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!

Pikes Peak Assent (1st try)

This is the view out of our kitchen window everyday when we lived in Colorado Springs. We could see the summit of Pikes Peak. There it was taunting us to come and beat it

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

Pikes Peak is an interesting hike. Its difficult. Not technically its easy as mountain trails go. Its just so far, 13 miles 1 way through the Pikes national forest.

There are several ways to the top of Pikes Peak. You can actual drive a car there on the Pikes Peak highway. (Its not really a highway mostly a gravel road). You can take a train to the top, or you can take a couple of hiking routes. Bar far the most popular hiking trail to the top is the Barr Trail. The Barr trail is names for the man that built it and runs from Manitou Springs to the summit roughly 13 miles one way. That’s right 13 miles. Its very long. There is a halfway point at a camp appropriately name “Barr Camp” at the 7 mile mark. Other than the most adventuresome die hard most people stay overnight at Barr Camp and make this a two day hike. Either on the way in or the way out. They have a bunk house and small little shelters you can stay at over night for a small fee. They even serve supper.

We elected to try to summit on the Barr trail on a weekend in June leaving the house at 6:00 early Saturday morning and arriving at the Barr trail trail head around 6:30. (You have to be early to get a parking spot.) Keep in mind that in a two day hike you have to carry all the food and water you need as well as sleeping bags. It can get down to 30 degrees overnight in the mountains even in the summer, so you have to be well prepared. Packed up and ready to go

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

A sign at the start of the trail gives and indication of what you may be in for. You cannot absolutely count on a ride back down because possible weather condition may close the road or the train, so you must be prepared to go both ways on foot if you wish to summit. I guess their not joking around here! 26 miles round trip. We planned on hiking both ways anyhow.

We will hike to Barr camp drop our gear at the camp then try to summit. Returning to Barr camp and staying overnight then hiking out in the morning. That's roughly 19 miles in one day.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

Along the trail there is lots of interesting sites. You even have to pass though some tight squeezes. The trail to Barr Camp is mostly wide and flat and easy going.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

Seven miles later halfway to the summit at 10,000 feet altitude we arrive at Barr Camp and check in. You can see the summit in the distance.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

We drop our heave gear here at the camp. This will be our sleeping quarters tonight when we return.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

After lunch and a rest we take off for the summit in the distance. Roughly 6 miles away, but the going gets much tougher from here on. The air is getting thin and its a nice day so its 70-80 degrees which is a bit warm for this altitude, and that make the going tougher.

As we start to approach tree line at 12,000 feet the distance and heat is wearing on us. We have to rest often and for longer and longer. We are not yet acclimated to the thin air. It seems like you can walk 10 or twenty steps then you have to rest for 5 minutes before continuing. At this rate its going to be late when we summit.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

The sun is merciless at this altitude and you have to wear a shirt and hat to keep from getting burned so it is difficult to cool down. We reach tree line around 3:00 which is late. We have another three miles of the most difficult part before us and we have to turn around and come back 6 miles before dark.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

Resting at the tree line shelter for a half hour and enjoying the view we make a decision to abort the summit attempt. We cannot get to the top and back to our night camp before dark at the rate we are going. This is a sad decision to have to make, but the wise choice. Being lost in the dark on the trail will help no one, and there is always another time to attempt the summit.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

We spend some time along the tree line and the shelter with its little creek enjoying the cold, cold water and cooling off in a serene little meadow.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

The tree line has some interesting rock formation. it looks like some giant was stacking boulders in a playground.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

Looks like the distance, heat and thin air have taken its toll on this hiker. Good thing you can’t see a picture of me I look even worse.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

3 miles back to the camp and dinner before dark.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

The next morning was cool and foggy as we made our way back from Barr camp to the trail head and our Jeep.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

The last few switchbacks before the Manitou Springs trial head shows Margaret cruising along eager to get home and a bottle of Red Wine.

From Barr Trail to A-Frame

We were disappointed that we didn’t summit but we learn a couple of lessons about acclimating ourselves to the thin air overnight before such strenuous hikes. We will make it next time.