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 Peak:  Pikes Peak
 Route:  Northwest Slopes
 Range:  Front
 Posted By:  goobs42
 Date of Info:  2/27/2016
 Date Posted:  2/27/2016
Details

Road is clear to Mennonite Camp. One 2WD low clearance car got stuck within 20 yards going past the gate and we pulled them out with a chain. Some other high clearance vehicles made it further up the trail but none all the way to Crag's campground. The trail was packed and we used only microspikes for most of the trail up to about 11,000 feet. There was a split in the trail and we continued right as directed per GPX file and we followed ski tracks until the snow became waist deep even with snow shoes. We tried for for a good while before turning around. We ended up deciding to try the a set of foot prints that went to the left back at the split which roughly followed the typical Devil's Playground trail per GPS and was also marked with pink ribbons. We followed that for awhile using snow shoes comfortably as the trail was relatively packed until the snow again became very powdery and in places waist deep. We tried to make it to tree line thinking maybe conditions would be better but came to fine that the snow continued at this depth. Realizing it was a mistake we turned around at about tree line. Most people who tried to continue on the typical route to the right ended up turning back. I would be interested to see if people ended up making summit. Either way there is likely now a decent trench on the regular route to the right for as far as people were willing to go as there was some decent traffic today. I would definitely bring spikes and snow shoes. Can't say I would recommend this route unless others did end up summiting. Will try again some other time.


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