| Peak: | Pikes Peak |
| Route: | Northwest Slopes |
| Range: | Front |
| Posted By: | Crestoner |
| Date of Info: | 2/16/2014 |
| Date Posted: | 2/16/2014 |
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I parked about 1 mile short of the Crags parking lot...see my entry under trailhead conditions. The route is well-packed snow all the way to treeline (the last 0.25 mile is a little off route, but no problem). The trail is bootpacked (i.e., no evidence of snowshoes) in the area of the long switchbacks. ~300 feet after treeline, and up to the dirt road (leading to Devils Playground), you are on your own, as the wind has filled the boot track. The ascending traverse is a mix of heaven and hell....windswept areas punctuated by postholing wallowfests. There are some rock-hard areas where the trail contours across Little Pikes Peak. Keep an eye on your route in the trees...there are divergent trails from snowshoers (e.g., where you turn left for the first significant upward grade, there is trail continuing straight; and, at the top of this grade, where you turn right for the long switchbacks, there is trail that continues straight). I did this as a full-moon climb last night. It was absolutely sublime. I had a blast...that's both a statement about my satisfaction and about the hellish wind. |
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