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Over the years, the Republic of Texas Mountaineers have climbed a variety of peaks in Colorado between June and October. Although we climbed Guadalupe Peak (the Texas high point) in snow in February 2010, we have not climbed any Colorado mountains in winter. When the Pikes Peak weather forecast was favorable for Tuesday, January 6, 2015, I decided that it was time for our first winter fourteener ascent. My older son, Randy, readily signed on as my climbing partner for an attempt on Pikes Peak via Crags. We hadn't done any serious physical activity since our annual climbing trip in August but were feeling confident regardless.
We parked in the Crags trailhead parking lot, put on our newly-purchased microspikes, and set out in the early morning light. It didn't take long for us to warm up as we headed uphill. The forest is beautiful when wearing a blanket of snow
For the first couple of miles, the trail was well-packed; no snowshoes needed, but the microspikes were helpful. The snow is nicely packed down along the early sections of the trail The view to the west as we climbed toward Devil's Playground
As we approached timberline on the summer trail, the snow got deeper and resulted in us creating the occasional posthole. We don't have snowshoes, so to avoid the deeper snow we headed uphill to the left (north) of the summer trail. This allowed us to stay on rock more than the standard route would have. "Good day, sunshine!" Or "Here comes the sun!" Your choice... Eddie at about 12,600' as we climbed north (climber's left) of the summer trail An F-16 screamed by before we could get the camera out. Later, two C-130s flew by, but again, no photos. Sorry, but they Randy says "Thanks, Grandfather, for letting me wear your gaiters."
We returned to the summer trail just above 12,750' where it levels out and widens into a double track. Near where the trail passes through a rock band, the wind had sculpted the snow into an interesting formation. The wind has been busy sculpting the snow. You can see the Pikes Peak road in the background
As we approached Devil's Playground, a couple of graders were plowing the paved Pikes Peak road. The only other vehicle we saw today was a ranger's pickup truck, however. The wind had picked up, so Randy put on his balaclava. Our goal is visible in the center of the photo
We crossed the Pikes Peak road and then continued on the trail that essentially paralleled it but sometimes took a more direct route than the road. On our climb of Pikes Peak in September 2012, it seemed to us that there were way more cairns along the upper section of the trail than needed. Now, however, it was clear that the cairns made the trail a lot easier to follow when it's covered in snow. The summit's getting closer
After passing the research station, we reached the completely deserted summit. The deserted parking lot. Where are all the out-of-breath tourists who just "climbed" Pikes Peak via car or the co
Time for the obligatory summit photos... Eddie at the summit. "Hey, this winter climbing is fun! Let's climb some more mountains." Randy takes a selfie summit photo with his digital SLR. He's squinting because he's looking into the sun
It was a strange but enjoyable feeling to have the summit of a fourteener all to ourselves. If the summit house had been open, we would have stopped in for doughnuts and hot cocoa. That'll have to be next time!
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I’ve been thinking about doing Pikes in winter for awhile now and this TR helps. 100% avoidance of I70, low avy danger, and no motor vehicle access/train dumping people off on the summit are all obvious perks. I bet it’s a different world up there in winter. Congrats on your first!
Eddie, nice report. It was good to meet ya in Ruby Basin over the summer. I think you had jeans on then too! . Did you go for Peak 15 that weekend? I did Pikes in early Jan 2012. Whole different ballgame in the winter. Nice job!
Eddie--
I climbed the standard route on Princeton late 2014 in conditions that looked a lot like this. I wore traction devices nearly all the way. The worst part about the climb wasn’t avy danger (none), deep snow (a bit), or post-holing (though I did post-hole often). The worst part was the terrible wind. It was blasting over the ridgeline and up the final summit push. I dropped a glove to take a summit photo and my bare hand almost immediately went numb. Doesn’t look like your wind conditions on Pike’s were too bad. You must have lucked into a great winter day in Colorado! I’m glad you had what looks like a great climb! Oh, and by the way, I looked back at that photo I posted in my trip report of you and Randy and David on the summit of the Centennial Holy Cross Ridge which we all climbed up through Tuhare Lakes and then got pounded and stung by that terrible hail storm afterwards--and you all three are not only wearing cotton jeans, but it looks like cotton t-shirts, too! Funny I didn’t notice that at the time.
I am just glad you are not hiking in jeans in winter! that may get slightly uncomfortable. Glad to see you are enjoying a 14er in winter, RTM!
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