Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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Ryan987
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by Ryan987 »

climbing_rob wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2013 2:28 pm My wife and I climb Pikes at least once each winter simply via the Barr trail, sometimes staying at Barr camp for the night to break up the climb, sometimes just stopping in for a snack/hot tea/gatorade. Having Barr camp right at the half way point makes for a reasonable climb given the otherwise daunting 25 miles 7500 vertical. If you're lucky and the train is running and the top is open, even better. given the traffic, the Barr trail is usually in decent shape all winter, just bring microspikes (given the packed trail, never needed snowshoes).
Looking to do this the next several months. How cold is it sleeping overnight at the camp's bunker house? Would a 15 degree bag, liner, and winter gear be enough?
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globreal
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by globreal »

Ryan987 wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2024 5:01 pm
climbing_rob wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2013 2:28 pm My wife and I climb Pikes at least once each winter simply via the Barr trail, sometimes staying at Barr camp for the night to break up the climb, sometimes just stopping in for a snack/hot tea/gatorade. Having Barr camp right at the half way point makes for a reasonable climb given the otherwise daunting 25 miles 7500 vertical. If you're lucky and the train is running and the top is open, even better. given the traffic, the Barr trail is usually in decent shape all winter, just bring microspikes (given the packed trail, never needed snowshoes).
Looking to do this the next several months. How cold is it sleeping overnight at the camp's bunker house? Would a 15 degree bag, liner, and winter gear be enough?
If you are talking about staying overnight in the cabin at Barr Camp, yes, a 15 degree bag would be sufficient. They have wood burning stoves inside and it doesn't get below 40 degrees usually.

Regarding the other post, I wouldn't plan on the train as your only means of getting down off the mountain. It's likely you could get to the summit after the last train has already gone back down, or a planned train may end up not coming up for whatever reason. It happens. If you get stuck on the summit however, it could be helpful to know that there is a climbers grotto/shelter on the south side (lower level) of the building. Go down and around to the left of the building just past the big garage door. There is a red emergency phone next to the door (that is left unlocked). You can hunker down in that shelter overnight if you need to. There is also an emergency phone inside the shelter.

Lastly, there are many times snowshoes are would be very helpful on the mountain. Don't expect the trail to be always be packed unless after a long drawn out nice weather spell. I've done the AdAmAn climb 8 years now, and we have had to break trail through deep snow many times!
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by Scott P »

globreal wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 4:31 pm

If you are talking about staying overnight in the cabin at Barr Camp, yes, a 15 degree bag would be sufficient. They have wood burning stoves inside and it doesn't get below 40 degrees usually.
Yes and it depends on who is stoking the fire. I swear that it was close to 75 when I was there on new year's eve one year. It was too hot to bother with the sleeping bag. I assume it's not always like that, but I would doubt if it drops below freezing.
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by RhodoRose »

According to the Barr Camp caretakers, snowshoes are currently required from the camp to the summit. Since the most recent snow, no one has summitted without needing to be rescued. (Their words, not mine. It would be a good idea to email them for updates.)
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by susanjoypaul »

RhodoRose wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 10:01 pm According to the Barr Camp caretakers, snowshoes are currently required from the camp to the summit. Since the most recent snow, no one has summitted without needing to be rescued. (Their words, not mine. It would be a good idea to email them for updates.)
Wow, that's not good.

I've been up Pikes nine times and from four different routes (Barr, Crags, Gilett, and Fort Carson), including once in January (2008) when I snowshoed from the Crags all the way to the top. Was shocked to see the train show up since there was so much snow, but I took advantage of the summit house opening up for tourists to warm up before snowshoeing back down.

If you're set on going, know where the Hiker's Safe Room is up there. Could save your life and prevent SAR from having to get up in the middle of the night to save you.

https://coloradosprings.gov/hiker-safe-room

EDIT: Bring an avalanche shovel so you can get to the door :-)
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by jrs1965 »

susanjoypaul wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 5:42 am
RhodoRose wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 10:01 pm According to the Barr Camp caretakers, snowshoes are currently required from the camp to the summit. Since the most recent snow, no one has summitted without needing to be rescued. (Their words, not mine. It would be a good idea to email them for updates.)
Wow, that's not good.

I've been up Pikes nine times and from four different routes (Barr, Crags, Gilett, and Fort Carson), including once in January (2008) when I snowshoed from the Crags all the way to the top. Was shocked to see the train show up since there was so much snow, but I took advantage of the summit house opening up for tourists to warm up before snowshoeing back down.

If you're set on going, know where the Hiker's Safe Room is up there. Could save your life and prevent SAR from having to get up in the middle of the night to save you.

https://coloradosprings.gov/hiker-safe-room

EDIT: Bring an avalanche shovel so you can get to the door :-)
I wouldn't 100% rely on being able to get into the hiker shelter. I'm not sure on this year, but last year there were times when that door was completely drifted up with hard slabby snow...
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jibler
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by jibler »

Yes put me down for a "double yikes" on Pikes for this year.


my general cutoff is that a mission not so great if even a 5% likelyhood rescue needed.



I will keep dreaming of a relatively dry smart timed late season pikes attack for future. but thanks so much for further input. Lots of people with same questions.
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by justiner »

jrs1965 wrote: Mon Dec 09, 2024 8:41 am I wouldn't 100% rely on being able to get into the hiker shelter. I'm not sure on this year, but last year there were times when that door was completely drifted up with hard slabby snow...
Interesting. When I was there last year, the whole area was plowed. I would assume then that if the summit house is open, other maintenance is done.
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by jrs1965 »

justiner wrote: Tue Dec 10, 2024 12:31 pm
jrs1965 wrote: Mon Dec 09, 2024 8:41 am I wouldn't 100% rely on being able to get into the hiker shelter. I'm not sure on this year, but last year there were times when that door was completely drifted up with hard slabby snow...
Interesting. When I was there last year, the whole area was plowed. I would assume then that if the summit house is open, other maintenance is done.
In the Winter months you might be lucky to find the summit house open maybe 50% of the time? If the summit house isn't open, then the snow isn't being moved. One of my friends that goes up to the summit several times a month had said the door for the hiker shelter was pretty much snowed in the entire month of March last year. Also, it is a very basic shelter with little heat and some unpleasant smells...
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by justiner »

jrs1965 wrote: Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:02 pm Also, it is a very basic shelter with little heat and some unpleasant smells...
You talk like someone that's never stayed in a pit toilet overnight before. Any harbor in a storm!
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by jrs1965 »

justiner wrote: Thu Dec 12, 2024 1:03 am
jrs1965 wrote: Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:02 pm Also, it is a very basic shelter with little heat and some unpleasant smells...
You talk like someone that's never stayed in a pit toilet overnight before. Any harbor in a storm!
Damn... not me, that's some Bear Grylls survival stuff there!
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Re: Pikes Peak Winter Ascent?

Post by jibler »

yeah hold the phone two times

now hearing from SammyJoe442 that crags trailhead in winter operation mode - and seeing this giant stretch of sunny days ahead of holidays....can this pikes mission be pulled off after all??


eu copernicus has it looking not horrible?

but i'm not kidding - i pretty much refuse to wear snowshoes - i've always felt that A) they don't seem to do that much good and B) if i was in conditions that absolutely required them - i may just as soon pass!



having said that - yes -- it seems to be drying out now maybe? and pikes is awfully windblown too right? esp that west side i would think. nailing pikes for a year wrap here could be huge!
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