Pikes Peak or Bust

We pulled up to the TH and this guy was in the parking lot ...

I have to admit I had some reservations about hiking into camp ... at night ... in Cat Country.  But, it was Mike's last 14er and we really wanted to be apart of the celebration.  So, I strapped my mountain bike light to my shoulder, stuffed my pockets with Meow Mix and Deb & I bravely started hiking at 5:45 PM.  That's one hour and 15 minutes of daylight ... three hours to camp ... a couple of hours of night hiking.

Actually, the hike into camp was wonderful.  The temperature was perfect and the skyline was magnificent.  The spot light on the trail reminded me of night rides in NC and it warmed my heart.  

Barr Camp was very cool.  Mike reserved the cabin for us - at $70 a night it's a real steal.  I was pumped to test out my spanking brand new Mammut Helium down bag.  It kept me toasty and I slept like a baby.  We had a pancake breakfast the next morning and hit the trail at a benevolent 9:00 AM - which is unheard of on a 14er summit day.  The trail is Class 1; so, there's no opportunity for scrambling/climbing/dangers.  If you want a casual, fun, unique 14er experience - this is it!

The summit was crawling with tourists because there is a paved road to the summit.  That's probably why this is the most visited mountain in North America.  I've certainly never had to get in line for a "summit shot" before.  We had a small glass of champagne and toasted Mike's accomplishment.  He didn't cry, but I almost did.  Not necessarily because it was his last 14er.  I just understand the effort/pain/sweat/fear involved in accomplishing climbing all of the Colorado Fourteeners ... and it is humbling.

SO, I have to admit that the first picture was a hoax ... we didn't see that man with the mountain lion at the trail head.  HOWEVER, the lady driving the train did tell us that one time she saw a mountain lion cross the track in the hiker campsite area ... his tail stretched from one rail to the other ... that's a 4'8" tail. 

PIKES PEAK - AMERICA'S MOUNTAIN

The most visited mountain in North America and the second most visited mountain in the world behind Japan's Mount Fuji, Pikes Peak forms a stunning backdrop for Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods. At an altitude of 14,110 feet above sea level, Pikes Peak is the 31st highest peak out of 54 Colorado peaks. It is the farthest east of the big peaks in the Rocky Mountain chain, which contributed to its early fame among explorers, pioneers and immigrants and made it the symbol of the 1859 Gold Rush to Colorado with the slogan, "Pikes Peak or Bust".

Difficulty: Class 1
Summit Elevation: 7,400 feet 
Elevation Gain: 5625` 
Length:  12.9 miles 
Trailhead: Manitou Springs TH

Friday
5:45 PM Start 
8:45 PM Barr Camp (10,200')

Saturday 
9:00 AM Start 

1:PM Summit

Date Ascended: 10/15/10 
Total: 7 hours 
Temperature: 30's/40's/50's/60's/70's

Bumper Sticker in the parking lot ... LOL :)

Summit Time = 7 hours for us

Sun down.

Moon set.

Colorado Springs area.

Sky line.

Home sweet home.

Mike's Party Group

Lean-to ... no thank you.

Train, train, train.

My blisters  ;(

A-Frame (another option for campers)

Dr. Bruce

What is she saying to me??????

Mike "manning up"

Mike

16?  Felt like 116.

"There's the top :)"

#58

#11

Summit Shot

The high road ...

The descent ...

All smiles ...

Indian Summer

Kenosha Pass

Kenosha Pass is one of my favorite rides.  It climbs AND climbs.  Lori and I planned to do this ride in preparation for Monarch Crest.  It was a suffer-fest for me because of altitude sickness.  I struggled ALL day ... fighting the urge to vomit.  HOWEVER, it did prepare me for Monarch Crest the following weekend.

Monarch Crest

38 miles of bliss

This is my FAVoRITE ride EVER.  Riding along through the forest the air is filled with a wonderful smell of pine ... and between that smell and the happiness in my heart ... I feel like it's Christmas minus relatives, good cooking and presents!  This trail finishes on the Rainbow Trail.  That ribbon rips through the woods like a roller coaster on dirt.  No wonder I love it so much.  

Mount of the Holy Cross

Green Bridge Inn (Red Cliff, CO)

"Beautiful women .... "

"If you tie a dog to a pickup truck in Red Cliff .... she's gonna get knocked up." 

Difficulty: Class 2 
Summit Elevation: 14,005 feet 
Elevation Gain: 5625` 
Round-trip Length: 12 miles 
Trailhead: Halfmoon TH 

4:30 AM Awake 
6:30 AM Start Hiking 
11:30 AM Summit  
4:30 PM Back at Trailhead 

Date Ascended: 10/03/10 
Roundtrip: 10 hours 
Temperature: 30's/40's/50's/60's

Sunrise

Mount of The Holy Cross - A Shy Peak

14er #10

Mount of the Holy Cross has been on my Bucket List for over a year.  I have stood at the summit of Vail Resort during ski season and stared at that peak imagining myself up there ... without the snow (of course).  It's a long day of hiking, not technical, just long.  

We stayed at the Green Bridge Inn in Red Cliff.  That was an experience.  I felt like we were on a movie set.  I just couldn't decide if it was a cool Western Movie or a terrifying Horror Flick.  The hotel was awesome ... the people were ... interesting.  

I hiked (climbed) HC with Sarah, Christin and Deb.  I enjoyed their energy and humor.  It was fun to see Deb tearing up and down the talus ... she is a very gifted climber and I am very envious.  It was fun to watch Sarah weeble and wobble and (thank goodness) never fall down.  It was fun getting to know Christin in an outdoor environment - her personality/spirit/attitude is amazing and infectious.  AND, of course, it was fun for me to physically suffer outdoors ... surrounded by the beautiful Colorado mountains ... with people that I enjoy and love.  They are good peeps :)

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.  So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."

-  Nathaniel Hawthorne


Posted October 4th 2009
Colorado to do list:
Summit Longs Peak
Summit Mount of the Holy Cross
Denver Broncos game
Hut trip
Colorado's Triple Bypass
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
Concert at Red Rocks