The Triple

What’s a Triple you might ask. Among the peak bagging crowd it would be summiting on three peaks in one day. The triple in this case is the peaks, Democrat (14,148 feet), Lincoln (14286 feet) and Bross (14,172 feet).

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Generally peak baggers go after anything over 14,000 foot. This trail starts at the Kite lake campground at 12,000 foot elevation and winds roughly in a circle about 8 miles, summiting on 4 peaks over 14,000 in the course of the hike. (See photo below) For some reason the mountain in the middle Mount Cameron at 14238 feet is not included in the traditional view of this hike. I think it is because it is within 1/2 mile of other taller peak, Lincoln. It seem the rules of this game require a separation of over 1/2 mile to be counted and mount Lincoln is only .48 miles farther north. (.2 miles too close). The short story is even though you actually summit 5 time on this hike over 14,000 feet (twice across Cameron) you can only count three time in the peak bagging game.

From Triple

We took off early on a Friday afternoon in early September and drove to Alma Colorado, the nearest town to the “Triple Hike” . There is a gravel road northwest out of town that meanders up the valley between Democrat and Boss. The photo below shows the road looking back down the valley just before the Kite lake campground.

From Triple

About 1/2 mile before the campground is a small creek that you have to cross with your vehicle if you want to drive to the campground. Since we were driving a 4X4 Jeep and could see other vehicles at the campground. We decided to cross.

Well apparently the other vehicles did not happen to hit the very sharp rock at the edge of the creek as we did, because as we crossed there was a loud bang and we blew the right front tire on the Jeep. I stopped the Jeep immediately still in the creek and got out to inspect. Not good. Can’t change the tire in the creek, so I got back in, threw the jeep in 4 wheel low and plowed forward out of the creek with a blown tire up the bank on the other side.

On the other side of the creek I could now change the tire, so I dug out the spare and spent 1/2 hour putting on a new tire. Not even to the campground yet and the excitement has started!

At last to the campground. Camp setup. Let me introduce the camp comedian

From Triple

Believe me the flat tire crossing the creek gave the camp comedian plenty of material to work with for the evening!

Here the comedian is pointing out where we are headed tomorrow morning.

From Triple

Mount Democrat looming in the background across the Kite lake campground

From Triple

It got very cold that night in the tent down to 20 degrees at 12,000 ft, but we stayed warn in our sleeping bags. The next morning we were up at 6:00AM and had a hearty breakfast of oatmeal and coffee, broke camp and were ready to hit the trail before 7:00. Below you can see Mount Democrat in the morning sunshine, from the campground.

From Triple

Farther up the trail a little later the peak comes into sharp view.

From Triple

Here you can see the camp comedian, and a few people on the trial before us, early in the morning as we work our way up the switchbacks on the eastern face of Democrat.

From Triple

The Kite Lake campground at the head of the valley from a viewpoint a thousand feet higher. It looks like a Kite from here doesn't it?

From Triple

Break time in the cold morning air. No comedy coming out of the comedian this morning.

From Triple

The final approach to the top of Democrat just below the summit

From Triple

The view of the valley from the summit of Democrat

From Triple

The wind is howling at the top as we huddle in the summit shelter taking a break. It took us about 2 hours to summit Democrat. We still have two more peaks ahead of us this morning.

From Triple

Looking out of the summit shelter to the left you can see Cameron in the distance and the ridge we have to follow to Lincoln

From Triple

It seem like you can always rely on someone to take your picture for you. On the ground in the background you can see the white plastic tube that contains the summit log that most people sign when they get to the top.

From Triple

Onward to the next peak. After about 45 minutes of descending Democrat we are approaching Cameron's ridge and you can see Lincolns sharp peak in the background just to the left of the ridge.

From Triple

Looking back toward Democrat in the bright morning sunshine from the flank of Cameron you can see the trail switch backing across the mountain where we just came from.

From Triple

What looked like a sharp ridge across Cameron from the distance turns into a wide trail as you get closer

From Triple

At the summit of Cameron the wind was blowing so hard the we often has to stop and sometime crouch down to stop from being blown off the trail. I remember laughing hysterically crouched on the ground trying to hold onto my backpack wonder what the hell we were doing up here on this ridge. Poor Margaret struggled to stay on the ground in the wind.

From Triple

Most of the 2 hours from the summit of Democrat across Cameron’s ridge to Lincoln we followed this gentleman who had the most even, steady gait and pace I have ever seen. He was methodical as he followed the trail never slowing never speeding just step, step, step always in the same cadence. He set the pace and we followed.

From Triple

Coming down the north side of Cameron you can now get a good picture of the sharp peak that is Mount Lincoln.

From Triple

The slope down Cameron toward Lincoln is steep and slippery. The Camp Comedian chooses her steps with care.

From Triple

As we approach Lincoln you can see our methodical, pace setting, hiking companion already at the top of Lincoln.

From Triple

Or hiking companion takes our picture atop Lincoln

From Triple

Looking from the top of Lincoln towards our next peak Bross.

From Triple

From Triple

Around 11:30 Saturday morning we summit Bross the third peak and the 5th time above 14,000 feet in one morning. The wind is still blowing violently as we spend 20 minutes in the rock pile summit shelter having lunch.

From Triple

From Triple

From the top of Bross there is several trails that lead away from the shelter back towards the Kite Lake campground and our jeep. We selected the one that looked the most used that headed south towards valley pictured below

From Triple

Unbeknownst to us this trail eventual faded away to nothing and left us about halfway down the valley in the middle of a shifting scree slope to find our way down amidst the unstable rubble. (scree defined here) dangerous stuff! Each step you take the rocks slide down under you. After a while you get good at it and it becomes almost like sking.

Well not everyone skied down.

From Triple

We struggled for45 minutes to get out of the scree. Believe me when I tell you I got an earful from the “Camp Comedian” about the trail down. She was not a happy comedian!

At last out of the scree slope, onto a solid trail with the campgrounds in sight!

From Triple

Ultimately we arrived back at the Jeep around 1:30. It took us about 6 1/2 hours to do the 8 mile loop and the three peaks. We celebrated in a sun beam with a couple of cocktails in lawn chairs watching the rest of the hikers straggle in.

LIFE IS GOOD!

Pikes Peak Summit

If you have been reading our adventures than you know that we tried in an earlier adventure to summit Pikes Peak along the Barr trail and failed when it got to late in the day to make it to the top. If you missed it click here this story will make more sense.

So this time were are going to do things a little differently. Instead of trying to summit on the first day we are going to stay overnight at Barr camp before proceeding on early the next morning to the summit. This will do a couple of things. We will be able to acclimatize to the thin air overnight (very important) and it will keep us off the mountain face in the afternoon when it gets hot and sunny. Cool is better in a strenuous hike. As well as avoiding the frequent lightning strikes on the peak in the late afternoon. No matter how hard I tried I still couldn’t fix the fact that it was 13 miles 1 way to the top though.

We are also going to take along some hiking companions Dean and Danny Kroon will accompany us on the summit attempt.

So after driving to the Manitou Springs Trail head and meeting With Dean and Danny

Here we are again looking at the warning sign

From Pikes Peak Summit

We made good time along the first half of the trail carrying our heavy packs full of overnight camping supplies. I even smuggled a bottle of Bailey's Irish cream along In my backpack.

We have been friends with Dean and Danny forever. They also spent time with us when we lived in Amsterdam. It was a coincidence that when we both returned from Europe that we both ended up working in Colorado Springs. We have hiked many trails with them

Dean

From Pikes Peak Summit

Danny

From Pikes Peak Summit

For much of the first portion of the hike you cannot even see the summit. There are many other smaller peaks in the way to cross before you get there.

From Pikes Peak Summit

At last about mid morning we got our 1st view of the summit along a hillside where we stopped for a break.

From Pikes Peak Summit

From Pikes Peak Summit

Back down into a valley and part way up the next mountain flank lies Barr camp our destination for the day. We arrive just before noon at Barr camp and unload our supplies.

From Pikes Peak Summit

From Pikes Peak Summit

We now have the rest of the day to kill before attempting the summit early the next morning. We wandered around Barr camp reading books,taking pictures and sitting by the creek that supplies fresh water to the camp . (you have to filter it to drink it). The camp has a few books and games to occupy folks that are staying overnight.

While we were staying the afternoon. The rescue folks that stay at Barr got a call to evacuate a hiker with a broken ankle off the side of the mountain near tree line. They found the hiker and carried them to the COG railroad stop near Barr camp for evacuation.

From Pikes Peak Summit

From Pikes Peak Summit

From Pikes Peak Summit

We enjoyed a cheap meal ($3 a piece) provided by the cook at Barr camp for Dinner along with about a dozen other campers.

After dinner we enjoyed the smuggled Baileys with Dean and Denny before going to bed in the shelters provided at Barr Camp.

The next morning we awoke at a little after 5:00am. We were having a breakfast of hearty pancakes, provide again by the cook at Barr camp before we take off for the summit. We wanted to hit that trail by 7:00. We would leave out heavy packs here and pick them up on the way back through later this afternoon.

Just west of Barr camp is a trail sign and a sign in sheep for those venturing up on the mountain. 6 miles to the summit, 4 to the Bottomless Pit. We better get moving!

From Pikes Peak Summit

7:00am in the morning at 11,00 feet is cool approx 45 degrees, but the hiking keeps you warm.

From Pikes Peak Summit

From Pikes Peak Summit

We arrive at the tree line meadow, as far as we made it last time around 9:30. We are making good time. Three miles to the summit. We should be there around noon. We take about a half an hour to rest have a snack and just enjoy the beautiful meadow.

Everyone it seems has a place in their memory that’s a favorite to revisit, a beautiful safe place you like to think about when your stressed or before you go to sleep. This little meadow is one of mine.

From Pikes Peak Summit

She looks in a lot better shape this time around (me too). The overnight stay and cooler temperatures made all the difference in the world.

From Pikes Peak Summit

Dean and Danny applying sun screen at the tree line shelter before the final push to the summit.

From Pikes Peak Summit

If you remember from our previous summit attempt this pile of boulders that appear to be stacked by giants

From Pikes Peak Summit

Just a short way past tree line you can start to see the 7 Lakes area south of Pikes Peak that supply some of the drinking water to Colorado Springs. 7 Lakes is a restricted area and you are not allowed to hike in it.

From Pikes Peak Summit

The rock formations are amazing as you make your way to the top. You cannot tell from the photo, but many of the rocks strewn about are as large as houses.

From Pikes Peak Summit

Along the trail here is a plaque where an 88 year old woman Inestine B. Roberts died on her 14th summit hike early in the 1957 Amazing!

From Pikes Peak Summit

A rest break with pictures and were off again.

From Pikes Peak Summit

We arrive at Bottomless Pit. 2 miles to the summit. Its not really bottomless, but it is a vertical drop of over a thousand feet

From Pikes Peak Summit

Resting just before the last segment called the Golden Stairs. The rocks the last mile are almost golden in color and the final 1/2 mile is all a stairway made of rocks hence “The Golden Stairs”

From Pikes Peak Summit

Dean says "You almost think you can fly"

From Pikes Peak Summit

A little while later: Dean says “Maybe I can’t fly”

From Pikes Peak Summit

In previous hikes you may have seen me refer to Margaret as “The Machine” The title comes from Dean. We have hiked with Dean and Danny many times and Dean started to refer to Margaret on the top half of this hike as “The Machine” because she almost never had to rest. Here you can see why she earned the title. While others were resting she was leading the way

From Pikes Peak Summit

The final ascent up the “Golden Stairs” by “The Machine”

From Pikes Peak Summit

The Summit facing south towards the 7 lakes area.

From Pikes Peak Summit

We all make our way into the tourist shop at the top of the Pikes Peak Highway. Everyone asked us if we walked up. “YEP”

From Pikes Peak Summit

We had lunch at the restaurant inside filled up on water and started back down to Barr Camp just before 1:00PM on Sunday. We had to go to work tomorrow morning.

To make a long story short we made it to our cars at the trail head just after 6:00PM in the afternoon on Sunday. We had hiked 19 miles on Sunday the last 7 carrying heavy packs, but we beat the Barr Trail! Monday is really going to hurt though!