit to the base in Manitou Springs.

Before I proceed further, I must make the following disclaimer:

This trip involved a fair amount of trespassing on private land (about 10 miles of trespassing). I do not endorse tresspassing or encourage anyone to do the same. Just because I put in a super-awesome-mega-cool skin track up Pikes Peak does NOT mean that anyone should follow my tracks for a speedy and enjoyable ascent to the summit. Although I did not invade anyone's privacy, dammage any personal property, or harass any livestock, I know that trespassing is inherently wrong...otherwise people would not ask God to "forgive us for our trespasses." Trespassing is wrong, and probably causes cancer.

Around 3 a.m. February 5th, I drove my car one mile from my house in Manitou Springs to the Barr trail trailhead (I'm extremely lazy, what can I say). At 3:18 a.m., I left the car, walked down to the hydro plant and skinned up Ruxton. The air temperature was around -5 F at that time and apparently the high for Manitou Springs that day was -2 F. A short distance up the trail that extends past Ruxton, I crossed the creek and got onto the Cog RR track (no trains ran that day). The snow was easily deep enough to cover the tracks...all I could see was a big snowy highway up the mountain.

Breaking trail by my lonesome was a bit tiring, but it kept me warm. The air temperatures seemed to warm slightly as I ascended.

Dawn approached as I reached 10,000' elevation.

Looking down on a cloudy Colorado Springs (literally, not figuratively)

Above 10,000' there was plenty of fresh snow on the ground, but none on the trees. It was clear that the higher elevations had recently experienced high winds. While below treline, I experienced almost no wind. However, not long after I ascended above tree line, the winds became horrendous. Just as the winds reached the maximum I experienced this day, I came to a structure near the tracks. I huddled against the building on the leeward side and donned my down puffy. At this point, the head winds were too intense and the temperature was too cold to continue up Pikes' SE ridge. I decided to traverse to the east side of the ridge where I would contemplate either continuing up the SE ridge on the leeward side, or descending to the base of the east face and hiking up the face. By the time I reached the top of the ridge, the winds settled down a bit. They were blowing pretty hard, but I felt it was manageable and continued along the SE ridge and regained the RR track.

Near the summit, looking down E face towards Colorado Springs

I reached the summit at 2:45 p.m. I was happy to see a snowy line descending from the summit and onto the east face. I was also happy to hide on the leeward side of the summit house (-8 F feels almost tropical compared to the -20 F wind chill).

I skied a short distance down the RR and then skied onto the east face. I ski traversed to the cornice, south of the summit, that one can usually see from Colorado Springs.

The upper section was steep (35 degrees perhaps?) and I skied this section with caution...a slide would take me for a nasty ride through rocks. Fortunately the snow was near bullet proof.

After a couple hundred vertical feet the angle mellows to a point where the avalanche hazard is almost non existent. Unfortunately, this section alternated from bullet proof crust to breakable crust without any visable warning. This kind of snow is extremely difficult and exhausting to ski (especially when you are already exhausted from the hike up). With every turn, I never knew what to expect. It must have taken me an hour to descend this crap.

I picked up the Barr trail at A-frame, and this is where the snow began to get good!

I lost the trail almost as soon as I got on to it. I found this to be a little bit embarrassing, considering I've run up and down this trail more times than I can even count. After failing to find the trail after criss crossing the slope several times through slabby boulders and downed trees, I descended into the creek bed. This turned out to be a great decision! The creek bed was wide open, filled with deep pow, and was at that magical angle where it was steep enough for good turns but not too steep to worry about slides (in a very terrain trappy environment).

I continued down the creek for about a thousand vertical feet, and got some of my best powder turns of the season down here. Around 10,300' I did a descending traverse to the left through low angle, somewhat dense aspen/fir woods and found the Barr trail. This ate up a bit of time. The Barr trail is pretty flat at this point and the snow was deep enough that I had to free heel ski-hike down it.

Below Barr camp the trail was broken and I was able to pick up the pace (except for the flat and slightly uphill portions). Around 9,000' I was really able to pick up the pace.

Deep snow and fast skiing above the switchbacks

By the time I got to the switchbacks the sun had set. I had to ski this portion by headlamp, but I was so greatful that I was actually skiing it (I've run up and down Pikes Peak dozens of times and I've never once enjoyed running down the switch backs). I hit a few protruding rocks on the way down but most of it was pretty smooth and fast (I was even able to get around (on skis) that boulder that fell on the trail during last summer's rains).

I avoided the lower, south facing portions of the trail by taking a trail (which is now gated and has a no trespassing sign) down into the trees in the canyon bottom. Again, I found deep enough snow to cruise this portion down to the top of Ruxton. Ruxton was snow packed, and I snowplowed down the road to the power plant. I debated skiing all the way down Manitou Ave to my front door, but found that some jackass had put sand all over the roads! Sanded roads are very obnoxious to ski (I don't know why anyone would want to put sand on snow packed roads, especially on hills). Oh well, I guess one shouldn't complain after 7,500 vertical feet of continuous skiing.

I hiked back up to the car, and drove home.

I've wanted to do this for a number of years, and I'm happy to have accomplished this task. And all it cost me was $5 for parking, three core shots to the skis, and a very minor frost bite.

Fountain Creek as solid as I've ever seen it! Feb. 6

If anyone has a prettier picture of Pikes Peak taken around Feb. 5 and wouldn't mind sending it to me, I'd really appreciate it.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

scramble	hi! 2/7/2014 4:41am thanks for writing awesome trip reports. are you really a mathematician? that's pretty cool.
Kevin Baker	Nice work 2/7/2014 5:43am That's a very creative way to climb Pikes in winter! As you said, it is a rarity to have that much snow from top to bottom. That's awesome that you had enough snow to skin on the tracks! That doesn't happen very often either. Thanks for sharing.
goingup	Your TR's 2/7/2014 10:42pm never disappoint. They are just the right combo of funny and awesome. Good job mike Bernoulli the marmot would be proud.
YooperJonKornely	Damn! 2/10/2014 11:00pm Riding Pikes top to bottom is a cool accomplishment!!
moneymike	Thanks for the comments 2/11/2014 3:30am Scramble: Thanks, it's not often that I hear ”mathematician” and ”cool” in the same sentence. I'm taking a short brake from math but my background is in physics and applied mathematics Kevin Baker and YooperJonKornely: Thanks. I'm glad I got it done...it was well worth the effort. goingup: Thanks for the complement. I look forward to reading about your next adventure. You always have great photos and an entertaining narrative. Although, I don't think I'll ever understand why anyone would climb a mountain in winter and not ski it. Is it for the challenge? Are you trying to punish yourself? Definitely the ”ranks of crazy.”

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